Crimson Desert under the microscope on Xbox: Digital Foundry approves Xbox Series X but not Xbox Series S for these things

The technical analysis reveals big differences between Series X and Series S.

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The performance of Crimson Desert on Xbox consoles has been thoroughly analyzed, and the conclusions are striking. The team at Digital Foundry has published their technical study, highlighting clear differences between versions, especially on Xbox Series S.

It’s no surprise that there are adjustments between consoles, but in this case, the gap is more evident than usual. And that’s noticeable in both visuals and performance.

Xbox Series S suffers significant cuts in Crimson Desert

According to the analysis, Xbox Series S offers two game modes: quality at 30 FPS and performance with a target of 40 FPS on compatible screens. To achieve this, the game completely dispenses with advanced features and reduces many graphics settings.

Among the highlights:

• Resolution of 1080p in quality mode and 720p in performance mode
• Complete elimination of Ray Tracing
• Textures, shadows, and models at low levels
• Issues with vegetation pop-in and lighting
• Performance drops to 20 FPS in demanding moments

The performance mode, in particular, leaves a compromised image, with a visual quality that some compare to versions on much more limited hardware.

Xbox Series X offers a more solid experience, but with room for improvement

In the case of Xbox Series X, the situation improves significantly. The game achieves more stable performance and much more polished visuals, approaching what’s seen on other consoles of the same generation. However, it’s not without issues. In areas with many characters or intense combat, performance can drop to 30 FPS, causing loss of fluidity and effects like tearing.

The quality mode is the most stable, but even there, there’s room for optimization. With the latest updates, the experience has improved, although there’s still work to be done.

The analysis leaves a clear conclusion, quite evident: Crimson Desert is playable on Xbox Series S, but while Series X delivers, the Series S version falls far behind and is not the most recommended option if you’re looking for the best possible experience.