Pearl Abyss is gearing up for a massive content drop. Yesterday, the developer revealed the final details for the next Crimson Desert update. Players can expect this patch to arrive this week, likely between April 19 and April 25. The update brings highly requested features, but it comes with a massive storage cost.
Massive Crimson Desert Patch Arrives This Week
This late April update introduces crucial gameplay changes. First, developers are finally adding long-awaited difficulty settings. Players can now choose between Easy, Normal, and Hard modes. Additionally, the patch includes new control presets for both controllers and keyboard/mouse setups. Furthermore, inventory category tabs will make item management much easier.
Hey Greymanes,
We’re currently preparing our next update which will include several features mentioned in last week's Dev Update notice, including the addition of a keyboard/mouse and controller preset, difficulty settings, category tabs for your inventory, and more. We want to…— Crimson Desert (@CrimsonDesert_) April 18, 2026
However, players must prepare their hard drives. Pearl Abyss confirmed this patch features a significantly larger file size than previous updates. The size increase stems directly from distant scenery quality improvements. Consequently, console players face a big question mark. Crimson Desert previously struggled on PS5 and Xbox consoles without manual player tweaks. Therefore, it remains to be seen if these graphic enhancements will further hurt console performance.
Reversing Course & Fixing Past Mistakes
Pearl Abyss is clearly listening to community feedback. In the previous 1.03 update, the studio reversed a highly controversial decision. Initially, developers refused to support Intel Arc graphics cards and Intel XeSS 3.0 upscaling. Yet, overwhelming player backlash forced the team to change course and implement the support. The 1.03 patch also fixed lingering bugs with the Greymane camp and dialogue. Moreover, the developers upgraded indoor lighting and water surface reflections.
Commercial Success & Future Roadmap
Despite a bumpy launch, the game boasts massive commercial success. Crimson Desert sold over five million copies worldwide within its first month. As a result, Pearl Abyss saw its stock shares skyrocket. Steam player counts also remain exceptionally high across the board.
Looking ahead, developers plan to release more content through June. The team is currently building new combat activities. Finally, future updates will introduce brand-new skills for specific characters, including Oongka and Damiane.
