Crimson Desert is two weeks away from launch, and fans are apprehensive about the lack of console footage so far. Here’s what the marketing director, Will Powers, has to say about their demands.
Crimson Desert Early Previews Didn't Satisfy Console Users
Director: "Let Us Cook"
Crimson Desert recently held a preview event, where selected media entities got to have a hands-on experience with the game's full version on PC for a few hours. Additionally, PlayStation weighed in with a report detailing impressions from its four-hour run on the PS5 Pro. However, this did not sit well with the majority of anticipating console owners, as they felt the reports did not provide enough insight into the upcoming RPG's performance on the base PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Pearl Abyss America marketing director Will Powers took to X (formerly Twitter) in response to a user accusing them of purposefully hiding console footage. "We're not hiding anything, and I'm sick of having to repeat myself," he rebutted, "I've repeated 100s of times that we'll reveal things ahead of launch to give people adequate time to still preorder the game for themselves." He then closed his post with a "let us cook."
Powers also commented on a Reddit post about the aforementioned tweet, promising transparency in line with consumers' right to information. "But people demanding information on their timeline is entitlement, and that needs to end," he added.
He had previously clapped back at fans demanding more information outside their scheduled marketing roll-out. "I've been incredibly transparent, and will continue to. If I'm not talking about something, it's because there's likely a plan to talk about it later," he stated. He has also been inundated with message requests from fans, especially after his email address leaked online.
Fans Fear It Might be Another Cyberpunk 2077
Fan concerns about Crimson Desert's optimization and performance on consoles stem from what had occurred with Cyberpunk 2077 in 2020, arguably one of the most controversial releases in the modern video game scene. CD Projekt withheld the action RPG's console footage "until the very last minute," only to see the launch marred by severe performance issues, prompting the studio to issue a public apology afterward.
Users on Reddit and X said that their requests come from a place of "precaution and passion" to avoid a repeat of Cyberpunk 2077, rather than the "entitlement" indicated by the Crimson Desert marketing director. Powers' assurance that all will be revealed in due time rings hollow to many, especially with the game dropping in just two weeks.
While the recently released PS5 Pro hands-on showcased exemplary performance on the port, it failed to address the central concern that most PS5 players are still using the base model, rather than the Pro version.
Nonetheless, not all fans were pushing demands, choosing instead to trust the developers with the process. They conceded that it is fair and valid for people to get nervous when Pearl Abyss highlighted just one platform, despite a multi-platform release (with PC impressions dominating the preview event), yet maintained confidence that this will not turn into another Cyberpunk fiasco if the developers say so.
Others mentioned that a guaranteed smooth PS5 performance is all it takes for the game to earn their purchase, given that all the marketing hype thus far already has them "sold."
Meanwhile, FightinCowboy said in his YouTube preview impressions video that he had inquired with the developers about console performance. According to him, they said, "Regardless of what we say, people probably won't believe us. [So, instead] we're sending the game to Digital Foundry, and they'll have a full analysis of performance across all the platforms at launch." Digital Foundry (DF), a premier technical analysis outlet, is widely regarded as "the most trusted name in game console analysis."
PS5 Pro Hands-On Commends Vast Scale
On the topic of early PS5 Pro impressions, the PlayStation blog reflected the same sentiments as PC previews by praising Crimson Desert’s enormous world. The writer admitted they had "only scratched the surface" of what awaits players in the continent of Pywel.
Immersion delved into the minutest details using Geometry Shader Oversubscription and NGG Culling, advanced techniques for modern high-performance rendering. "On PS5 Pro, the recent upgrade to PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) makes it possible for Crimson Desert to hit 4K resolutions at higher frame rates," the report wrote, "and its raytracing capabilities make lighting effects more realistic and natural."
Furthermore, it is worth noting that Crimson Desert already went gold last January, which marked the completion of production two months ahead of launch. Following that, Pearl Abyss immediately doubled down on the "optimization phase" as their primary focus while March 19 approaches "to make sure that the experience when players eventually get their hands on the game is as smooth as possible."
Crimson Desert will be available on March 19 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. For more information about the game, check out our article below.
Sources:
X/Twitter | Will Powers on hiding console footage
X/Twitter | Will Powers says his email got leaked
X/Twitter | Cyberpunk devs release apology statement
Reddit | Digital Foundry, the most trusted name in game console analysis, is going independent
PlayStation Blog | Crimson Desert hands-on report: four hours in the RPG’s massive open world
YouTube | Crimson Desert Interview. Open World, Single Player Shift, Engine Tech And Player Choice
YouTube | Crimson Desert - Preview Impressions After 5 Hours Hands-On
