Will Powers, the general public face of Crimson Desert within the west, has hit out at individuals accusing developer and writer Pearl Abyss of “hiding” console footage of the hotly anticipated open-world motion journey recreation, and promised reveals are coming forward of its launch date.
Pearl Abyss has but to substantiate base efficiency figures for Crimson Desert on consoles, leaving PlayStation 5 and Xbox Collection X and S homeowners questioning the way it will carry out on their platforms. With the disastrous launch of Cyberpunk 2077 nonetheless contemporary within the reminiscence, and the backlash developer CD Projekt suffered by not exhibiting off the sport on last-gen consoles forward of launch, some have expressed concern that Crimson Desert would possibly battle on PlayStation and Xbox, and so would like to know the efficiency targets earlier than pre-ordering the sport.
Powers, although, has gone on the offensive, taking to social media and to reddit to hit out on the doubters. In response to 1 individual on X / Twitter who accused Pearl Abyss of “nonetheless hiding all console footage,” Powers stated: “We’re not hiding something, and I am sick of getting to repeat myself. I’ve repeated 100s of occasions that we’ll reveal issues forward of launch to provide individuals ample time to nonetheless preorder the sport for themselves. We’re saying this overtly… Allow us to cook dinner? Please and thanks. /rant”
Powers later commented on the reddit thread discussing his tweet, clarifying his place: “Folks have the best to data to make an knowledgeable buy. Merely put, that is transparency, and that is what we’re promising. However individuals demanding data on their timeline is entitlement, and that should finish.”
That thread, by the way in which, is a mixture of real concern and enthusiasm, with some explaining why they’re nervous about Crimson Desert on consoles, and others interesting for endurance. “I perceive it could actually get irritating replying and responding to all of the individuals asking for console footage however that is as a result of we have seen this earlier than with Cyberpunk 2077 the place they held again console footage till the final minute and gamers discovered that it was a multitude,” stated one individual. “I would not name it entitlement however extra like precaution and fervour. We’re all followers desperate to get our arms on the sport. I am certain demanding a couple of minutes of console footage is not asking an excessive amount of particularly as the sport’s solely two weeks away from launch.”
The scenario with Cyberpunk was completely different, after all, given it launched on the final technology of consoles in addition to the present (Crimson Desert is PC and current-gen consoles solely). However the backlash despatched shockwaves all through the online game business, and CD Projekt ended up having to situation a public apology for not exhibiting the bottom PS4 and Xbox One variations of Cyberpunk 2077 earlier than launch. Even now, over 5 years after Cyberpunk got here out, what occurred with that recreation is driving the discourse.
The rationale I’ve not pre-ordered your recreation but is straightforward. Not seen it run on a base ps console.You solely present it on ps professional with PC.you don’t have any points exhibiting it working on PC simply not consoles.
We nonetheless bear in mind @CyberpunkGame on consoles.
— Lukeyguy (@Lukeyguy_) March 4, 2026
“So from a client’s perspective, how late earlier than launch is an affordable date for them to disclose console footage?” one individual stated. “The sport comes out in roughly two weeks, we nonetheless haven’t seen a lot of console not to mention the efficiency. I feel it’s honest that customers need solutions after we’re anticipated to buy a product,” stated one other individual.
“Thanks for talking out on that matter. You appear to be satisfied that it will not be one other Cyberpunk console launch scenario so let’s consider that,” one other added. “I feel it is comprehensible that individuals rightfully get nervous when devs share footage of just one platform whereas the sport releases on a number of. If it will be a catastrophe, you’ll’ve simply made every little thing worse and the belief can be gone utterly although.”
“As quickly as I see the PS5 runs the sport effectively, you’ll have my cash. I’m actually bought [on] every little thing however efficiency,” one potential fan stated.
Final month, Powers stated the builders at Pearl Abyss had been doubling down on the “optimization part” in a bid to get efficiency as easy as doable throughout all platforms forward of Crimson Desert’s launch date. Crimson Desert is due out March 19 priced $69.99. Pearl Abyss lately confirmed it doesn’t comprise a beauty money store nor microtransactions of any variety.
Wesley is Director, Information at IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You’ll be able to attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
