Crimson Desert commits to Intel ARC GPU support following backlash
Pearl Abyss confirms that ARC GPU support is coming to Crimson Desert following backlash
In an official statement released this morning, Pearl Abyss has backtracked on its position on Intel ARC graphics. Until now, the developer has not supported Intel’s GPUs and has simply asked Intel ARC users to get a refund. Now, following a backlash from the PC gaming community, Pearl Abyss has changed its position.
Last week, Intel went on the record, confirming that they have offered Pearl Abyss support for the “past several years” to deliver optimised ARC GPU support. Pearl Abyss did not accept Intel’s offer. Now, Pearl Abyss has started work on compatibility and optimisation support for Intel ARC GPUs.
Gamers on Reddit and Twitter are now saying that Crimson Desert now boots on Intel ARC GPUs. However, the game is not currently stable. Pearl Abyss has asked gamers to be patient as they work to deliver a smooth, stable gaming experience for Intel ARC users.
Does Crimson Desert support Intel Arc?
Regarding Crimson Desert support for Intel Arc:
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.– Crimson Desert FAQ – March 23rd 2026
Regarding #CrimsonDesert support for Intel Arc:
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…— Crimson Desert (@CrimsonDesert_) March 23, 2026
From “get a refund” to “support is coming”
Over the past few days, Pearl Abyss went from recommending refunds for ARC users to promising full compatibility and optimisation. Negative news about this lack of ARC support and Intel’s comments on the matter made Pearl Abyss’ position untenable. It was also strange that Crimson Desert supported modern M-series Macs but didn’t support Intel graphics on PC.
(A reminder of what Crimson Desert’s FAQ previously said)
The good news is that Intel ARC GPU support is coming to Crimson Desert. Hopefully, this means full XeSS support is planned, including multi-frame generation.
As of now, all we can say is that the backlash worked. Pearl Abyss was pressured into delivering Intel ARC GPU support, something they had been reluctant to do. We hope that full ARC GPU support can arrive soon, and that the improvements that help enable Intel GPU support can improve the game for users of other graphics hardware.
You can join the discussion on Crimson Desert’s upcoming Intel ARC GPU optimisations on the OC3D Forums.
