Phasmophobia News
Phasmophobia's peak player count just hit 64k on Steam
Phasmophobia, Kinetic Games' multiplayer co-op horror fest, only launched a few weeks back, but the indie game's already attracting a sizeable player base on Steam. The horror game's SteamDB tracker indicates the title hit its all-time peak player count over the past 24 hours (as of this story), and it's into the tens of thousands - just under a whopping 65k, in fact.
The exact figure - a peak of 64,830 concurrent players, according to SteamDB's charts, or 64,793 based on SteamCharts' numbers - is a pretty impressive feat for the new PC game. The former site also has a rundown of the (current) most-played games on Valve's platform, and if you order the list by 24-hour peak in descending order you'll see the new paranormal horror title's scooped a place in Steam's top fifteen over that period.
Sure, Phasmophobia's sat a little lower than some behemoths of the multiplayer games genre, like Dota 2, CS:GO, PUBG, Destiny 2, and - of course - the just-released (and very successful) Early Access Baldur's Gate 3 - but at number 14, it's currently higher up the list than Fall Guys, Warframe, Rust, and Dead by Daylight, which is a respectable feat.
RELATED LINKS:
Phasmophobia sanity effects guide: what happens when you hit 0 sanity
Phasmophobia smudge sticks - how to use them
Phasmophobia ouija board questions - how to use a ouija board
Steam Global Top Sellers for the Week ending 4 October 2020
Post Launch Update #2
[h2]Fixes[/h2]
* Updated all of the Server and Voice Server code to hopefully prevent crashes, client timeouts and voice disconnects.
* Fixed a bug where VR players couldn't grab objects on the ground.
* Fixed a bug where the Smudge Sticks would reset if you swapped them into your inventory.
* Potential fix for players not always being killed by the Ghost.
* Fixed a bug where VR players could grab objects when they were dead.
* Optimised the networks calls during the Ghosts hunting phase.
* Fixed a bug where servers were not being made visible on the lobby browser after playing a game.
* Fixed a lot of areas on Asylum where the Ghost would get stuck.
* Potential fix for the Ghost not syncing data with all players.
* Fixed a bug where dead players could use the spirit box.
* Fixed a bug where the main key would despawn if the host left.
* Fixed a bug where your money would say $0 until you restarted the game.
* Potential fix for the Truck not always leaving when you close the door.
* Fixed a bug where the Tripod would get teleported back to the Truck if placed in the Ridgeview basement.
* Fixed a bug where the save file wouldn't get generated properly if you haven't played the game before.
* Fixed a bug where if you rejoined a server the default items would be doubled.
[h2]Changes[/h2]
* Lowered the amount of money you get for taking some photos.
* Lowered the volume of the Truck radio.
* Lowered the volume of the main menu audio.
* The Crucifix now has a maximum of 2 uses.
* Smudge Sticks can no longer be used to take the Ghost out of it's hunting phase. Instead it will now have a delayed use and stop the Ghost from targeting a player for a short time to give you extra time to hide.
* The Ghost now has a bigger interaction range on School and Asylum.
* Updated translations.
[h2]New[/h2]
* Added text to show the max amount of items you can add on the inventory screen.
* Lights will now flicker if your sanity is low. Only you can see these flickers.
* Updated all of the Server and Voice Server code to hopefully prevent crashes, client timeouts and voice disconnects.
* Fixed a bug where VR players couldn't grab objects on the ground.
* Fixed a bug where the Smudge Sticks would reset if you swapped them into your inventory.
* Potential fix for players not always being killed by the Ghost.
* Fixed a bug where VR players could grab objects when they were dead.
* Optimised the networks calls during the Ghosts hunting phase.
* Fixed a bug where servers were not being made visible on the lobby browser after playing a game.
* Fixed a lot of areas on Asylum where the Ghost would get stuck.
* Potential fix for the Ghost not syncing data with all players.
* Fixed a bug where dead players could use the spirit box.
* Fixed a bug where the main key would despawn if the host left.
* Fixed a bug where your money would say $0 until you restarted the game.
* Potential fix for the Truck not always leaving when you close the door.
* Fixed a bug where the Tripod would get teleported back to the Truck if placed in the Ridgeview basement.
* Fixed a bug where the save file wouldn't get generated properly if you haven't played the game before.
* Fixed a bug where if you rejoined a server the default items would be doubled.
[h2]Changes[/h2]
* Lowered the amount of money you get for taking some photos.
* Lowered the volume of the Truck radio.
