{"id":894006,"date":"2026-03-24T04:23:52","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T09:23:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/24\/crimson-desert-delivers-native-4k-ray-tracing-without-upscaling\/"},"modified":"2026-03-24T04:23:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T09:23:52","slug":"crimson-desert-delivers-native-4k-ray-tracing-without-upscaling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/24\/crimson-desert-delivers-native-4k-ray-tracing-without-upscaling\/","title":{"rendered":"Crimson Desert delivers native 4K ray tracing without upscaling"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"h-maincontent\" data-post-id=\"5954877\" data-post-url=\"https:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/gaming\/crimson-desert-delivers-native-4k-ray-tracing-without-upscaling\/\">\n<header id=\"dt-post-title\">\n<h2>\n\t\t\tNative performance steals the spotlight in Digital Foundry\u2019s early test.\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<div>\n<figure>\n\t<img width=\"1200\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/tachyon\/2026\/03\/Crimson-Desert-Open-World-Gameplay-Testing-on-PC-by-Digital-Foundry.jpg?resize=1200%2C720\" alt=\"Crimson Desert Open World Gameplay Testing on PC by Digital Foundry\"   decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"><figcaption>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Z0pxsi7FU9g\" rel=\"nofollow noskim\">Digital Foundry<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<article id=\"dt-post-content\" itemid=\"post-content\" itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/gaming\/crimson-desert-hands-on-game-awards-2024\/\" rel>Crimson Desert<\/a> has been one of the most visually ambitious open-world games on the horizon, and now we have a much clearer idea of how it performs. In a new technical deep dive, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalfoundry.net\/features\/crimson-deserts-blackspace-engine-rich-on-rt-without-compromising-performance\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Digital Foundry<\/a> tested the game\u2019s BlackSpace Engine and came away impressed, particularly with how well it runs natively at high settings.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<div>\n<blockquote data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\" data-initial-classes=\"twitter-tweet\" data-embed-name=\"twitter\" data-sdk-src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\">\n<div lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<p>Digital Foundry got a new look at Crimson Desert:<\/p>\n<p>The BlackSpace Engine is looking seriously impressive<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Feature-rich tech<br \/>\u2022 Heavy ray tracing implementation<br \/>\u2022 Native 4K at 60FPS on PC <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jzjdh2MBUk\">pic.twitter.com\/jzjdh2MBUk<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u2014 Ninjago (@Ninjago9101) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Ninjago9101\/status\/2027803081577206261?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 28, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>In an era where most big releases rely heavily on DLSS or FSR to hit playable frame rates, Crimson Desert appears to buck the trend. According to testing, the game was able to run at native 4K with ray tracing and ultra settings at around 60fps on an AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX, highlighting unusually strong baseline optimisation.<\/p>\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{\"imageId\":\"69c2583104e62\"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1080\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/tachyon\/2026\/03\/Crimson-Desert-Surroundings-Open-World-via-Digital-Foundry.jpg?resize=1800%2C1080\" alt=\"Crimson Desert Surroundings Open World via Digital Foundry\"  ><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5954878\"><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalfoundry.net\/features\/crimson-deserts-blackspace-engine-rich-on-rt-without-compromising-performance\" rel=\"nofollow noskim\">Digital Foundry<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>That does not mean upscaling is missing. The game supports DLSS and FSR, but the key takeaway is that they feel optional rather than essential. That distinction matters, especially for players who prefer native rendering or want more headroom for future hardware.<\/p>\n<h2>Native performance steals the spotlight<\/h2>\n<p>Digital Foundry highlighted multiple areas where the BlackSpace Engine stands out, from lighting and weather systems to texture detail and environmental density. Rain effects, global illumination, and large-scale open environments were repeatedly singled out as major visual strengths. In fact, Ray Tracing plays a big role in that presentation, particularly in lighting and reflections. Yet despite these demanding effects, the game maintains strong performance without the heavy reliance on upscaling that has become common in recent AAA launches.<\/p>\n<figure><\/figure>\n<p>The PC requirements reinforce that impression. Minimum specs list just an RX 6500 XT or GTX 1060, while recommended specs point to RTX 2080-class hardware for ultra settings and ray tracing, which is already several generations old. Together, this suggests the developers have prioritised scalability over brute-force hardware demands. That is encouraging for PC players, especially after recent AAA releases that needed heavy upscaling just to run smoothly.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Crimson Desert First Look: The BlackSpace Engine Tech Preview\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Z0pxsi7FU9g?