Diff - preload and launch guide - Crimson Desert Wiki

11 Launch Date

33 Crimson Desert launched on March 19, 2026 across PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, Microsoft Store), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Mac, and GeForce NOW. The game uses a simultaneous global launch at a fixed UTC time, meaning the local date and hour vary by timezone. Some regions in Asia and Oceania received the game on March 20, local time.

55 Global Launch Times

88 The official global release was March 19, 2026, at 10:00 PM UTC (22:00 UTC). Below are the local times for major regions:

1010 RegionLocal DateLocal TimeUS West Coast (PT)March 193:00 PMUS East Coast (ET)March 196:00 PMUK (GMT)March 1910:00 PMCentral Europe (CET)March 1911:00 PMIndia (IST)March 203:30 AMChina / Singapore (SGT)March 206:00 AMJapan / South Korea (JST/KST)March 207:00 AMAustralia East (AEDT)March 209:00 AM

1111 Preload Schedule

1212

1313 Preloading began 48 hours before launch on all digital storefronts. Based on the 10:00 PM UTC launch time, preload availability started on March 17, 2026, at 10:00 PM UTC. This gave players two full days to download the game before it became playable.

1414

1515 PlatformPreload AvailableNotesSteamMarch 17, 10:00 PM UTCNavigate to the game in your library and click Install.Epic Games StoreMarch 17, 10:00 PM UTCSame preload window as Steam.PlayStation StoreMarch 17, 10:00 PM UTCPS5 digital and disc editions can preload the base files.Xbox / Microsoft StoreMarch 17, 10:00 PM UTCAvailable on both Xbox consoles and PC via the Microsoft Store.MacMarch 17, 10:00 PM UTCPreload through the Mac App Store or supported launcher.

1616 Download Sizes

1717

1818 The table below lists the confirmed download sizes per platform. Plan for at least 150 GB of free storage to accommodate the base game, day-one patch, and future updates.

1919

2020 PlatformDownload SizeMinimum Storage RequiredNotesPC (Steam / Epic)~130 to 135 GB150 GBSSD strongly recommended. System requirements list 150 GB minimum.PS5 (Digital)~123 GB150 GBIncludes base game data. Day-one patch adds ~3.1 GB on top.PS5 (Physical Disc)~83 GB on disc150 GBDisc contains ~83 GB. A mandatory ~48 GB download is required to complete the installation.Xbox Series X|S~121 GB150 GBConfirmed at 120.98 GB for the base download.Mac~130 GB (estimated)150 GBSimilar footprint to the PC version.

2121 Editions and Pricing

2222

2323 Crimson Desert is sold in three editions: Standard, Digital Deluxe, and Collector's. Every player receives the same gameplay content, systems, and mechanics regardless of which edition they purchase. The only differences between editions are cosmetic bonus items and, in the case of the Collector's Edition, a set of physical collectibles. For a full breakdown, see the Editions article.

2424

2525 EditionPrice (USD)Key ExtrasStandard$69.99Base game only. Pre-order bonus: Khaled Shield.Digital Deluxe$79.99Includes Kairos Plate Set and Exclaire Horse Tack Set.Collector's$279.99All Deluxe items plus steelbook, map of Pywel, and a 17-inch Kliff vs. Golden Star diorama.

2626 If you initially purchased the Standard Edition and want the Deluxe items later, you can buy the separately sold Deluxe Pack. This add-on bundle contains the exact same in-game items included with the Deluxe Edition. Direct switching between editions is not possible; the Deluxe Pack is the only upgrade path.

2727

2828 Day-One Patch (Version 1.00.02)

2929

3030 Pearl Abyss released a mandatory 3.1 GB day-one patch (version 1.00.02) alongside the game's launch. Pre-loaded copies automatically download the patch when the Steam, PlayStation, or Xbox client next connects. The patch must be installed before the game will launch.

3131

3232 Key changes in Patch 1.00.02:

3333

3434 Added a tutorial quest at the start of Chapter 3 to teach players about Abyss Gears.Fixed an issue where certain quests would not progress properly.Improved the Tenebrum boss fight so players no longer have to replay the puzzle section after dying.QTE difficulty now gradually increases based on repeated enemy captures, preventing cheese strategies.Removed the bear's instant-kill damage and rebalanced its overall damage output.Added finishing blows and follow-up attacks to certain character skills.Enhanced NPC dialogue, voice acting, lip sync, and animations for more natural interactions.Fixed voice-subtitle mismatches during NPC greetings.Various performance and stability optimizations across all platforms.

3535

3636 Internet and Offline Play

3737

3838 Crimson Desert is a single-player game and can be played entirely offline after initial setup. However, an internet connection is required for:

3939

4040 The very first launch after installation, which verifies the game files and applies the day-one patch.Downloading future patches and updates.

