A new comparison has revealed how the Xbox Series X and S Editions fare Crimson Desert Shaped against each other. Both Xbox versions Crimson Desert There are many performance options that players can choose from, but now it's clear how much impact each option has.
Crimson Desert Pearl is the latest RPG from Abyss. The highly anticipated title was met with decent reviews, but perhaps didn't live up to the pre-release hype. While Crimson DesertWhile the world was noted as one of the game's strong points, it was met with similar criticism for some game design decisions and a perceived weak story. It launched on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, making full use of the power of these platforms to deliver one of the most visually stunning game worlds to date. How it performs is another matter.
Crimson Desert players think they've found an in-game AI painting
Crimson Desert players debate the game's authenticity, pointing to some bizarre, possibly AI-induced crashes that have left many skeptical.
Crimson Desert: Xbox Series X vs S performance comparison
Crimson Desert Its console performance confirmed pre-release, and the game largely lives up to what Pearl Abyss promised. Testing for the Xbox Series X and S versions of the game was conducted in two videos by YouTube channel Fuzion Xbox Testing, confirming how each performance mode delivers on Microsoft's consoles. On the Xbox Series X, players can choose between three performance modes: Performance, Balanced, and Quality. Performance mode runs at native 1080p, and averages between 45 FPS and 60 FPS. Balanced is 1280p native, but upscaled to 4k, and pretty much achieves the consistent 40 FPS target it aims for. Last is Quality, which runs at a consistently locked 30 FPS, upscaling to 4k at 1440p native resolution. Quality mode is notable for enabling high raytracing settings, balanced and only available on performance.
By comparison, the less-powerful Xbox Series S has only two Crimson Desert Display modes to choose from: Performance and Quality. The display option locks the resolution at 720p, and manages a consistent 40 FPS. The quality drops to a constant 30 FPS, but players can enjoy the native 1080p resolution. Fuzion Xbox Testing notes that the lack of raytracing on both Xbox Series S performance options “results in less realistic-looking gameplay,” and states that Performance Mode “isn't pretty.” As a result, those who are perfectly fine with a constant 30 FPS should opt for the quality mode on the Xbox Series S version. Crimson Desert.
It seems that overall, all the graphics options on the Xbox Series X and S offer a pretty solid experience for gamers. Naturally, the Xbox Series X wins comfortably, but players can still have a good time with either version. On other platforms, there are very few reports Crimson Desert Performance issues that show Pearl Abyss is still able to deliver a well-optimized RPG still manage to deliver in the visual department.
Crimson Desert Pearl Abyss has already sold millions of copies, making it an instant hit. In the coming weeks and months, players should keep their eyes out for more updates to the game, as the developer appears to be acting on many of the early responses.
- issued
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March 19, 2026
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood, drug references, intense violence, strong language
- developer(s)
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The Pearl Abyss
- publisher(s)
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The Pearl Abyss
