Crimson Desert Faces Backlash Over Poor Controls as Steam Reviews Split 60/40

When Crimson Desert launched on Steam, it did so with a bang. Within the first twelve hours the game drew a peak of 240,000 concurrent PC players and already had more than 13,000 reviews posted. The numbers alone hinted at a game that was generating buzz, but the buzz was far from uniformly positive.

The Early Reception of Crimson Desert

At the time of writing, the game sits in the “Mixed” category on Steam. Out of 13,477 ratings, just under 60 percent are positive, while the remaining 40 percent are negative or neutral. This split mirrors the critical consensus on Metacritic, where 98 reviews from reputable outlets give the title an overall score of 78. The high score is largely driven by a handful of perfect 10s, but even those do not fully offset the broader criticism that has come to define the game’s launch.

Why the Controls Are a Major Pain Point

Across both sides of the review spectrum, one issue stands out: the controls. Players on the positive side often describe them as “shockingly bad” or “clunky,” while those on the negative side go further, calling them tedious and as if they were designed by a creature that doesn’t have hands. The consensus is clear—movement and combat feel unresponsive, and the camera can feel disorienting during fast‑paced action. These frustrations are not just a minor annoyance; they are a barrier that prevents many players from fully engaging with the game’s expansive world.

Beyond Controls: Other Criticisms and Praise

While the control scheme dominates the conversation, other aspects of Crimson Desert also receive attention. A few reviewers note that the game’s movement feels odd, that it can be buggy at times, and that the