* Lowered the volume of the main menu audio.
* The Crucifix now has a maximum of 2 uses.
* Smudge Sticks can no longer be used to take the Ghost out of it's hunting phase. Instead it will now have a delayed use and stop the Ghost from targeting a player for a short time to give you extra time to hide.
* The Ghost now has a bigger interaction range on School and Asylum.
* Updated translations.
[h2]New[/h2]
* Added text to show the max amount of items you can add on the inventory screen.
* Lights will now flicker if your sanity is low. Only you can see these flickers.
Post Launch Update #1
[h2]Fixes[/h2]
* Fixed a bug where the main menu would get stuck in a reload loop if you got disconnected from the server as soon as you connected.
* Fixed a bug where the voice recognition test was saying it's not supported when it was working.
* Fix for a crash where the game didn't detect a microphone when the game launches.
* Fixed a bug where taking a photo of the Ghost wouldn't always give you a Ghost photo evidence.
* Fixed some crashes related to the Voice Recognition trying to start when it hadn't been setup correctly on the pc.
* Fixed a bug where the Spirit Box would say "Nothing Detected" when it was turned off.
* Fixed a bug where dead players couldn't hear other players.
* Fixed a bug where no buttons would enable on the inventory screen.
* Fixed a bug where you could get stuck on the shower curtains in the farmhouse levels.
* Potential fix for items falling through the Farmhouse stairs.
* GPU and CPU optimisations on Brownstone School.
* Fixed some duplicate or too similar Ghost names.
* Tanglewood: Fixed a bug where walking near the right side garage wall would set your audio to being outside.
* Fixed a bug where the global voice chat/ walkie talkie was not always working.
* Tanglewood: Potential fix for being constantly teleported back to the Truck when the Ghost entered it's hunting phase.
* Fixed a bug where your sanity would sometimes be reset back to 100.
* Optimised how Footsteps spawn in which should help fix some disconnects.
* Fixed a bug where you could change the pages on other VR players Journals.
* Fixed a bug where VR Teleport Locomotion wasn't working.
* Fixed a bug where the host was getting an extra $10 insurance money.
* Fixed a bug where the Spirit Box wouldn't always say "Nothing Detected" if it heard your voice.
* Fixed some crashes when loading back to the main menu.
* Fixed a bug where the Spirit Box had a too low chance to respond.
* Fixed a bug where you would get a black screen after a game if the room was closed while you were loading.
* Fixed a bug where Objectives were not being given if the host disconnected during loading.
* Fixed an issue where icons on the School and Asylum truck map were too small.
* Fixed a bug where items would not drop when a player dies.
* Fixed a bug where your player name and steam branch would sometimes not be set.
* Fixed a bug where VR players could fly if they tilted their head to the right and crouched.
* Fixed a bug where the Ghost was teleporting outside of the map and getting stuck.
* Fixed a bug where all players would get teleported back to the Truck if the VR inventory belt lost tracking.
* Fixed a bug where the dead player body was spawning away from the player.
* Fixed a bug where the main door wouldn't close if the host was dead.
* Fixed a bug where the Ghost would try to attack players that were outside.
* Fixed a bug where the item store wouldn't update your player level until you loaded the main menu again.
* Fixed a bug where Non-VR players could sometimes not pickup anything.
* Fixed a bug where Non-VR players couldn't light smudge sticks in some areas.
* Fixed a bug where motion sensors were not changing colour on the map.
* Fixed a bug where the Ghosts evidence was not always being synced between all players.
* Fixed a bug where the photo camera couldn't take a photo of a dead player.
* Fixed a bug where the VR screen would freeze a few frames before loading.
* Fixed a bug where Non-VR players could sometimes not pickup anything.
* Fixed a bug where Non-VR players couldn't light smudge sticks in some areas.
* Fixed a bug where motion sensors were not changing colour on the map.
* Fixed a bug where the Ghosts evidence was not always being synced between all players.
* Fixed a bug where the photo camera couldn't take a photo of a dead player.
* Fixed a bug where the VR screen would freeze a few frames before loading.
* Fixed a bug where controller players couldn't rebind their buttons.
* Fixed a bug where the VR controllers grabbing radius was too small on some controllers.
* Fixed a bug where IR Light Sensors were not always triggering for players.
* Fixed a bug where the Spirit Box would answer too many times if other players were talking.
