Weirdly, the latest open-world title developed by Pearl Abyss doesn't even run on Intel GPUs.
Crimson Desert Developer, Pearl Abyss, Confirms The Game Does Not Support Intel Arc GPUs; No Indication of Future Support Either
[Update - 3/21/2026] - Intel has offered a statement on the lack of Arc GPU support in Crimson Desert:
"We’re aware that Crimson Desert currently doesn’t launch on systems with Intel GPUs and we’re hugely disappointed that players using Intel graphics hardware can’t jump into the world of Pywel at launch.
Getting games running smoothly is always a partnership between developers and hardware makers. Over the past several years, we’ve reached out to Pearl Abyss many times to help test, validate, and optimize support for Intel graphics, providing early hardware, drivers, and engineering resources across multiple generations, including Alchemist, Battlemage, Meteor Lake, and Lunar Lake.
Our teams are deeply committed to helping all studios deliver the best experience possible, providing open tools, documentation, and direct engineering support to make sure their games run well for everyone, including the tens of millions of players using Intel GPUs. We remain ready to assist Pearl Abyss however we can.
For details on the choice not to enable Intel support at launch, please reach out directly to Pearl Abyss."
Intel Rep to Wccftech
It's really disappointing to see developers restricting the game's access on certain hardware. Crimson Desert, developed and published by Pearl Abyss, is currently the most popular title on Steam, but unfortunately, the game doesn't run on Intel Arc GPUs. Reports of the game not supporting Intel GPUs have started surfacing online, and several Intel Arc GPU owners have confirmed that the game doesn't even run, let alone have optimization issues.
It's bizarre to see such a huge title being limited to just AMD and NVIDIA hardware, but what could be the actual reason? Pearl Abyss has confirmed that Crimson Desert won't work on Intel Arc GPUs in the FAQ section on the official website. What's worse is that the developer didn't even disclose whether they have any plans to add support for Intel Arc GPUs in the future.
Pearl Abyss says that those who have bought the game, "expecting Intel Arc support," should now apply for a refund. It appears that they don't have any plans to add Arc support for the game. Even though Intel Arc GPUs don't have a large share in the GPU market, there are still a lot of users that are currently running an Intel Arc GPU in their system, including both discrete and integrated options. Intel recently launched the Panther Lake series, featuring one of the most powerful integrated graphics solutions for mobile platforms, but the game wouldn't even run on these.
When users try to run it, an error message pops up saying "The graphics device is currently not supported". This means that many upcoming handhelds, featuring Panther Lake SoCs, won't support it, and Intel is already planning to launch a dedicated SoC lineup for handhelds this year.
If you want to know more about Crimson Desert, head to our dedicated hub page for info on gameplay, technical specs, our review in progress, and guides.
News Source: Pearl Abyss
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
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