Phasmophobia’s Next QoL Pass Adds Faster Gear Swaps and a Fresh Willow Street

Kinetic Games has shared another preview of Phasmophobia’s Quality of Life update, which will arrive on July 21, 2026 alongside the reworked 13 Willow Street map. The studio detailed new equipment controls, extra photo evidence options, character animation changes, and a new Ghost whose identity remains hidden for now.

The second preview appeared in the developer’s Steam announcement. PC players will be able to bind the number keys to equipment slots, while players on every supported platform will gain a faster way to inspect the Watch. The update will also make EMF Level 5 eligible for its own photo and give higher-tier Photo Cameras a visual indicator similar to the one used by Video Cameras.

When several pieces of evidence appear in one image, the game will prioritize the evidence with the highest reward or a Unique classification. Kinetic Games is also replacing several procedural character movements with animations, which should keep held items steadier while Ghost Hunters walk.

13 Willow Street Gets a New Look

The 13 Willow Street rework will keep the map’s original overall layout while changing its presentation, rooms, and atmosphere. Kinetic Games said the goal was to make the location feel more distinct without losing the familiarity of its first version.

The map will launch with a new ID Card and Badge challenge. Players who correctly identify 50 Ghosts and survive the required contracts will earn the Sun Seeker set.

The update will be available across all platforms on July 21, although exact release times have not been announced. A Twitch Drops campaign will run from July 21 through July 28. Watching two total hours of Phasmophobia streams will award the animated and static versions of the Cool Cat ID Card and Badge. The animated version will only be available through Kinetic Games Partner channels.

Phasmophobia Quality of Life Update Preview Notes

This preview focuses on controls, evidence photography, Ghost Hunter animations, VR usability, and the 13 Willow Street rework. Kinetic Games also outlined further VR work planned for the next Quality of Life update.

• 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.

With the map rework, new controls, hidden Ghost, and reward challenges arriving together, July 21 will bring plenty for Ghost Hunters to test. Tell us what you think of the Quality of Life preview in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, and Instagram.

Phasmophobia

Developed by Kinetic Games

Phasmophobia is a 4 player online co-op psychological horror where you and your team members of paranormal investigators will enter haunted locations filled with paranormal activity and gather as much evidence of the paranormal as you can. You will use your ghost hunting equipment to search for and record evidence of whatever ghost is haunting the location to sell onto a ghost removal team.

You can choose to support your team by monitoring the location with CCTV cameras and motion sensors from the safety of the truck or head inside and get your hands dirty with the ghostly activity that will get increasingly hostile as time goes on.

• Genre: Puzzle, Tactical, Indie
• Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation VR2, Windows Mixed Reality, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), SteamVR, PlayStation 5, Oculus Rift
• Modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
• Release: 2020-09-18
• Publisher: Kinetic Games
• Age Rating: ESRB T / GRAC 15+
• IGDB Rating: 68.5/100

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