The next patch for Crimson Desert is here, and in addition to a bunch of bug fixes, Update 1.18 also includes an important change to the in-game map.
Not even two weeks have passed since the last patch, and alreadyUpdate 1.18forCrimson Desert is here. Once again, developer Pearl Abyss is focusing on bug fixes, but is also introducing a few minor new features to the game.
We’ve picked out the highlights of the update for you and, of course, listed the complete patch notes on page 2 of the article.
Table of Contents
What’s in Update 1.18?
Arguably the most important new feature concerns the Crimson Desert world map.With Update 1.18, areas revealed by a bell tower are displayed in a different color than areas we’ve uncovered through exploration.
This way, we’ll now know which parts of the world we’ve actually explored, even if we uncover an area using a bell tower.
Aside from that, there are other noteworthy changes:
- In the Knowledge menu, we can now find information on all types of quests.
- We now conduct research using camp resources instead of silver.
- We can now also gain knowledge about animals simply by picking them up, rather than killing them.
- It no longer happens that we can’t climb through a window even though it’s open.
- Indoor lighting has been improved.
Despite all these improvements, however, there is still ongoing criticism from players.Even in version 1.18, there are repeated reports of performance issues on the PlayStation 5. And the patch notes for the first hotfix still do not provide a solution for this
Those were the most important changes in Update 1.18. We now also know more about the long-term future of Crimson Desert. A DLC was confirmed some time ago, but now there’s also a rough timeframe—it’s scheduled to be released in 2026. The developers are no longer ruling out multiplayer elements or a sequel. You can read more about this in the box above.
Main Changes
Contents
- The “Quests” knowledge category has been added.
- Quest knowledge comprises a total of eight subcategories: Main Quests, Faction Quests, Investigation Quests, Research Quests, Daily Quests, Leaders, Archives, and Constellations.
- Certain quest knowledge is granted retroactively if you have already completed the corresponding quest.
- The currency required for research has been changed from silver to camp funds.
- An issue has been fixed where high-quality trade goods could be stacked and loaded in quantities of up to 100.
- Fixed an issue where merchants would not appear at roadside trading posts under certain circumstances.
- In the mission “Haverson’s Request,” the location of the item “Baker’s Note” has been changed.
- You can now gain knowledge about certain animals by picking them up without killing them.
- Some knowledge entries for bosses that seemed inappropriate have been revised.
- Horses can now be equipped with horse tack in the stable.
- An issue has been fixed where, under certain circumstances, the pensive statue would revert to its unrepaired state while completing the quest to repair the statue at Jijeong Temple in Chapter 9.
- In Chapter 4, “The Price of Knowledge” “Mysterious Iron Pot” “Repairing the Kiln at the Kilnden Workshop,” the detached part of the kiln can now be reattached using “Power Transfer.”
- An issue has been fixed where the subquest “Defeat the Enemies Around the Hut” at Stonehill House was not displayed.
- After completing “View the Memory at Delesyia Castle,” you can now acquire the knowledge “Mysterious Invitation.”
Controls
- The “Fixed Camera Rotation” option has been added.
- Under “Settings – Input – Locked Camera Rotation,” the previous options “On” and “Off” have been replaced with “Manual,” “Semi-Auto,” and “Auto.”
- Manual: When you lock onto a target with the camera, you can rotate the camera using the right stick or the mouse. (Previous option: On)
- Semi-Automatic: When you lock onto a target with the camera, you can rotate the camera using the right stick or the mouse only within a specific angle range.
- Automatic: When you lock onto a target with the camera, you cannot rotate the camera using either the right stick or the mouse. (Previous option: Off)
- Fixed an issue where, in certain situations, you couldn’t target enemies while riding a mount when aiming with a ranged weapon.
- Fixed an issue where the cursor moved unnaturally in the Quick Access menu.
Combat / Action
- Fixed an issue where some special mounts would get stuck on low ledges and be unable to cross them.
- Fixed an issue where you couldn’t climb through a window even though there was no obstacle in front of it.
- An issue has been fixed where the boss “Catfish Man” would repeatedly perform the same action in the same spot under certain circumstances.
UI
- The area on the world map that is revealed when the bell rings can now be visually distinguished from areas you have explored yourself.
Graphics and Settings
- Fixed an issue where lighting effects indoors were unstable under certain circumstances.
- Fixed an issue where the camera would stutter or shake during movement in environments with low FPS.
- Fixed an issue where rendering was corrupted on some lower-end graphics cards, including the GTX 1060, when FSR frame generation or XeSS frame generation was enabled.
Localization
- Localization errors in all languages have been fixed, and the overall quality of the localization has been improved.
Miscellaneous
- An issue has been fixed where reviving at a checkpoint would occasionally take you to the title screen.
- Fixed an issue where, while fast-forwarding through a cutscene, the voiceover for the hint pop-up would also speed up when a hint pop-up appeared.
- Fixed an issue where workers did not move properly after loading.
- An issue where common NPCs were found in occupied regions has been fixed.
- Fixed an issue where the animation of characters on a mount was displayed incorrectly.
- Fixed an issue where the character in the “Sky Loop Bridge” Abyss would occasionally end up in the Shattered Abyss Ring.
- Fixed an issue where the accelerated time effect did not apply after using Focus Mode.
- Fixed an issue where some pieces of equipment appeared to pass through the character’s body.
- Fixed an issue where Aeserion’s movements were incorrect.
- Fixed an issue where you could not proceed during “Time to Face Justice” if you switched to Oongka before meeting Torstein.
- Fixed an issue where, when operating the heater, multiple oil barrels could be stacked on top of each other in the oil barrel rack.
- Fixed an issue where a sign would appear in shops and dye houses when “Show Selected Items Only” was enabled after equipping two-handed weapons.
- Fixed an issue where the sound effects for Abyss equipment abilities would play even when the sound effect volume was set to 0.
