Quick answer

Start by identifying which platform, game version, save and input device are affected. Preserve the existing save before trying changes, then test one thing at a time. A loading problem and a control problem may have different causes, even when they appear after the same update.

Start by identifying which platform, game version, save and input device are affected. Preserve the existing save before trying changes, then test one thing at a time. A loading problem and a control problem may have different causes, even when they appear after the same update.

This guide covers the released game on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series. Menu names and backup options vary by platform; follow the platform's own save-management instructions and avoid deleting or overwriting the only copy.

A save hangs or loads to a black screen

  1. Record your platform, game version, save name and what happens: endless loading, black screen, crash or an error message. Note whether it occurs with one save or several.
  2. Preserve a backup using your platform's available save tools before testing. If the platform offers both local and cloud copies, check which is newer before choosing either; do not assume a sync prompt means one copy is safe to overwrite.
  3. Check that the game update is installed. Pearl Abyss reported a fix for a loading-screen or black-screen issue in version 1.16.02, with a separate rollout by platform. That historical fix does not prove every current loading problem has the same cause.
  4. If you have a separate earlier save, test that copy without overwriting the affected one. If the earlier save loads, note the difference for support; do not assume the newer save can be repaired by removing files.

Windows backup: close the game, open %LOCALAPPDATA%\Pearl Abyss\CD\save in File Explorer, then copy the folder to another drive or USB. Keep the original and do not overwrite cloud saves during investigation.

A button or control behaves unexpectedly

Open Settings → Input and inspect the current keyboard/mouse or controller preset and the affected binding. Compare the on-screen prompt with the device you are actually using. Disconnect an unused input device if it may be sending input, then test the same action in a safe area.

The official 1.04.00 notes describe input presets and options for evasion control and switching roll/evasion input. If the behavior concerns those actions, record the current preset and options before changing one setting and testing again. The official known-issues page has also described a case where the default evasion key still works after rebinding when Evasion Control is set to Hold; check the latest notice and your version rather than assuming the old report remains current.

If you restore a preset, first record any custom bindings you want to keep. A preset reset can change more than the one key you were investigating.

Still stuck? Send a reproducible report

Check the official known-issues page and use Pearl Abyss's Report an Issue entry. Include platform and storefront, game version, affected save or control, exact steps, error text and whether the problem happens on an earlier save or with another input device. Add a screenshot or short clip if the reporting form supports it and it shows the issue.

Until you understand which copy is intact, keep both the affected save and its backup. A successful test on another save or device is useful evidence, not proof that your original progress is recovered.

Sources: Pearl Abyss: version 1.16.02 · Version 1.04.00 input options · Known issues and reporting

Sources

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