Unreal Engine 5 is currently regarded as the gold standard of optimization, especially when we are talking about realistic lighting and ray-tracing capabilities. However, that does not mean that it's the only 3D-creation platform when it comes to games.
Developer Pearl Abyss is taking a different route with its proprietary BlackSpace Engine. The technology powers the upcoming action RPG "Crimson Desert," delivering a massive open world that features vast landscapes with remarkable environmental detail. Here's what the game looks like when it runs on PS5 Pro.
Advanced Ray Tracing and Lighting Technology
Rather than following industry trends, the studio designed a custom engine capable of rendering dense environments filled with intricate textures, dynamic lighting, and large-scale terrain that feels alive.
Most gameplay demonstrations so far have been shown on PC, but Pearl Abyss recently revealed a near-final build running on the PlayStation 5 Pro. The console showcase demonstrated that the game's ambitious visuals can scale beyond high-end PCs while still maintaining impressive performance.
According to Digital Foundry, one of the most striking features of "Crimson Desert" is its ray-traced diffuse global illumination system. The technology allows sunlight to bounce naturally across surfaces and illuminate interiors, creating realistic lighting transitions between outdoor and indoor areas.
Local light sources, such as a character's lantern, also generate dynamic shadows in real time, significantly enhancing immersion during exploration and combat.
Ray tracing is enabled across all three graphics modes on the PS5 Pro version. This ensures consistent lighting quality regardless of the selected performance settings. Although some minor artifacts may appear in scenes with strong contrast, the implementation appears cleaner than in many recent titles using similar technology.
Performance Modes and Resolution Targets
Pearl Abyss provides three graphical modes for console players: Optimal (Performance), Balanced, and Quality. These target 60 frames per second, 40 fps, and 30 fps, respectively. Base resolutions are 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, though the Optimal and Balanced modes use PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution to upscale the image to 4K output.
The current build utilizes an early version of the upscaling technology, meaning visual fidelity could improve further as updates roll out.
Check DF's game test here.
'Crimson Desert' PS5 Pro Test Looks Promising
Despite its demanding open-world design and advanced graphical systems, "Crimson Desert" appears to run smoothly on the PlayStation 5 Pro.
While future updates may refine performance and VRR stability, early impressions suggest console players can expect a visually stunning and technically ambitious adventure when the game finally launches.
Originally published on Player One
