If you’re a fan of open-world fantasy RPGs, you’ve probably heard all the buzz around Crimson Desert, the highly anticipated title from the studio behind Black Desert Online. I’ve been covering Pearl Abyss titles for over 7 years, so I’ve been following every update about this game closely since it was first announced. One of the most common questions we get from console players every week is is crimson desert on ps5, especially as more cross-platform releases drop every month. We’ve pulled together all the latest official updates, developer comments, and industry leaks to give you a clear, no-fluff answer, plus extra details you’ll want to know if you’re planning to pick up the game when it launches. We’ll also cover what features are confirmed for PlayStation 5, how it will differ from PC and other console versions, and what you can do to stay in the loop as release news drops.
Is Crimson Desert on PS5 Right Now? Official Status Update
As of the latest developer announcements from Pearl Abyss, the short answer is no, Crimson Desert is not available to play on PS5 right now. The game is still in active development, with the team pushing back its original launch window multiple times to polish gameplay mechanics, fix performance bugs, and refine the open world to meet player expectations. That doesn’t mean a PS5 release is off the table, though. Pearl Abyss has repeatedly confirmed that console versions, including PlayStation 5, are a core part of their launch plan, alongside PC and Xbox Series X/S releases.
We have seen a few early playtests held for PC players over the past year, but console playtests are not scheduled as of this writing. The team has stated that they want to make sure the console ports run smoothly at 60FPS with all next-gen features enabled before they share any firm release dates for PS5 players. You don’t need to worry about the game being a PC exclusive; every official roadmap shared by the studio has listed PlayStation 5 as a target launch platform.
Confirmed PS5 Features for Crimson Desert
Even though we don’t have a firm release date yet, Pearl Abyss has shared a handful of confirmed features for the PS5 version of the game that will make it worth the wait for console players. The team has spent a lot of time optimizing the game for the PS5’s custom SSD, so you can expect near-instant load times when fast traveling across the massive open world, or switching between cutscenes and gameplay with no long wait screens. DualSense controller support is also confirmed, with haptic feedback that will let you feel the weight of your weapon when you swing it, the texture of different terrain as you run across it, and even the tension of a bowstring as you line up a shot.
The PS5 version will also support both quality and performance modes, so you can choose between 4K 30FPS gameplay with full ray tracing enabled for cinematic exploration, or 1440p 60FPS for smoother combat and PvP encounters. Cross-save support between PS5 and PC is also in the works, though the team has not confirmed if cross-play will be available at launch. The PS5 version will also get exclusive timed in-game items for the first 3 months after launch, as part of a partnership between Pearl Abyss and Sony. Many players worry that console versions will be stripped back compared to PC, but the dev team has repeatedly stated that all core gameplay, story content, and endgame features will be identical across all platforms.
What We Know About the Crimson Desert Launch Timeline
We know a lot of players are frustrated by the repeated delays, but Pearl Abyss has been transparent about why they’re taking extra time with the release. The game was first announced back in 2019, originally planned for a 2021 launch, but the team decided to completely rework a lot of the core gameplay mechanics after receiving negative feedback from early playtesters. They shifted the game from a mostly PvP-focused MMORPG to a hybrid title with a full single-player story campaign, plus optional online co-op and PvP modes for players who want to play with friends. I’ve seen a lot of speculation online about a surprise 2024 release, but that’s not based on any official announcements, so don’t get your hopes up for that.
As of the latest developer Q&A held in Q3 2024, the game is around 85% complete, with the PC version expected to launch first in the first half of next year, followed by PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions 2 to 3 months later. There will be no PS4 version of the game, the dev team confirmed, as they want to focus entirely on next-gen hardware to deliver the best possible performance and gameplay experience. That means if you’re still playing on a PS4, you will need to upgrade to a PS5 if you want to play Crimson Desert when it launches.
If you’re already excited to play on PS5, here are a few simple steps you can take to prepare for launch:
If you want to stay up to date with the latest release news, we recommend following the official Pearl Abyss social media accounts, or signing up for their newsletter to get early access to playtest sign ups and release date announcements. We also update this guide regularly as new information drops, so you can bookmark it to check back later.
Should You Wait for the PS5 Version or Buy the PC Release First?
A lot of players who own both a gaming PC and a PS5 are wondering if they should pick up the PC version when it launches first, or wait for the PS5 release a few months later. The answer depends entirely on your personal playstyle and preferences. If you prefer playing on a couch with a controller, or you mostly play games with friends who are on PlayStation, waiting for the PS5 version makes perfect sense. You won’t miss out on any core content, and you’ll get the exclusive timed in-game items only available to PS5 players for the first three months.
If you want to play the game as soon as possible, or you prefer mouse and keyboard controls for PvP combat, you can pick up the PC version first, and if cross-save is available at launch, you can transfer your progress to your PS5 later when the console version drops. Pre-order bonuses will be tied to the platform you purchase on, so if you pre-order the PC version, you won’t get the PS5 exclusive pre-order items, and vice versa. It’s also worth noting that the PC version will likely get updates and patches slightly faster than the console versions, as console updates have to go through Sony and Microsoft’s approval process before they can be released.
If you’re someone who cares a lot about having the latest balance changes and bug fixes immediately, the PC version might be a better fit for you. But if you don’t mind waiting a few extra months for a polished, optimized console experience that works perfectly out of the box, the PS5 version is well worth holding out for. We’ve seen a lot of rough console ports of new PC games over the past few years, but Pearl Abyss has a proven track record of delivering high quality console ports for their previous titles, so we have full confidence that the PS5 version of Crimson Desert will run smoothly when it launches.
At the end of the day, it’s only a matter of time until we get a firm release date for when is crimson desert on ps5, and all signs point to it being one of the best next-gen RPG releases of the decade. The team at Pearl Abyss is putting in the work to make sure the game lives up to player expectations on all platforms, so the extra wait will almost certainly be worth it. Whether you plan to play on PC first or wait for the PS5 release, make sure you only trust official announcements from the dev team, as there are a lot of fake release dates and leaks floating around online that are not accurate. We’ll keep updating this guide as soon as new official details drop, so you can always come back here for the latest, most accurate information about Crimson Desert on PS5.