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Of course, these results are based on PC testing. Console performance remains to be seen, but recent examples offer some optimism. Titles like Resident Evil have shown notable gains from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/gaming\/playstation-5-pro-is-getting-a-big-graphics-upgrade-with-amd-tech\/\" data-popup-added=\"true\" rel>latest PSSR updates<\/a> on PlayStation hardware. If Crimson Desert benefits from similar optimisation, it could perform well across platforms. For now, the PC outlook looks promising, and if this level of optimisation holds, Crimson Desert could be a rare AAA game that looks cutting-edge while running smoothly out of the box.<\/p>\n<section>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/VarunBioPicture-1.jpg\" alt=\"Varun Mirchandani\" previous-src=\"https:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/VarunBioPicture-1.jpg\">\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tVarun is an experienced technology journalist and editor with over eight years in consumer tech media. His work spans\u2026\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\tAfter telling players to refund, Crimson Desert will support Intel Arc\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPearl Abyss walks back Intel Arc snub, with support now in the works.\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/tachyon\/2024\/12\/crimson-desert-combat.jpg?resize=650%2C390\" alt=\"Two swordsmen clash blades in Crimson Desert.\" decoding=\"async\"  >\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The launch of Crimson Desert wasn&#8217;t smooth for everyone, especially Intel Arc GPU users. While the game was a AAA release that showed refreshing levels of polish, it didn&#8217;t support Intel Arc graphics at all.<\/p>\n<p>If you looked for more details and stumbled upon the FAQ, Pearl Abyss simply told you to seek a refund. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/gaming\/after-telling-players-to-refund-crimson-desert-will-support-intel-arc\/\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tRead more\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\tAI frame generation is coming to the PS5 Pro\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAI frame generation could be the next big upgrade for PS5 Pro\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/tachyon\/2026\/02\/Sony-PS5-Pro-Shot-with-Blue-Light.jpg?resize=650%2C390\" alt=\"Sony PS5 Pro Shot with Blue Light\" decoding=\"async\"   previous-src=\"https:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/tachyon\/2026\/02\/Sony-PS5-Pro-Shot-with-Blue-Light.jpg?resize=650%2C390\">\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Sony is preparing to take its PlayStation graphics technology a step further, with AI-powered frame generation now confirmed as a future feature for PlayStation platforms. While details remain limited, the update could significantly improve visual smoothness and performance\u2014especially on hardware like the PS5 Pro.<\/p>\n<p>A New Step Beyond Upscaling<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/gaming\/ai-frame-generation-is-coming-to-the-ps5-pro\/\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tRead more\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\tWhy everyone hates NVIDIA DLSS 5 (but will love it eventually)\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFrom &#8220;GPT Moment&#8221; to 2D filters, here&#8217;s why DLSS 5 is currently the internet\u2019s favorite punching bag\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/tachyon\/2026\/03\/DLSS-5-Comparison-Hogwarts-Legacy.jpg?resize=650%2C390\" alt=\"DLSS 5 Comparison Hogwarts Legacy\" decoding=\"async\"   previous-src=\"https:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/tachyon\/2026\/03\/DLSS-5-Comparison-Hogwarts-Legacy.jpg?resize=650%2C390\">\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Upscaling, or reconstructing frames for video games in real time, is a pretty controversial practice. Pursists balk at the idea, but users with a &#8220;weak&#8221; or mid-tier gaming system appreciate the extra fluidity that comes with it. NVIDIA does it. So does AMD. And Intel, too. But all hell broke loose when Nvidia announced the next iteration of its super-sampling tech, particularly owing to the excessively AI-fied look of the visuals, especially human faces.<\/p>\n<p>DLSS 5 Off (left) vs DLSS 5 On (right)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/computing\/why-everyone-hates-nvidia-dlss-5-but-will-love-it-eventually\/\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tRead more\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> Varun Mirchandani<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/gaming\/crimson-desert-delivers-native-4k-ray-tracing-without-upscaling\/\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Native performance steals the spotlight in Digital Foundry\u2019s early test. Digital Foundry Crimson Desert has been one of the most visually ambitious open-world games on the horizon, and now we have a much clearer idea of how it performs. In a new technical deep dive, Digital Foundry tested the game\u2019s BlackSpace Engine and came away<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":894007,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2396,26664],"tags":[148324,9947],"class_list":{"0":"post-894006","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-crimson","8":"category-desert","9":"tag-crimson","10":"tag-desert"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/894006","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=894006"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/894006\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/894007"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=894006"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=894006"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=894006"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}