Pearl Abyss, the developer behind Crimson Desert, has announced that the game's next major patch is scheduled for release next week. The team is taking extra time to thoroughly test and polish the update to ensure a smooth experience for players.
While previous major patches have been released weekly since Crimson Desert's launch last month, this upcoming update will require a slightly longer wait and a larger download size. The patch will introduce several features highlighted in last week's developer announcement, including keyboard/mouse and controller presets, difficulty settings, and categorized inventory tabs. The increased download size is due to improvements to distant scenery quality.
Pearl Abyss provided the following statement:
"A difficulty settings feature will be added so that everyone — from new Greymanes to the more advanced — can enjoy the adventure at the level that suits them best. You’ll be able to choose from easy, normal, and hard difficulty."
As reported by IGN, some players have requested a hard mode, feeling that recent updates made the game too easy. The addition of an easy mode will also benefit those seeking a more relaxed experience, as Crimson Desert can be challenging, especially during boss fights. It will be intriguing to observe how each difficulty setting impacts gameplay.
Features like boss rematches and enemy territory recapture have been mentioned by Pearl Abyss as coming soon but were not included in today's announcement. Given that previous updates have included unannounced changes, next week's patch may hold some surprises.
Player sentiment for Crimson Desert has notably improved since launch, with Steam user reviews shifting from 'mixed' to 'very positive' following recent updates. Sales and player numbers remain strong, with the game surpassing 5 million copies sold less than a month after release and maintaining a top spot among the most-played games on Steam.
Looking ahead, questions arise about potential DLC or expansions. Pearl Abyss CEO Heo Jin-young recently stated that there are no concrete plans for DLC and expressed uncertainty about official mod support. However, a Nintendo Switch 2 version is reportedly under consideration.
For more on Crimson Desert, check out our coverage, including praise from The Witcher 3 director, a restored hidden food consequence system by a modder, and an impressive character creator mod. We also recommend our guides: Things to Do First in Crimson Desert, Things Crimson Desert Doesn’t Tell You (with 28 tips and counting), Best Early Weapons, Best Skills to Get First (with an explanation of the skills system), and 34 Essential Tips and Tricks for success in Pywel.
