Crimson Desert Developer Vows Control Fixes, Apologizes for Keyboard and Mouse Woes

Pearl Abyss, the developer behind Crimson Desert, has directly responded to widespread player criticism regarding the game's control scheme. In an official statement, the studio acknowledged the "discomfort" many have experienced and confirmed that a patch is in the works to tackle these issues. While no specific release date or detailed changes were provided, the community's primary requests include controller mapping and key binding support.

The developer also extended an apology to keyboard and mouse users for the subpar experience, noting that the game itself recommends using a controller from the start—a hint at the known control complexities. Despite launching strongly on Steam with nearly 250,000 concurrent players, Crimson Desert currently holds a "mixed" review rating on the platform, largely due to complaints about clunky and overly complicated controls. Performance issues have also been noted, such as blurry visuals affecting both PS5 and PC versions.

Remarkably, the game sold 2 million copies in its first day and remains a top-played title on Steam, though player counts for console versions are not publicly available from Sony or Microsoft.

Pearl Abyss has yet to address allegations that Crimson Desert includes AI-generated art, which could potentially violate Steam's policy requiring disclosure of such content on the store page. Currently, no disclaimer is present.

In their full statement, Pearl Abyss expressed urgency in resolving these complaints to improve the Steam review scores. This comes amid financial pressures, as IGN reported a nearly 30% drop in the company's stock price following critical reviews, with an additional 9.78% decline yesterday. According to Korean business reports, the game took seven years to develop at a cost of approximately 200 billion won (around $133 million).

For more on Crimson Desert, check out IGN's coverage including patch notes for the day-one update, a full review, and an interview with marketing and PR chief Will Powers. Additionally, there are guides on PC performance, essential early-game activities, hidden tips, and weapon and skill recommendations to help players navigate the vast world of Pywel.