Crimson Desert is easily one of the biggest releases of the year. After a long wait, the game finally launched across all platforms last week. While it already had its share of performance issues, things took a turn for the worse when Intel GPU users reported that the game wouldn’t run at all on their systems. However, developers Pearl Abyss have now started to address the issue.

Most modern games launch with support for Intel Arc GPUs, so it came as a surprise when Crimson Desert failed to boot on them – including integrated graphics on handhelds like the MSI Claw. What made matters worse was that many players weren’t even aware of the lack of support, as the developers only mentioned it in an FAQ, where they advised affected users to seek refunds.

Quick turnaround for Intel graphics support

Now, the situation is starting to improve. Pearl Abyss has updated the game’s compatibility status, confirming that work is underway to bring proper support and optimization for Intel Arc GPUs. The goal is to deliver a stable and smooth experience, but the developers have noted that it will take some time before a reliable update is ready.

We are currently working on compatibility and optimization support so that Crimson Desert can also be enjoyed on Intel Arc GPU systems. We are preparing to provide a smooth and stable gameplay experience, and we ask for your patience until the support update becomes available.

We apologize for any confusion our previous FAQ wording regarding playability on Intel Arc GPUs may have caused. Please regard this as our latest official news on the subject.

Pearl Abyss

For now, Intel Arc users can download and launch Crimson Desert, but the experience is far from perfect. Players may encounter performance issues, crashes, and general instability during gameplay. Because of this, it may be better to wait until the optimization work is complete before purchasing the game.

For example, one player mentioned that the game crashed when enabling FSR, followed by a black screen, and they were unable to launch it again after that. Another user on the MSI Claw 8 AI+ reported that while the game compiles shaders and loads into the world, it only displays a black screen afterward. They can access the map and inventory, but nothing else. These problems will require future updates, likely including new Intel drivers, if they are to be fully resolved.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.