Crimson desert's launch visuals spark debate, potential fix emerges

Players of Crimson Desert on PlayStation 5 are encountering a frustrating issue: pervasive blurriness across all visual modes. What initially appeared to be an isolated problem has quickly become a widespread concern, prompting a scramble for solutions and raising questions about the game's optimization for the console.

The 4k120 conundrum

The issue, as detailed in numerous reports across social media platforms like Twitter, Reddit, and Discord, seems to stem from the game’s interaction with the PS5’s 120Hz output mode. While the game boasts impressive textures when running at full 4K resolution, many players are experiencing a significant degradation in visual fidelity, a muddy, indistinct picture that detracts from the overall experience. Vanilson Pereira, a player who highlighted the problem on Twitter, contrasted the blurry visuals on his PS5 with the pristine performance observed on a PS5 Pro model, further fueling speculation about the underlying cause.

Digital Foundry’s John Linneman has offered some clarity, suggesting the problem is specific to displays that support 120Hz input but only at lower resolutions. The game apparently engages 120Hz support in 40fps mode, leading to the blurry visuals on incompatible screens. A surprisingly simple workaround—disabling the “Enable 120Hz Output” setting within the PS5’s Video Output menu—appears to resolve the issue for many, a recommendation echoed by Pearl Abyss’s PR and marketing director, Will Powers.

Pc players face similar struggles

The visual woes aren’t confined to the PlayStation 5. PC gamers are also reporting similar blurriness, albeit with a less straightforward fix. Frustrated players are requesting refunds on Steam, citing a visual experience akin to “playing at 720p on a 4K monitor.” Descriptions of flickering lights and an overall “over-sharpened” appearance contribute to the growing dissatisfaction within the PC gaming community. Restarting the game after adjusting graphics settings seem to offer some improvement for some, but a definitive resolution remains elusive.

The emergence of these technical issues echoes the challenges faced by Borderlands 4, which experienced a gradual framerate decline with extended playtime, even on high-end consoles. The similarities raise concerns about Pearl Abyss's quality assurance processes and the game’s overall stability across platforms.

While the console fix offers a temporary reprieve, the persistent problems on PC highlight the complexity of optimizing a visually demanding title for diverse hardware configurations. Further investigation and developer intervention are clearly needed to deliver the visual experience Crimson Desert promises.