* Fixed a bug where the Ghost would despawn if the host disconnected. (Whoops)
* Fixed a bug where the Ghosts position would be desynced for non hosts which would prevent the spirit box from working. This will also fix other issues like the Ghost Orb being in the wrong spot.
* Fixed a bug where the Ghost footsteps would stop playing after a while.
[h2]Changes[/h2]
* Lowered the death zone ambient sound volume.
* You will no longer lose any items if you leave a game when you are alive.
* Increased the Ghosts chance to interact with objects.
* Increased the Ghosts chance to use the Ghost Writing Book.
* Dead players will now receive 50% of the experience reward with no difficulty bonus.
* Changed the "DNA Evidence" to now say "Bone evidence".
* Solo players will now get the reward screen when they die and will get 50% of the reward as if they were in multiplayer.
* Renamed the EMF Monitor to "Total Activity" to avoid confusion.
* Updated Chinese translation.
* Slightly reduced how much sanity you lose when using the ouija board.
* Slightly increased the Non-VR run speed and VR walk speed.
* Increased the chance of the Ouija Board giving an answer.
* You will no longer lose exp if a player dies.
* Increased the amount of exp you get for completing objectives.
* Lights will now only flicker near the Ghost. The rate that the lights flicker has been reduced.
* Footsteps will no longer count for photo evidence. This is to optimise how they spawn in.
* Wraiths will no longer walk on Salt during their hunting phase to help with some confusion.
* Increased the delay at the start of the hunting phase to hide from 5 to 8 seconds.
* Lowered the amount of time you need to talk to the spirit box for to make it give a random response for people without voice recognition.
* Lowered the resolution the photo camera takes. This will help with server disconnects and lag spikes.
* Objectives will now be given to you based on the highest players level.
* Wraiths no longer leave footprints after walking in Salt. They now instead have a higher activity limit.
* You will no longer see your breathe when outside as this was causing some confusion.
* Increased the basketball throwing speed in VR.
* The main menu will no longer reload if you fail to connect to the server.
* Updated German, Spanish, French, Italian, Russian, Turkish, Dutch, Chinese and Danish translations.
[h2]New[/h2]
* Added reset buttons in the Non-VR controls on the main menu.
* Added a invite code for each room. This code can be entered in the lobby screen to join private games.
* Added an option in the graphics menu to turn off Bloom.
* You can now use Spacebar to open the main menu as a backup in case your left mouse button unbinds.
* Added a radio sound effect to the player voice when talking over global chat.
* Added more questions to the Spirit Box such as "Shall we leave?" and "Do you want to hurt us".
* You will now be given 50% of your total item price back if you die on an amateur contract.
* Fixed a bug where the main menu would get stuck in a reload loop if you got disconnected from the server as soon as you connected.
* Fixed a bug where the voice recognition test was saying it's not supported when it was working.
* Fix for a crash where the game didn't detect a microphone when the game launches.
* Fixed a bug where taking a photo of the Ghost wouldn't always give you a Ghost photo evidence.
* Fixed some crashes related to the Voice Recognition trying to start when it hadn't been setup correctly on the pc.
* Fixed a bug where the Spirit Box would say "Nothing Detected" when it was turned off.
* Fixed a bug where dead players couldn't hear other players.
* Fixed a bug where no buttons would enable on the inventory screen.
* Fixed a bug where you could get stuck on the shower curtains in the farmhouse levels.
* Potential fix for items falling through the Farmhouse stairs.
* GPU and CPU optimisations on Brownstone School.
* Fixed some duplicate or too similar Ghost names.
* Tanglewood: Fixed a bug where walking near the right side garage wall would set your audio to being outside.
* Fixed a bug where the global voice chat/ walkie talkie was not always working.
* Tanglewood: Potential fix for being constantly teleported back to the Truck when the Ghost entered it's hunting phase.
* Fixed a bug where your sanity would sometimes be reset back to 100.
* Optimised how Footsteps spawn in which should help fix some disconnects.
* Fixed a bug where you could change the pages on other VR players Journals.
* Fixed a bug where VR Teleport Locomotion wasn't working.
* Fixed a bug where the host was getting an extra $10 insurance money.
* Fixed a bug where the Spirit Box wouldn't always say "Nothing Detected" if it heard your voice.
* Fixed some crashes when loading back to the main menu.
* Fixed a bug where the Spirit Box had a too low chance to respond.
* Fixed a bug where you would get a black screen after a game if the room was closed while you were loading.
* Fixed a bug where Objectives were not being given if the host disconnected during loading.
* Fixed an issue where icons on the School and Asylum truck map were too small.
