Crimson Desert didn’t quite have a blockbuster launch, but things have been steadily getting better. The game’s first update fixed a lot of the control issues players were facing, eventually leading to more positive reviews and has now even seen Pearl Abyss’ shares go up. However, it seems the devs are not done improving the game.
In another recent update, Pearl Abyss further improved gameplay and controls, while also introducing five new mounts. Even the AI-generated paintings are being swapped out. However, the update included another major improvement which didn’t quite make the headlines, but has made traveling across Pywel almost seamless.
Faster Fast Travel
If you scroll down to the Performance, Stability, Gameplay section of the patch notes, you’ll notice it says, “Loading times have been reduced when traveling via Abyss Traces and when respawning after death.” It may not sound like much, but it makes traveling across the massive map much easier, especially since quests eventually become quite spaced out.
When compared side-by-side, the difference becomes even more stark. As showcased by NikTek on Twitter, the earlier fast travel used to take about 18 seconds, and has now been cut down to around ten seconds. Almost half. Not only is the load time optimised, but the devs have cut a few unnecessary animations as well.
The boot-up sequence and the fast travel can be a bit annoying, especially as it shows Kliff walking at a snail’s pace. By now you’re used to him riding and flying across the land, so I wouldn’t blame you if you found the animation annoying. Thankfully, the update shortens it down to just three steps before reaching your destination.
As part of the additional optimization, even the initial loading screen after booting up the game feels much faster. If things keep going this way, Crimson Desert players will run out of things to complain about. Unfortunately, not much can be done about the game’s uninspiring story, as even Kliff actor Alec Newman recently revealed he found it confusing during development.
- Released
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March 19, 2026
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
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Pearl Abyss
- Publisher(s)
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Pearl Abyss
