[Update] Black Desert Console's Native PS5 and Xbox Series Console Builds Finally Launching In First Half Of 2025

Update 4:05 PM PT: Pearl Abyss has responded to our line of questioning as to what happens to the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the MMO in terms of content since it's a hardware limitation preventing updates like LotML: Seoul from releasing on console. Since the restriction preventing this won't just disappear when the native PS5 and Xbox Series versions are released, it left us wondering whether this content would come to the previous generation platforms at all. 

Per a Pearl Abyss spokesperson: "Pearl Abyss has no additional information to share about PS4 and Xbox One support at this time, but we'll share updates as soon as we have them."

Original Story follows:

Black Desert has been on consoles for quite some time, but current-generation consoles run a backward-compatible version of last-generation builds. Now, Pearl Abyss is finally giving players a window for a native build on both Xbox and PlayStation platforms.

In a new dev commentary video released this morning, Black Desert developer Pearl Abyss talked about the native builds, stating that while the PlayStation 5 version has completed development, it's still hard at work building the Xbox Series S|X versions, with both aiming at a first half of 2025 release window. The plan is to release both versions at the same time, according to Black Desert Console general manager Matt says in the accompanying version. 

The team also stated that they are working to ensure the PlayStation 5 build takes advantage of the recently released PS5 Pro.  It should be noted that these upgrades to the current generation of consoles (still referred to as the "next-gen update" by Pearl Abyss) will be free of charge to anyone who owns the game already. 

However, for anyone looking for any hard information as to what to expect with these new, native versions, we did learn a bit about why Black Desert Console players haven't been able to experience content like the Land of the Morning Light: Seoul: hardware limitations.

"One of the key things our adventurers are hoping for with the next-gen port is new content updates," Matt explains. "We understand that many of you are eagerly awaiting content that hasn't yet been updated on console, such as Ulukita, Dehkia's Lantern, The Land of the Morning Light: Seoul, Guild League, or the Arena of Solare. However, due to the hardware limitations on current generation devices, and with the game stability in mind, it is currently very challenging to add larger scale content like the examples mentioned."

Again, when Pearl Abyss says "current generation devices," it actually means last generation's PS4 and Xbox One platforms. But it does bring up a question: those hardware limitations aren't going away, regardless of a new native current generation port. So what happens to the PS4 and Xbox One builds and those who have not upgraded just yet? Will that hardware limitation mean that only those running the PS5 and XSX builds will see the new content? The video isn't clear, so we've reached out to Pearl Abyss for clarification on this front and will update this story if they respond.

Console players are getting some new updates in order to hold them over, however. Kharazad Accessories are a new, upgradeable set of gear coming to Black Desert Console, while the team is spinning up a new Accessory Exchange System to allow players to exchange pieces of the Deboreka set. Also, new daily rewards and special events are coming to hold players over until March 2025, bringing events, boosted EXP, and more.