Crimson Desert quickly became one of the most anticipated games of 2026, but it hasn’t launched without its problems. The game has suffered from Mixed reviews on Steam earlier on, with many players pointing towards crashing and stuttering issues on PC, as well as bizarre default controls that one Pearl Abyss exec admits take some getting used to. Even worse, the game doesn’t even run on Intel graphics, so you’ll need to use an Nvidia or AMD GPU to jump in.

We know that Intel’s GPU market share is minuscule, but most other titles these days support Arc graphics. Crimson Desert isn’t one of them. This doesn’t only mean that graphics cards like the current flagship Intel Arc B580 aren’t good enough, but integrated graphics solutions, too, including Intel-powered gaming handhelds like the MSI Claw.

Crimson Desert doesn’t run on your Intel GPU or iGPU

Does Crimson Desert support Intel Arc? 

No, Crimson Desert currently does not support Intel Arc graphics cards. If you purchased the game expecting Intel Arc support, please refer to the refund policy of the platform where the game was purchased for available options. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Source: Crimson Desert FAQs

Developers & publishers of the game Pearl Abyss simply recommend that Intel users who bought the game seek a refund. We imagine anyone running into this problem assumed the game would run on their system without a hitch. Over on Reddit, one MSI Claw user confirms it fails to run on their handheld device. The majority of MSI Claws are Intel-powered, aside from 2025’s Claw A8, powered by the Ryzen Z2 Extreme.

Crimson Desert recommends 150GB of storage space on PC, so it’s disappointing to see customers be met with a major roadblock after spending time downloading it. In any case, refunding seems like the easiest course of action, unless you happen to have an AMD or Nvidia GPU spare to play the game on instead. Alternatively, Intel handheld users may pick up an eGPU.

As a final side note, you might want to check your display is actually plugged into your GPU, rather than your motherboard running Intel integrated graphics.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.