* Fixed a bug where items would not drop when a player dies.
* Fixed a bug where your player name and steam branch would sometimes not be set.
* Fixed a bug where VR players could fly if they tilted their head to the right and crouched.
* Fixed a bug where the Ghost was teleporting outside of the map and getting stuck.
* Fixed a bug where all players would get teleported back to the Truck if the VR inventory belt lost tracking.
* Fixed a bug where the dead player body was spawning away from the player.
* Fixed a bug where the main door wouldn't close if the host was dead.
* Fixed a bug where the Ghost would try to attack players that were outside.
* Fixed a bug where the item store wouldn't update your player level until you loaded the main menu again.
* Fixed a bug where Non-VR players could sometimes not pickup anything.
* Fixed a bug where Non-VR players couldn't light smudge sticks in some areas.
* Fixed a bug where motion sensors were not changing colour on the map.
* Fixed a bug where the Ghosts evidence was not always being synced between all players.
* Fixed a bug where the photo camera couldn't take a photo of a dead player.
* Fixed a bug where the VR screen would freeze a few frames before loading.
* Fixed a bug where Non-VR players could sometimes not pickup anything.
* Fixed a bug where Non-VR players couldn't light smudge sticks in some areas.
* Fixed a bug where motion sensors were not changing colour on the map.
* Fixed a bug where the Ghosts evidence was not always being synced between all players.
* Fixed a bug where the photo camera couldn't take a photo of a dead player.
* Fixed a bug where the VR screen would freeze a few frames before loading.
* Fixed a bug where controller players couldn't rebind their buttons.
* Fixed a bug where the VR controllers grabbing radius was too small on some controllers.
* Fixed a bug where IR Light Sensors were not always triggering for players.
* Fixed a bug where the Spirit Box would answer too many times if other players were talking.
* Fixed a bug where the Ghost would despawn if the host disconnected. (Whoops)
* Fixed a bug where the Ghosts position would be desynced for non hosts which would prevent the spirit box from working. This will also fix other issues like the Ghost Orb being in the wrong spot.
* Fixed a bug where the Ghost footsteps would stop playing after a while.
[h2]Changes[/h2]
* Lowered the death zone ambient sound volume.
* You will no longer lose any items if you leave a game when you are alive.
* Increased the Ghosts chance to interact with objects.
* Increased the Ghosts chance to use the Ghost Writing Book.
* Dead players will now receive 50% of the experience reward with no difficulty bonus.
* Changed the "DNA Evidence" to now say "Bone evidence".
* Solo players will now get the reward screen when they die and will get 50% of the reward as if they were in multiplayer.
* Renamed the EMF Monitor to "Total Activity" to avoid confusion.
* Updated Chinese translation.
* Slightly reduced how much sanity you lose when using the ouija board.
* Slightly increased the Non-VR run speed and VR walk speed.
* Increased the chance of the Ouija Board giving an answer.
* You will no longer lose exp if a player dies.
* Increased the amount of exp you get for completing objectives.
* Lights will now only flicker near the Ghost. The rate that the lights flicker has been reduced.
* Footsteps will no longer count for photo evidence. This is to optimise how they spawn in.
* Wraiths will no longer walk on Salt during their hunting phase to help with some confusion.
* Increased the delay at the start of the hunting phase to hide from 5 to 8 seconds.
* Lowered the amount of time you need to talk to the spirit box for to make it give a random response for people without voice recognition.
* Lowered the resolution the photo camera takes. This will help with server disconnects and lag spikes.
* Objectives will now be given to you based on the highest players level.
* Wraiths no longer leave footprints after walking in Salt. They now instead have a higher activity limit.
* You will no longer see your breathe when outside as this was causing some confusion.
* Increased the basketball throwing speed in VR.
* The main menu will no longer reload if you fail to connect to the server.
* Updated German, Spanish, French, Italian, Russian, Turkish, Dutch, Chinese and Danish translations.
[h2]New[/h2]
* Added reset buttons in the Non-VR controls on the main menu.
* Added a invite code for each room. This code can be entered in the lobby screen to join private games.
* Added an option in the graphics menu to turn off Bloom.
* You can now use Spacebar to open the main menu as a backup in case your left mouse button unbinds.
* Added a radio sound effect to the player voice when talking over global chat.
* Added more questions to the Spirit Box such as "Shall we leave?" and "Do you want to hurt us".
* You will now be given 50% of your total item price back if you die on an amateur contract.