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Crimson Desert / Launch & crashes

Crimson Desert: will not launch or closes before the menu

If no window appears after pressing Play, only a brief splash screen shows or Crimson Desert closes before the main menu, this guide follows Pearl Abyss' official PC troubleshooting. Since the Charting the Unknown DLC there is one more known trigger: the base game and DLC being on different versions. After each step, check whether the menu appears.

Updated: ·3 min read·Windows / PC
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STRAIGHT TO THE SOLUTION

Start here

01Record the failure stage↓02Step 1: update the base game and DLC↓03Step 2: verify game files↓
01

Record the failure stage

  1. Launch once directly from the library and note what happens: no window, a short splash screen, a black screen or a crash on the loading screen. Also note any error message.
  2. Check: if you reach the menu but only one save fails to load, it is not a launch problem – see our guides on missing saves and the DLC.
02

Step 1: update the base game and DLC

  1. Pearl Abyss lists a crash when the base game and DLC versions differ; the fix is to update both to the latest version. Enable automatic updates in Steam or Epic or start the update manually and wait for all downloads to finish.
03

Step 2: verify game files

  1. Steam: Library → right-click Crimson Desert → Properties → Installed Files → Verify integrity of game files. Epic: Library → three dots → Manage → Verify. This can take several minutes.
  2. Check: launch the game again right afterwards.
04

Step 3: requirements, drivers and security software

  1. Crimson Desert needs 64-bit Windows 10 or later, DirectX 12, 16 GB RAM and an SSD. Install the current graphics driver directly from AMD, NVIDIA or Intel.
  2. Pearl Abyss says antivirus, VPNs, firewalls and recording or streaming software can interfere with launching. Add an exception for the game and close other programs for a test. If security software quarantined files, restore them by verifying the files.
05

Step 4: clean reinstall as the last step

  1. First back up C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Local\Pearl Abyss\CD\save. Then uninstall through Steam or Epic, delete leftover game folders and the Crimson Desert folder under AppData\Local\Pearl Abyss (show hidden items), restart and reinstall.
06

If it still will not launch

  1. Run PERS.exe from the bin64 folder (Steam: Manage → Browse local files), pick the issue type, describe the problem and send it. Enter the generated Unique ID in Pearl Abyss' report form.

Related guide

Sources and current status

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to reinstall right away?

No. Pearl Abyss recommends a clean reinstall only after every other step fails, and backing up saves first.

Will a reinstall delete my saves?

They live in AppData\Local\Pearl Abyss\CD\save, which the clean reinstall removes. Back that folder up first.

Does Crimson Desert run on Windows 10?

Yes, 64-bit Windows 10 is the official minimum, together with DirectX 12.

← All fixes for Crimson Desert