Phasmophobia’s Chronicle Update Makes Investigations More Rewarding If You’re Brave Enough

by

Ever since Phasmophobia was launched on consoles around Halloween last year, I’ve noticed similarities between it and PUBG, which might surprise you if you haven’t played both games. While Phasmophobia is a cooperative, first-person paranormal investigation game about hunting ghosts and PUBG is a military simulation battle royale, they share an incredible immersive quality that makes their rough edges more endearing than annoying. In fact, there’s even a community of online videos devoted to the charming quirks in Phasmophobia’s design.

The delicate equilibrium presented here isn’t meant to be permanent, but it’s a significant stride for Phasmophobia. Today, the Chronicle update rolls out across PC and consoles, marking another evolution in the ghost-hunting game’s quest to refine and enhance its gameplay mechanics. This transformation not only heightens immersion but also amps up the fear factor for those striving for a perfect investigation.

Earlier, to achieve a flawless round in their investigations, players needed to snap 10 high-quality photos showcasing ghostly activities for a three-star rating. These images could depict the ghost itself, objects moved by the spirit, footprints in salt, and so forth. However, this approach relied heavily on the camera feature, neglecting other means of evidence collection. That changes now.

In the latest update of the Chronicle, the process of collecting evidence has been broadened to incorporate audio and video recordings as well. This expansion comes with a new audio recorder device that follows the same three-level upgrade system, which you can progress through gradually over time. The traditional three-star rating system for evaluating evidence and achieving a flawless investigation has been replaced. Now, instead, you’ll receive money for every piece of evidence found, encouraging you to spend more time interacting with the restless spirits.

Just experienced a demo of the updates in Chronicle, and I can’t wait to play it with my regular ghostbusting team tonight! These fresh tools not only give the game a more polished feel, distancing it from its early-access phase, but they also incentivize perseverance during tense situations.

An illustrative way to demonstrate how the Chronicle update enhances Phasmophobia’s gameplay is by making the task of taking a ghost’s photo more focused and specific. Instead of just capturing a general image, players can now earn money and accomplish secondary objectives by snapping various types of photos such as when the ghost performs an event, transforms into different forms, or is actively chasing you. This change could prompt players who usually rush to escape at the slightest danger to think twice about sticking around for that additional income.

As a gamer, I was thrilled to learn from Kinetic Games’ Corey Dixon at Summer Game Fest that instead of the single photo I usually capture for those special moments, there will now be multiple unique photos available. If my skills are up to par or luck is on my side, I might even end up with five ghostly photos! This could lead to a massive haul of rewards if I manage to survive the game.

The purpose of the latest video evidence feature is to transfer evidence that was previously confusing in still images into the video category. Dixon elaborated, suggesting players explore and utilize other tools more creatively when searching for evidence. For instance, instead of capturing ghost-moved objects as snapshots with the “trust me” label, you’ll now want to film these objects as they move on video.

The advanced audio recording gadget adds depth to the collection of fresh evidence methods. Notably, it allows you to gather data on eerie sounds, which can contribute to your investigation’s extra goals. Additionally, a single spooky encounter can fulfill two objectives simultaneously if you manage to make the ghost speak through the spirit box while also recording that conversation with your audio recorder. However, be cautious as the spirit box depletes your sanity rapidly, as experienced players will attest. Consequently, there’s always a risk involved when lingering longer to converse with spirits in pursuit of more valuable evidence. Ultimately, these new additions underscore the immersive role-playing element that initially motivated the original solo developer, Daniel Knight, to create Phasmophobia.

Knight explained that the main motivation behind creating the game was a lack of similar games, and they simply desired to enjoy something like this, as there was nothing quite like it before.

The latest update to The Chronicle brings numerous enhancements focused on improving user experience, such as making door opening smoother for VR gamers and enabling precise matchmaking to help you join teams with similar playstyles. However, what truly sets this update apart are the innovative gameplay mechanics that make players feel like they’re actually ghost hunters more than ever before.

Regardless of whether they venture into the haunted locations or remain in the team’s vehicle, everyone in the group gains from the Chronicle update due to a more advanced camera system that enables simultaneous viewing of various cameras and effortless switching between cameras set up by the crew, existing CCTV cameras on the property, and head-mounted cameras worn by team members daring enough to explore within the ghostly realm.

If you’re a member who mainly plays with trucks within our gaming community, you’ll be pleased to learn that Kinetic Games has no intentions of altering or disturbing this exclusive truck-focused environment.

“We want to give people the option to play how they want to play,” Knight explained.

It’s more like a community-oriented, buddy-style cooperative game, isn’t it? Not everyone enjoys horror,” Dixon pointed out. “That’s why providing an option for people to remain in the truck and still participate is crucial for us. This new feature simply enhances that aspect.

The latest update for The Chronicle has been released as a complimentary addition across all platforms where the game is available. During Summer Game Fest, the Kinetic Games team shared some additional secrets with me, among which was the revamping of the Grafton Farmhouse map. This new version leans heavily into a Blair Witch-inspired aesthetic and could potentially become my preferred map within the game. There’s plenty more to discuss, so be sure to visit again later this summer for additional updates about another project Kinetic Games showed me. Until then, have fun hunting, and remember to carry incense with you.

Read More

2025-06-24 17:40