Crimson Desert continues to deliver strong first impressions with its expansive world and high-end visuals, but a growing controversy around its mount system is starting to overshadow that momentum. While developer Pearl Abyss has been quick to address several early complaints through patches, frustration surrounding mounts is becoming one of the most persistent issues within the community.
Mount System Limitations Frustrate Players
At the center of the discussion is how mounts function in the game. While players can encounter and ride a variety of creatures, most of them cannot be permanently tamed or kept. Currently, only horses and a dragon serve as consistent, reusable mounts.
Even then, the dragon comes with heavy restrictions. It is tied to a long cooldown and limited to a 15-minute flight duration, making it feel more like a temporary ability than a core traversal feature. For many players, this design choice undermines the freedom typically associated with open-world exploration.
Mismatch Between Marketing and Gameplay
A major source of frustration stems from expectations set before launch. Promotional material and trailers highlighted a wide range of mounts, including creatures like bears and dinosaur-like beasts. These showcases led players to believe that a diverse mount collection system would be part of the core experience.
Instead, the current implementation has left many feeling misled, particularly those drawn to the game specifically for its mount variety. The gap between what was shown and what is available in practice continues to fuel criticism.
Community Suggests Practical Improvements
Rather than calling for a complete overhaul, much of the community is pushing for incremental changes that could improve the system without disrupting the game’s balance.
Common suggestions include introducing stables or storage systems for captured creatures, tying permanent mounts to specific quests or progression milestones, and expanding taming mechanics so more creatures can be retained long-term. These proposals aim to build on the existing system rather than replace it entirely.
Pearl Abyss Responds — But Focus Lies Elsewhere
Pearl Abyss has already demonstrated a willingness to act on feedback. Recent updates have introduced quality-of-life improvements such as expanded personal storage, additional fast-travel options, refined ability timing, increased effectiveness of food buffs, and faster knowledge progression.
While these changes have been welcomed, they have also intensified calls for the mount system to receive similar attention. Players see the developer’s responsiveness as proof that meaningful adjustments are possible.
Design Roots May Explain Current System
Some of the mount system’s limitations may be tied to the game’s development history. Originally conceived with multiplayer elements, certain mechanics still resemble systems designed for balance in MMO environments.
Restrictions like cooldown-based mounts and limited usage windows align more closely with multiplayer balancing than with a fully single-player experience. As Crimson Desert evolved into a standalone title, not all of these systems appear to have been fully reworked.
Strong Performance Despite Controversy
Despite the criticism, Crimson Desert continues to perform well commercially and maintains a Mostly Positive rating on Steam. However, the mount debate is not the only issue under discussion, as the game has also faced scrutiny over the inclusion of generative AI assets in its final build.
These overlapping concerns have created a broader conversation around design choices and transparency, even as the core experience remains appealing to many players.
Outlook: A Defining Moment for Player Trust
The mount system is quickly becoming one of the most requested areas for improvement. Pearl Abyss now faces a clear decision: continue with smaller, iterative fixes or commit to deeper changes that align the game more closely with player expectations.
With strong sales and an active player base, the studio has an opportunity to turn criticism into long-term goodwill. How it responds to the mount controversy may ultimately shape the game’s reputation moving forward.
Enjoy our updates? You can add GamingHQ as a preferred source in Google Search to see our articles more often.
