Welcome back, Ghost Hunters.
Following on from our recent preview of the Quality of Life update launching on July 21st, we wanted to share some further details including the newer features - including another look at the reworked 13 Willow Street.
The New
As part of the Quality of Life update, we’re introducing a handful of new gameplay features that aim to improve the overall experience of playing Phasmophobia.
Read the below for some details on these additions.
- Adding keybinds for Equipment slots. PC players will be able to switch Equipment with the 1, 2, 3 and 4 keys. These keys can be rebound.
- This addition will only be available for PC players.
- Adding a keybind to be able to inspect the Watch at any time.
- This will be defaulted to Left DPAD on a controller and H on keyboard. Players can rebind this via Options > Controls.
- A separate Photo can now be taken capturing an EMF Level 5 reading.
- Photo Cameras will now feature the same highlight frame as Video Cameras.
- On screen indicator only on Tier 2 and 3 Photo Cameras, while Tier 1 will have the light change colour.
- When capturing Media, if multiple are present, the evidence that provides the biggest reward or is Unique will be prioritised.
- New Ghost: the ██████████
- Players will have a higher chance of getting this Ghost in their contracts for the first few weeks following release.
- Added new walking animations and turning animations to fix several issues:
- Character legs will no longer use procedural IK and will instead use animations.
- The character body will no longer animate with the walking animations which caused held items to move while walking.
- Improvements to the overall VR character:
- New character animations.
- Improvements to the belt to improve usability.
- The character will now turn instantly depending on where you are looking instead of at set angles.
- The next quality of life update will bring a completely new VR character rig with further improvements:
- Further improvements to the belt's usability.
- Improvements to crouching.
- Improved character animations.
- Held items will no longer sway when walking.
- The character's position will accurately represent your real life body position.
We mentioned in our previous preview blog that the Quality of Life update will be removing several animations introduced in the Player Character Update. Below is a video showcasing how the gameplay will look following this change.
13 Willow Street
As with all our reworked maps, 13 Willow Street will retain its overall original layout with a few minor changes. The core of these reworks has always been bringing the visuals up to our standards while letting each location speak for itself. As much as we love the original versions of these maps, giving them their own identities and stories has been something we’ve always wanted to achieve and we’re excited that we’ve been able to.
Following 6 Tanglewood Drive, we know that 13 Willow Street holds a special place in a Ghost Hunter’s heart. We’ve kept that at the forefront while developing the rework, making sure that those first few steps inside feel new but familiar, and entice you to explore during each and every contract.
Check out the screenshots below for a look inside 13 Willow Street.
13 Willow Street will launch alongside the Quality of Life update on July 21st, 2026 for all platforms. Stay tuned to our social channels and our official Discord server for exact release timings. As is tradition with a new map, a new ID Card and Badge will be available upon completion of the map’s challenge. By correctly identifying 50 ghosts (and surviving) Ghost Hunters will earn the Sun Seeker set, as seen below.
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We’ll also be running a new Twitch Drops campaign for the first week after launch. Players will be able to earn the animated and static versions of the Cool Cat ID Card and Badge between 21st July - 28th July by watching a total of 2 hours of Phasmophobia streams.
The animated version will be exclusively available via Kinetic Games Partner channels.
We’re looking forward to getting this update out to you next week and will be keeping an eye on every bit of feedback sent to us on social, in Discord or otherwise.
