Crimson Desert, the highly anticipated open-world game, launched on March 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Since its release, the game has been the subject of widespread online discussion, particularly regarding its technical performance and a frustrating graphics bug that has affected many players.
The visual quality of Crimson Desert can be subjective and largely depends on a player’s chosen settings. Consoles offer various graphics presets; for instance, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S typically provide three options, while the Xbox Series S features two (lacking a Balanced mode).
However, numerous players have reported a persistent bug where graphics settings, including HDR configurations, frequently reset upon restarting the game or even during gameplay. What’s particularly vexing is that the game might appear visually degraded even when the settings menu still displays the correct, higher-quality options.
Developer Pearl Abyss has acknowledged this issue, listing it among the known problems they are actively working to resolve. A permanent fix is expected in a future update.
In the meantime, a straightforward workaround exists. If you encounter the bug, simply switch to a different graphics mode within the game’s settings and then immediately switch back to your preferred mode. Note that HDR settings may still need to be manually reconfigured after this process.
This temporary solution should help players enjoy Crimson Desert’s visuals as intended until the developers roll out a definitive patch.