Pearl Abyss apologizes and removes Intel Arc refund message as Crimson Desert “launches” for Team Blue with bugs

Following the recent controversy over Pearl Abyss requesting that Intel Arc users refund Crimson Desert, the gaming community voiced its frustration. In response to the backlash, Pearl Abyss has issued a firm apology and reversed its stance on Intel Arc GPUs. To the surprise of many, gamers report that Crimson Desert now “launches” on Intel Arc systems, but performance optimizations, and specifically bug patches, still leave much to be desired.

Pearl Abyss issued the apology on X, backtracking from its prior FAQ stance, and said:

“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.”

The studio further stated:

“We apologize for any confusion our FAQ wording from several hours ago regarding playability on Intel Arc GPUs may have caused. Please regard this as our official news on the subject. Thank you.” 

The original FAQ was fairly dismissive, with Pearl Abyss addressing Intel Arc users and stating that the game doesn’t support Intel’s graphics cards, and that anyone who hoped to play on the chipmaker’s GPUs should seek a refund on their respective platforms.

For a major release that generated significant anticipation, this wording felt blunt, sparking outrage among many gamers, especially Intel Arc users. Even Intel chimed in, clarifying the situation and shifting responsibility to Pearl Abyss. According to Intel, the company tried to reach out to Pearl Abyss on numerous occasions for Intel Arc optimization and support, but to no avail.

Intel said it was “hugely disappointed that players using Intel graphics hardware can’t jump into the world of Pywel at launch.” However, the chipmaker added that it is still open to helping Pearl Abyss in any way needed.

An unstable title for Intel Arc GPU users for now

With these recent developments, Pearl Abyss has removed the Intel Arc snippet from its FAQ and is preparing optimizations and tweaks for Intel Arc users. Some Intel Arc GPU users have reported that Crimson Desert’s recent patch v1.00.03 allows them to launch the game. However, the game launches with missing textures, shaders, or boots to an in-game black screen for many users.

Pearl Abyss has yet to announce an official release date for a patch supporting Intel Arc GPUs and has asked gamers to remain patient.