Crimson Desert, the open-world action-adventure game from Pearl Abyss, launches on March 19th at $69.99 — and the developer has finally pulled back the curtain on how the game will run across every current PlayStation and Xbox console. Each platform gets multiple performance modes that trade resolution, frame rate, and ray tracing quality against one another, with the PS5 Pro sitting comfortably at the top of the stack and the Xbox Series S struggling at the bottom.
Quick answer: The PS5 and Xbox Series X share identical specs across three modes (Performance at 1080p/60fps, Balanced at upscaled 4K/40fps, Quality at upscaled 4K/30fps). The PS5 Pro pushes higher ray tracing and native 4K in Quality mode. The Xbox Series S tops out at 1080p/30fps with no ray tracing.
PS5 and Xbox Series X Performance Modes
The base PS5 and Xbox Series X run Crimson Desert with the same configurations. You get three modes, and the tradeoffs are fairly standard for a demanding open-world game in 2026. Performance mode drops to 1080p to hit 60 FPS with VSync, and it can be uncapped on VRR-compatible displays connected via HDMI 2.1. Balanced mode uses FSR 3 to upscale a native 1280p image to 4K, targeting 40 FPS — though you'll need a 120Hz or 240Hz display to use it. Quality mode renders natively at 1440p, upscales to 4K, locks to 30 FPS, and cranks ray tracing up to High.
| Mode | Resolution | Frame Rate Target | Ray Tracing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | 1080p | 60 FPS VSync / 60+ FPS VRR | Low |
| Balanced | Upscaled 4K (from 1280p, FSR 3) | 40 FPS VSync | Low |
| Quality | Upscaled 4K (from 1440p, FSR 3) | 30 FPS VSync | High |
PS5 Pro Performance Modes
The PS5 Pro offers the same three-mode structure but with meaningfully better specs across the board. The biggest difference is in the upscaling technology — Sony's upgraded PSSR replaces FSR 3 — and ray tracing never drops below High in any mode. Performance mode upscales from 1080p to 4K via PSSR while maintaining 60 FPS and High ray tracing, a significant jump over the base PS5's Low setting at the same frame rate. Balanced mode bumps the native resolution to 1440p (up from 1280p on the base console) and introduces a VRR option that can push past the 40 FPS cap to 48+ FPS.
Quality mode on the PS5 Pro is the most impressive console configuration Pearl Abyss has shared. It delivers native 4K with no upscaling at all, locks to 30 FPS, and sets ray tracing to Ultra — the only console mode to reach that tier.
| Mode | Resolution | Frame Rate Target | Ray Tracing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | Upscaled 4K (from 1080p, PSSR) | 60 FPS VSync / 60+ FPS VRR | High |
| Balanced | Upscaled 4K (from 1440p, PSSR) | 40 FPS VSync / 48+ FPS VRR | High |
| Quality | Native 4K | 30 FPS VSync | Ultra |
Xbox Series S Performance Modes
The Xbox Series S gets the short end of the stick, which isn't surprising given its hardware limitations. Pearl Abyss has only provided two modes for Microsoft's entry-level console, and neither includes ray tracing of any kind. Performance mode targets just 720p at 40 FPS — a resolution that felt dated even during the previous console generation. Quality mode reaches 1080p but caps at 30 FPS. There is no Balanced option and no VRR support.
| Mode | Resolution | Frame Rate Target | Ray Tracing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | 720p | 40 FPS VSync | Off |
| Quality | 1080p | 30 FPS VSync | Off |
How the Consoles Compare Side by Side
Putting all four consoles next to each other makes the hierarchy clear. At 60 FPS, the PS5 Pro delivers High ray tracing while the base PS5 and Series X are stuck on Low. At 30 FPS, the PS5 Pro hits native 4K with Ultra ray tracing; the PS5 and Series X manage upscaled 4K with High. The Series S can't match any of them in resolution, frame rate, or visual features.
| Console | Best Resolution | Max Frame Rate | Best Ray Tracing |
|---|---|---|---|
| PS5 Pro | Native 4K | 60+ FPS (VRR) | Ultra |
| PS5 | Upscaled 4K (from 1440p) | 60+ FPS (VRR) | High |
| Xbox Series X | Upscaled 4K (from 1440p) | 60+ FPS (VRR) | High |
| Xbox Series S | 1080p | 40 FPS | Off |
ROG Xbox Ally Support
Pearl Abyss also shared performance targets for the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds. The Ally X supports three preset modes targeting 30, 40, and 60 FPS using FSR 3 Super Resolution and Frame Generation. The standard Ally gets a single 40 FPS preset. Exact resolution and graphical settings weren't detailed beyond a note that the handhelds will use a tailored mix of PC settings, so real-world performance will depend on post-launch benchmarks.
No Console Footage Yet
Despite sharing these spec sheets, Pearl Abyss has not released any footage of Crimson Desert running on consoles. The lack of console video has drawn comparisons to Cyberpunk 2077's troubled 2020 launch, where the developer similarly withheld console footage before release. Pearl Abyss spokesperson Will Powers pushed back on those concerns, stating that the studio isn't hiding anything and plans to reveal console footage ahead of launch with enough time for players to make informed preorder decisions. Digital Foundry has confirmed it will publish console analysis before the March 19th release.
Crimson Desert launches on PC, Mac, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on March 19th with no microtransactions or cosmetic cash shop at launch. These performance targets are what Pearl Abyss is aiming for — whether the game actually holds steady at these numbers will become clear once independent testing begins closer to release day.