Crimson Desert is finally here, and a lot of gamers have had plenty to say about the ambitious fantasy title, especially when it comes to its control system. This year is stacked with big releases, and Crimson Desert has been a game that many have had on their radar for years at this point.
Now that Pearl Abyss’ long-awaited project is finally here, the reviews from both critics and players are trickling in. Despite all the hype surrounding the game, the feedback has been wildly mixed. Crimson Desert delivers on the massive open world that it promised, but one of the features that a lot of players are having trouble with is the game’s controls. Crimson Desert‘s gameplay has been deemed as overly complex by some gamers, but a Pearl Abyss exec believes that the cumbersome controls are worth taking the time to learn.
Crimson Desert Review: A Remarkable Open World That Often Asks Too Much
Crimson Desert offers one of the most impressive worlds in gaming, but the deeper you go, the more it asks you to meet it on its own terms.
A Pearl Abyss Employee Addresses Player’s Complaints About Crimson Desert’s Complicated Controls
Pearl Abyss’ PR and Marketing Director Will Powers recently responded to a player on Twitter regarding Crimson Desert‘s control system. The gamer in question replied to one of Powers’ tweets celebrating Crimson Desert‘s launch. They said that they had enjoyed their time with the game, but it would be even better if the controls were easier to learn. Powers replied, reassuring the player that learning the controls eventually becomes like “riding a bike.” The learning curve may be steep, but it will eventually feel like second nature.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
Crimson Desert‘s controls have been causing notable frustration, with many players going to social media to voice their concerns that it’s getting in the way of an experience they otherwise find enjoyable. For example, the interact button and the jump button are the same. This can often cause players to accidentally jump when they’re trying to engage with the environment. Also, players who wish to talk to NPCs have to press LB (if using DualSense), aim at the desired character, then hit X. Such mixed feedback has made it clear that Pearl Abyss’ single-player adventure isn’t going to be for everyone. The control system is one of the main points of contention even in a lot of positive Crimson Desert reviews, though.
The size of Crimson Desert‘s map makes it rife for exploration, but the controls have thrown a wrench in the excitement. Pearl Abyss’ marketing leading up to the game’s launch continued to emphasize just how large the world is and how fun it is to explore, so it’s understandable why so many have been frustrated with strange controls interrupting their attempts to be immersed in the adventure.
Crimson Desert is Going to Be an Interesting Game to Watch in 2026
This fantasy adventure has proven to be really divisive, so seeing how Pearl Abyss responds to the feedback is going to be intriguing. There are ways that control criticism can be addressed down the road. Adding the ability to remap buttons could be added in a future update. It’s also very possible that Pearl Abyss keeps the controls as they are. Crimson Desert was originally announced back in 2019, so the devs have spent plenty of time working on the game’s mechanics. The team decided on this control system for a reason, so it’s likely to remain a major part of the Crimson Desert experience. Crimson Desert‘s player count at launch has been impressive, but the rest of the year will be the ultimate reflection on how players feel about it. Having a strong launch is one thing, but being able to retain players is much trickier. Only time will tell if players eventually get used to how Crimson Desert‘s controls work.
- Released
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March 19, 2026
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
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Pearl Abyss
- Publisher(s)
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Pearl Abyss
