Game developer and publisher Pearl Abyss has backtracked on its position regarding Crimson Desert hardware compatibility, following the massive community backlash. The firm now promises future support and optimisation for Intel Arc graphics, but no specific deadlines have been given.
For those who didn’t follow the news, after Crimson Desert’s launch on March 19, many players were surprised to see a compatibility error when launching the game on Intel Arc GPUs, be it on dedicated or integrated solutions. In their search for answers, players found that the game’s FAQ had an entry clearly stating that Intel Arc GPUs were not supported. Even worse, the developer’s answer encouraged owners to seek refunds, leading to believe that the game would never be supported.
As if this wasn’t enough, Intel’s official response stated that it did offer Pearl Abyss early hardware, drivers, and engineering resources across multiple generations, including Alchemist, Battlemage, Meteor Lake, and Lunar Lake. Considering the lack of compatibility, we can assume the developers’ answer was: no, thanks.
After witnessing a big community pushback, which included both Intel and non-Intel users, Pearl Abyss updated its FAQ to indicate that Arc GPUs will be fully supported at a later date, asking users for a bit of patience. This FAQ entry goes as follows:
Does Crimson Desert support Intel Arc?
Regarding Crimson Desert support for Intel Arc:
We are currently working on compatibility and optimization support so that Crimson Desert can also be enjoyed on Intel Arc GPU systems. We are preparing to provide a smooth and stable gameplay experience, and we ask for your patience until the support update becomes available.
We apologize for any confusion our previous FAQ wording regarding playability on Intel Arc GPUs may have caused. Please regard this as our latest official news on the subject.
Though this official response is appreciated, the damage may already be done since the previous FAQ encouraged players to seek a refund their games. While some may give it a second chance when everything gets optimised, others have indicated no longer being interested in the game, pointing to broken trust.
Following the FAQ changes, Crimson Desert received a new update that fixed a bunch of bugs and added many quality-of-life changes. Most importantly, this update has seemingly removed the lockdown on Intel Arc GPUs, as users reported being able to launch the game. But before rushing to your library, these reports also warn that the game is in an unplayable state, rendering a broken, texture-less world. Your mileage may vary as Intel has many GPU models under the Arc brand, so just don’t keep your hopes up.
Regardless of the current state, the important takeaway here is that the developer has listened to the community’s demands and is planning to fully support Intel Arc GPUs in the future.
