Crimson Desert is now up and running on Intel Arc GPUs after an initial rejection.

      New driver resolves the launch issue, but bugs and crashes continue.

      Crimson Desert is now operational on Intel Arc GPUs, marking the end of a period during which the game wouldn’t start on this hardware at all. A new Intel graphics driver has eliminated that obstacle, allowing players to access the game without needing workarounds for the first time.

      This development follows months of tension between Intel and the developer Pearl Abyss. At launch, Arc cards prompted an unsupported hardware error, despite Intel's efforts to collaborate with the studio on testing and optimization. This disconnect fully barred Arc users from playing the game.

      Now, with the latest Game On driver, users report that the title opens and runs, particularly on cards like the Arc B580. While this is a significant advancement, the overall experience still requires refinement as more players begin to test it.

      How Intel resolved the lockout

      The solution comes with Intel’s Game On driver version 32.0.101.8629, which lifts the block that previously prevented the game from launching on Arc hardware. Prior to this update, users were unable to bypass the error screen, regardless of their settings.

      Digital Foundry

      The lack of support led to noticeable friction. Pearl Abyss recognized the issue at launch, while Intel countered, stating it had made several attempts to assist in validating performance on its GPUs. This public discourse increased the pressure to provide a solution.

      Where performance is lacking

      Accessing the game is just one aspect of the situation. Initial feedback indicates an inconsistent experience, with evident visual and technical problems still occurring.

      Gameplay appears stable in motion, yet character models can exhibit facial artifacts that disrupt immersion. Additionally, terrain rendering issues arise in certain areas, implying that optimization for Intel hardware is still a work in progress.

      Pearl Abyss

      Stability continues to be a concern in specific setups. Some users report that modifying settings can alleviate problems, but enabling AMD FSR may cause crashes. The game supports FSR 4 and NVIDIA DLSS 4.5; however, Intel’s XeSS is absent, leaving Arc users without a native upscaling feature that aligns with their hardware.

      What Arc users require next

      This update establishes basic compatibility, but it doesn’t offer a fully optimized experience yet. The game is operational, but it does not fully leverage the capabilities of Intel GPUs.

      The addition of XeSS support is a clear next step. Without it, Arc users have limited options for balancing performance and image quality compared to those using rival hardware.

      Bug fixes will likely come first as more players identify edge cases across various setups. For the moment, Arc owners can finally access the game, but waiting for a few more updates may lead to a more seamless and consistent experience.

      Paulo Vargas is an English major turned reporter turned technical writer, with a career that has always circled back to...

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