Pearl Abyss’ highly anticipated open-world action RPG, Crimson Desert, launched on March 19, 2026, and has already surpassed 2 million units sold globally, the company announced. The game, developed by the creators of Black Desert Online, is generating significant buzz within the gaming community, offering a vast and immersive experience for players.
However, the launch hasn’t been without its challenges. A compatibility issue has emerged affecting users with Intel Arc GPUs, preventing them from running the game. Pearl Abyss has acknowledged the problem and is currently advising affected PC users to seek a refund through their respective platform’s policies. “Currently Crimson Desert is not compatible with Intel Arc graphics cards,” the company stated in an FAQ on its official website. “If you purchased the game expecting compatibility with Intel Arc, please refer to the refund policy of the platform where you purchased the game for available options. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.”
While Intel Arc GPUs aren’t the most widely used among gamers, the incompatibility has come as a surprise to some players who now face the prospect of requesting a refund. Pearl Abyss has not yet indicated whether a future patch will address the issue, leaving those with Intel Arc hardware in a state of uncertainty. This highlights the ongoing complexities developers face in ensuring broad hardware compatibility for demanding titles.
Strong Sales Despite Technical Hiccups
Despite the GPU issue, Crimson Desert has experienced a strong start, selling 2 million copies worldwide. At its peak, the game reached 239,045 concurrent players on Steam alone, demonstrating considerable initial demand. However, user reviews on Steam currently reflect a mixed reception, with 56% of over 12,600 user reviews being positive, as of March 21, 2026.
“Thank you very much to our fans, the community, and everyone who has joined us in Pywel,” Pearl Abyss stated in a post on X. “We will listen carefully to the wide variety of feedback shared by the community and work to produce improvements quickly, doing our best to make the journey even more enjoyable for our players.”
The game’s story centers around Kliff Mcduff and his company of Greymanes, set on the continent of Pywel, a harsh alpine region. According to the game’s lore, the Greymanes were ambushed by the Black Bears, led by Myurdin, leaving the group scattered and seeking revenge, as detailed in the game’s official description. Crimson Desert is available on PC, macOS, PS5, PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X/S.
