Crimson Desert Quest Progression Bug Blocks Players as Pearl Abyss Lists Known Issues

Pearl Abyss has released a new update outlining several ongoing issues in Crimson Desert, with one major problem standing out: a quest progression bug that is currently preventing players from advancing through key story content.

The notice, published on June 20, 2026, confirms that the development team is actively investigating these issues while working toward fixes.

Quest Progression Bug Impacts Core Gameplay

The most critical issue highlighted in the update affects Greymane faction quests, which cannot be progressed when playing as certain characters, including Damiane and Oongka. This bug has become a major concern for players, as it directly blocks progression and disrupts the narrative experience.

Quest-related issues are among the most serious in any RPG, particularly in a title like Crimson Desert where story progression plays a central role. By acknowledging the problem publicly, Pearl Abyss has confirmed that it is aware of the disruption and is working on a solution.

The company also warned that its known issues list may include spoilers, suggesting that the affected quests are tied to important in-game storylines.

Beyond the quest bug, several gameplay-related issues are currently affecting the experience. One notable problem involves character abilities, where Damiane may lose access to her shield and related skills if she dies immediately after using the Shield Toss ability. While not permanent, this issue requires players to save and reload their game to restore functionality.

There are also inconsistencies with control settings. For example, players who change their Evasion keybinding may still find the default key functioning, especially when using the “Hold” setting. This can create confusion during combat and reduce responsiveness in critical moments.

Crimson Desert’s open-world gameplay showcases the scale and ambition behind Pearl Abyss’ evolving RPG (Image via Pearl Abyss)

Even smaller immersion-breaking issues have been reported, such as fish becoming motionless after being caught in certain areas. While minor, these bugs contribute to an sense of instability in the current build.

Equipment and NPC Interaction Bugs

The update also outlines issues with equipment and NPC interactions. Certain mounts, including the Phoenix and Iron Eagle, are currently unable to equip the “Sigil of Valor,” limiting customization options for players.

Additionally, NPCs required for quest progression cannot ride together on Legendary Animal mounts. This restriction may interfere with mission flow in specific scenarios, adding another layer of inconvenience for players already dealing with progression bugs.

These issues, while less severe than the main quest blocker, still impact gameplay systems that are essential to exploration and progression.

Platform-Specific Problems Reported

Pearl Abyss has also identified several platform-specific issues affecting different players. On Mac systems, users may encounter cursor misalignment when placing furniture at certain resolutions, making precise placement difficult. The colorblind mode feature is also not functioning as intended, as UI elements fail to reflect the selected filter.

On PlayStation, players may experience screen freezes when entering names quickly using the virtual keyboard. As a temporary workaround, the developers have advised entering text slowly with brief pauses to avoid triggering the issue.

These platform-related bugs highlight the complexity of optimizing the game across multiple systems.

Performance and Visual Issues on PC

PC players are also facing performance challenges, particularly those using older hardware. The notice confirms that NVIDIA GTX 1060 users may encounter a white screen when enabling FSR upscaling and frame generation simultaneously.

Another visual issue affects rainy environments when using FSR4 upscaling, causing rain effects to disappear or appear distorted. These graphical glitches can significantly impact immersion in a game that emphasizes dynamic weather and realistic visuals.

Developers Promise Fixes as Work Continues

In its official statement, Pearl Abyss emphasized its commitment to improving stability, stating that the team is “actively investigating these issues and working to resolve them.” Players are also encouraged to report additional problems not listed in the notice.

While no timeline has been provided for fixes, the acknowledgment of these issues—especially the quest progression bug—suggests that updates are likely on the way.

For now, players may need to rely on temporary workarounds and patience as the developers continue refining the experience.