Essential Settings

Patch 2.00.00 language and flying-control setup

Version 2.00.00 adds full voice-over support for German, French, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese and Japanese, plus Arabic interface and subtitles. Arabic voice-over is not listed.

It also adds Flying Mount Controls under Others → Input:

Mode	Behaviour
Camera	The mount travels in the direction the camera faces
Manual	Heading is independent of the camera, with separate ascent and descent inputs

Test a changed mode over open ground. The official notice does not publish the exact per-platform ascent and descent bindings.

If Spanish is missing after updating, select Default in Language and Audio. On Xbox, installing another language pack can remove the previous pack, and deleting one pack can remove all installed packs.

Version 2.00.01 fixes abnormal text when Arabic is selected. If malformed Arabic text returns on Version 2.00.02, preserve the exact menu or subtitle, text-language setting, platform and build before reporting it as a regression. Do not change the voice-language guidance: Arabic remains interface/subtitle support, not listed voice-over.

Source: Official Version 2.00.01 hotfix

This page separates officially available options and known issues from editorial recommendations. There is no single perfect preset: display, hardware, eyesight, motion sensitivity and control preference all change the correct answer.

Patch 1.18.00 lock-on choice

Lock-on Camera Rotation now offers Manual, Semi-Auto and Auto instead of the former Enabled/Disabled switch.

Start with Semi-Auto, test one ordinary encounter, then choose Manual if you want full camera control or Auto if keeping a target centred matters more. Recheck the setting after the patch rather than assuming the old binary preference migrated exactly.

Mounted ranged lock-on was also corrected. Source: Official Patch 1.18.00

Five-minute setup

Before the first long session:

1. increase Minimum Font Size until inventory descriptions can be read without leaning forward;
2. set subtitle size to the largest comfortable option;
3. adjust camera distance, offsets, auto-follow and lookahead;
4. enable colourblind or photosensitive options where relevant;
5. remap any defensive control that is difficult to press reliably;
6. choose a graphics target that holds a stable frame rate in combat;
7. make a manual save and confirm platform cloud synchronisation.

Readability and accessibility

Crimson Desert has gained several accessibility options through post-launch updates.

Recommended starting points

Option	Starting recommendation	Why
Minimum Font Size	Increase until item text is comfortable at normal distance	It affects menus and reduces repeated zooming or leaning
Subtitle Font Size	Large or Max where needed	Dialogue can occur during movement and combat
Colourblind Mode	Use the mode that most clearly separates interface states	Selection is personal; verify colours in inventory and combat UI
Photosensitive Mode	Enable if flashes or rapid effects are uncomfortable	Reduces exposure to problematic presentation
Chromatic Aberration	Disable if edge blur causes discomfort	This is a preference, not a performance requirement
Night Tone Mode	Enable if dark shaded areas are difficult to distinguish	It softens colours and improves visibility in some dark scenes
Fast Forward Speed	Set conservatively before increasing	Up to 4× is available for viewed dialogue/cutscene handling

Pearl Abyss added Minimum Font Size, camera controls, colourblind mode, chromatic aberration and photosensitive mode across updates 1.03 and 1.04. Minimum Font Size changes now apply immediately.

Camera setup

Use a quiet area and test:

• Camera Visual Range — increase if the character occupies too much of the screen;
• Vertical Offset — adjust so the horizon and nearby enemies remain visible;
• Horizontal Offset — useful if centred framing obscures the direction of travel;
• Camera Auto-follow — reduce or disable if automatic correction fights manual input;
• Camera Lookahead — lower it if forward movement causes unwanted camera drift.

Practical method

1. stand still and centre the camera;
2. run in a circle without touching the camera;
3. sprint in a straight line;
4. lock on to one enemy;
5. disengage and turn away;
6. adjust one option only;
7. repeat.

Changing several camera values together makes it difficult to identify which option solved or caused the problem.

Controller setup

Controller remapping was added in Patch 1.09.00 and is available across platforms.

Recommended priority order

Remap controls based on consequences:

1. dodge/evasion;
2. block or defensive action;
3. lock-on or camera reset;
4. healing;
5. frequently used weapon actions;
6. interaction and utility actions.

A defensive action should not require releasing the camera stick at the moment it is needed.

Current known issue

When Evasion Control is set to Hold, the original default Evasion key may still function after remapping. This remains listed in the official Known Issues notice revised 31 August 2026 at 13:20 UTC. Test the new mapping in a safe area before relying on it in a difficult fight.

PC controller support

The PC version officially supports:

• Xbox controllers;
• DualSense via USB.

If Steam Input produces duplicated or incorrect prompts, compare behaviour with Steam Input enabled and disabled. Do not change several controller layers at once.

Keyboard and mouse setup

There is no universal key layout, but the following rules are reliable:

• keep dodge, block and healing within one hand movement;
• avoid binding two high-frequency combat actions to the same finger;
• keep interaction separate from an attack used near NPCs or objects;
• preserve an easy camera-reset or lock-on input;
• test inventory right-click actions after rebinding, because keyboard/mouse inventory interaction has been revised in later patches.

Use the opening encounters as a control test, not a damage test. A layout is poor if you can perform a combo but cannot interrupt your own aggression to defend.