4141

4242 Once the initial setup and patching are complete, you can disconnect and play offline indefinitely. There are no periodic online check-ins, no always-online DRM, and no features that require a persistent connection during gameplay. Physical disc owners still need an internet connection for the first launch because the mandatory day-one download completes the on-disc installation.

4343

4444 Cross-Platform Progress

4545

4646 Crimson Desert does not support cross-platform save transfers at launch. Your save data is tied to the platform where you created it, and there has been no official announcement about future cross-save functionality.

4747

4848 The one exception is Xbox Play Anywhere. If you purchase Crimson Desert through the Xbox Store, you receive access on both Xbox Series X|S and PC (via the Microsoft Store) with a single purchase. Your save data syncs between the two platforms through Xbox cloud saves. This does not extend to Steam, Epic Games Store, or PlayStation.

4949

5050 Controller and Input Support

5151

5252 Pearl Abyss recommends playing Crimson Desert with a controller, even on PC. The game's combat system was designed around analog stick movement and trigger-based inputs. That said, keyboard and mouse is fully supported and offers extensive keybinding customization. For the complete button layout on every platform, see the Controls article.

5353

5454 Input MethodPlatformNotesXbox ControllerPC / XboxFully supported wirelessly and via USB. This is the recommended input method on PC.DualSense (PS5)PC / PS5Requires a wired USB connection on PC. Wireless (Bluetooth) is not natively supported for full functionality.Keyboard and MousePC / MacFull support with customizable keybindings. Offers precise camera control for ranged combat.

5555 Upscaling Technology

5656

5757 Crimson Desert runs on Pearl Abyss's proprietary Black Space Engine, which supports a wide range of modern upscaling and frame generation technologies. The exact options available depend on your platform.

5858

5959 PlatformUpscaling / Frame Generation SupportPCNVIDIA DLSS 4/4.5, AMD FSR 3/4, NVIDIA DLSS Ray Reconstruction, AMD FSR Ray RegenerationPS5 ProUpgraded PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution)PS5 / Xbox Series X|SAMD FSR 3MacMetalFX Upscaler, Frame Generation, and Denoiser

6060 Frame Generation (which synthesizes additional frames to improve perceived smoothness) is exclusive to PC and Mac. It is not available on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S. On PC, Frame Generation works with both NVIDIA and AMD cards through their respective DLSS and FSR implementations.

6161

6262 Language Support and Voice Cast

6363

6464 Crimson Desert supports 14 languages for text and subtitles: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish (Spain), Japanese, Korean, Polish, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish (Latin America), Traditional Chinese, Portuguese (Brazil), and Turkish.

6565

6666 Full voice acting is available in three of those languages: English, Korean, and Simplified Chinese. Pearl Abyss confirmed that every voice performance in the game was recorded by human actors, with no AI-generated voices used.

6767

6868 The English voice cast features several recognizable performers. Kliff is voiced by Alex Newman, known for his role as Adam Smasher in Cyberpunk 2077. Oonkga is voiced by Stewart Scudamore (Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II), and Damiane is voiced by Rebecca Hanssen, who played Queen Meve in The Witcher TV series.

6969

7070 Regional note: Physical editions purchased outside of the Asia region do not include Traditional or Simplified Chinese text. Digital copies have access to all 14 languages regardless of the buyer's region.

7171

7272 Performance Modes (PS5 and Xbox)

7373

7474 Console players can choose between two performance modes:

7575

7676 ModeResolutionFrame RateNotesQuality ModeNative 4K (PS5 Pro uses PSSR 2 upscaling)30 FPSBest visual fidelity with ray tracing effects.Performance ModeDynamic resolution (1080p to 1440p)60 FPSRecommended for combat-heavy gameplay.

7777 The PS5 Pro version supports PSSR 2 upscaling for near-native 4K at higher frame rates. For detailed technical analysis, see the System Requirements and PS5 Pro Enhancements articles.

7878

7979 Post-Launch Notes

8080

8181 Steam user reviews started at "Mixed" on launch day, with early complaints focusing on performance optimization on older hardware. Subsequent patches have improved stability.An SSD is strongly recommended on all platforms. The game relies heavily on fast storage for streaming the open world, and HDD users may experience stuttering and extended load times.No cross-save functionality is available between platforms at launch.GeForce NOW streaming is available from day one for players without local hardware that meets the minimum specs.

8282

8383 See Also

8484

8585 Download Size and InstallationSystem RequirementsPS5 Pro EnhancementsControlsEditionsBlack Space EngineVoice ActingPatch Notes

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