Phasmophobia developer Kinetic Games reckons 2026 will be “one of the biggest [years] in the game’s history” as it moves towards the full release of the game.
The team says we can expect to see “more immersive animations” added to the early access ghosthunting game, such as physically seeing your character model turn on your EMF Reader, opening and closing doors, and picking up or dropping equipment.
This is on top of new death and revive animations, and the delayed Player Character Update, which is now coming anytime between now and March 2026.
“We’ve created brand new character models, improved animations and fine-tuned how it feels to play Phasmophobia,” the team explains. “Our overall aim is to create the most immersive experience we can, and we believe our current player character models and animations can snap (pun intended) you out of the game with a disjointed arm there, a bendy back here. With these changes, our characters will move with more realism and present a more life-like experience for players. This update is a key part of our road to Phasmophobia 1.0, creating the most immersive experience possible.”
This was initially set to launch before the end of 2025, but unfortunately, the team “weren’t able to meet that date – but for good reason”.
“As we saw with Chronicle earlier this year, giving the update more breathing room to evolve pays off,” Kinetic adds. “So while there’s a little longer to wait, we’re excited to share that we’ll be launching the Player Character Update in Q1 2026.”
And in line with the reworked farmhouses – and all-new Nell’s Diner, of course – Tanglewood is getting a makeover, too. Acutely aware that some players are very apprehensive about seeing their favourite level changed, the team promises it will “provide a similar experience to the one Ghost Hunters know and love to this day while still feeling fresh and exciting”.
Interestingly, for players that enjoy piecing together environmental clues and storytelling, “a mystery lies behind 6 Tanglewood Drive that’s just waiting to be uncovered”.
Kinetic Games recently announced it’s branching out into indie game publishing with Kinetic Publishing. It is actively seeking “creative games from small teams and solo developers globally, who have a clear vision for their title and are 12-18 months from release”.