PC graphics and performance

Use the official hardware baseline

Crimson Desert requires DirectX 12 on PC. Pearl Abyss publishes separate performance specifications and notes that results vary with hardware, software and individual graphics settings.

Stable-frame-rate rule

Choose the highest settings that remain stable in ordinary combat, not the highest settings that look good while standing still.

A sensible tuning order is:

1. select the intended output resolution;
2. choose one upscaler or native rendering;
3. establish a stable base frame rate;
4. add frame generation only after the base frame rate is responsive;
5. reduce ray-traced lighting/shadows or other expensive effects before lowering textures on a GPU with adequate VRAM;
6. retest in rain, settlements and combat.

Upscaling and frame generation

The PC version supports FSR, DLSS and Intel XeSS technologies. Frame generation is available on PC, but Pearl Abyss warns that very low base frame rates can produce poor responsiveness and image stability.

For capture setups using Windows duplicate display, DLSS Multi Frame Generation can reduce capture quality. Pearl Abyss recommends maintaining a sufficient base frame rate and, for that scenario, disabling vertical-synchronisation-related settings such as V-sync and G-sync.

Patch 1.16 graphics baseline

Patch 1.16.00 implemented AMD FSR SDK 2.3.0, added FSR Upscaling 4.1 support for Radeon RX 7000-series GPUs and updated Ray Regeneration to 1.2.0.

Current PC known issues

As of the 16 August 09:00 UTC official notice:

• GTX 1060 systems can show a white screen when FSR Upscaling and Frame Generation are enabled together;
• FSR4 can make rain disappear or create blur/distortion in rainy environments;
• the official general recommendation remains AMD 25.9.2 or later and NVIDIA 581.29 or later.

Change one setting at a time and retest the same scene before altering drivers or unrelated options.

PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro

Display connection

Some higher-refresh console modes require:

• a compatible 120 Hz or 240 Hz display;
• HDMI 2.1;
• VRR support where a VRR mode is used.

If the image appears unexpectedly soft, Pearl Abyss specifically recommends checking HDMI 2.1 cable support.

Platform features

• PS5 uses FSR 3 support;
• PS5 Pro supports upgraded PSSR;
• console frame generation is not listed as supported;
• a Sharpness Enhancement option is available on base PS5.

Current PlayStation known issue

Rapidly typing a pet or horse name with the virtual keyboard may freeze the screen. Enter characters slowly with brief pauses until the issue is removed from the official known-issues list.

Recommended approach

Prefer the mode that remains stable in combat and camera movement. A sharper screenshot is less valuable than consistent input response during boss patterns.

Xbox Series X|S

Display connection

Use HDMI 2.1 and a compatible display for modes that require higher refresh rates or VRR. If the picture looks blurred, verify the cable and display input mode before changing every in-game setting.

Platform features

• Xbox Series X|S supports FSR 3;
• Sharpness Enhancement is available;
• console frame generation is not listed as supported.

Recommended approach

On Series S especially, prioritise consistent motion and readable image reconstruction over maximum effects. Test sharpness in foliage, hair and distant architecture rather than only in menus.

HDR, darkness and presentation

Use HDR only when the display is correctly configured at system level. If black levels are crushed or highlights clip:

1. calibrate the console or operating system HDR output;
2. confirm the display input is using the intended HDR mode;
3. test the game with Night Tone Mode off and on;
4. compare SDR before assuming the game setting is the only cause.

Night Tone Mode is an accessibility/presentation choice, not a requirement. It can make shaded areas easier to read but changes the intended contrast.

Save and synchronisation settings

Settings are only useful if progress is safe.

• allow Steam Cloud to reach 100% before closing Steam or shutting down the PC;
• fully close the game before putting a console into rest mode;
• confirm cloud upload before launching on another device;
• back up local saves before clean installs or driver troubleshooting;
• use multiple manual slots;
• read Save, Storage & Inventory Safety before enabling cross-save across several platforms.

Recommended baseline profiles

These are decision profiles, not fixed values.

Readability-first

• larger font and subtitles;
• increased camera range;
• reduced camera auto-follow;
• photosensitive mode where required;
• chromatic aberration off;
• Night Tone Mode tested in dark environments.

Performance-first

• stable base frame rate;
• moderate upscaling quality rather than aggressive frame generation;
• expensive ray-traced effects reduced first;
• motion tested in combat and rain;
• no driver version listed in known issues.

Cinematic-first

• higher image quality with frame-rate expectations accepted;
• HDR calibrated correctly;
• motion effects retained only if comfortable;
• avoid sacrificing control responsiveness for an unstable target.

Sources

• Official Version 2.00.02 patch notes
• Official Version 2.00.01 patch notes — Arabic text repair
• Official Version 2.00.00 patch notes
• Official voice and text language support guide
• Official Patch 1.03.00 — camera and font settings
• Official Patch 1.04.00 — accessibility options
• Official Patch 1.04.02 — immediate font-size changes
• Official Patch 1.09.00 — controller remapping
• Official performance specifications
• Official FAQ
• Official Patch 1.16.00
• Official Patch 1.18.02
• Official Patch 1.18.01
• Current known issues