"We sincerely apologize": Crimson Desert devs fix missing pre-order bonuses, instruct Steam players to "restart your game" to find them
In turn, players ask "what about" the RPG's other issues
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Join the club
Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.
Crimson Desert is finally here, but its launch hasn't arrived without issues – from a "Mixed" rating on Steam to Pearl Abyss' own acknowledgment of missing pre-order bonuses, there's a lot going on… but, thankfully, the developers are on the case.
Folks who purchased Crimson Desert early were surprised to find their pre-order bonuses inaccessible upon launch last night – including those who opted for the pricier deluxe edition of the game.
Instead of finding their promised Khaled Shield and Kairos attire, they were met with… well, nothing. Pearl Abyss quickly acknowledged the issue, however, which seemed to primarily affect PC players, just a few hours after launch.
We are currently investigating an issue where Steam pre-order purchasers are unable to claim their pre-order bonus and deluxe pack items. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and will get back to you as quickly as possible with an update.March 20, 2026
"We are currently investigating an issue where Steam pre-order purchasers are unable to claim their pre-order bonus and deluxe pack items," the devs wrote. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and will get back to you as quickly as possible with an update."
And, they've done just that. "Steam pre-order purchasers who were unable to claim your pre-order bonus and deluxe pack items: the issue has been solved," as they now report.
We are currently investigating an issue where Steam pre-order purchasers are unable to claim their pre-order bonus and deluxe pack items. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and will get back to you as quickly as possible with an update.March 20, 2026
"Please restart your game and check your Add-ons menu to find your items. Thank you for your patience!" While Pearl Abyss' fix does seem to have resolved the missing pre-order bonus issue, just judging by the comments, players aren't entirely satisfied.
There are some asking "what about" the game's other problems, as well as its console editions – a topic that has been on fans' minds since before launch, with the disappointing PS5 showcase and all.
The community is wondering about everything from controls and keybinds – a subject hot in the game's reviews right now – to issues with lighting and visual noise. There are loads of requests in the replies, but it's likely Pearl Abyss will address the most frequent one at a time.
If you're curious about one of the most hotly anticipated new games this year, check out our Crimson Desert review for our honest thoughts on it.
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

After spending years with her head in various fantastical realms' clouds, Anna studied English Literature and then Medieval History at the University of Edinburgh, going on to specialize in narrative design and video game journalism as a writer. She has written for various publications since her postgraduate studies, including Dexerto, Fanbyte, GameSpot, IGN, PCGamesN, and more. When she's not frantically trying to form words into coherent sentences, she's probably daydreaming about becoming a fairy druid and befriending every animal or she's spending a thousand (more) hours traversing the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3. If you spot her away from her PC, you'll always find Anna with a fantasy book, a handheld video game console of some sort, and a Tamagotchi or two on hand.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
