After numerous delays and being exclusively on PC for over four years now, Kinetic Games' paranormal horror game Phasmophobia is finally coming to the PlayStation 5, PlayStation VR2, and Xbox Series X|S consoles on October 29, 2024, albeit still in early access. It's unclear when Phasmophobia will launch its 1.0 update, but its console launch is certainly a good omen.
While the base experience for Phasmophobia will remain the same between PC and consoles, there are still a few minor differences that even veteran fans of the game may wish to be made aware of. As expected, Phasmophobia's console edition will have its own frame rate and resolution, but a few of the game's PC features have also been slightly adapted to consoles. Furthermore, since Phasmophobia has never been on consoles before, it's likely the game will receive an influx of new players who are unfamiliar with its mechanics.
Phasmophobia: How to Identify All Ghosts
Each ghost in Phasmophobia comes with special abilities that can help you identify them. Here's what you need to look out for on any difficulty.
Everything Confirmed for Phasmophobia's Console Launch
Phasmophobia's Core Gameplay Loop Sees Players Hunting Ghosts
For the uninitiated, Phasmophobia's core gameplay loop essentially plays out like an episode of Ghost Hunters, with players using a variety of tools to investigate locations where ghosts have been sighted. There are over a dozen locations for players to visit, each one with a unique layout and one of 24 different ghost types for players to discover within those locations. To succeed at a ghost hunt in Phasmophobia, players must correctly identify the ghost type in the location using their equipment and the process of elimination.
Once players arrive at a location, their first objective requires them to search a building to find the ghost's favorite room, which is usually indicated by paranormal events like flipping light switches and exploding light bulbs. Upon discovering a ghost's favorite room in Phasmophobia, players will then use various equipment brought with them to identify the ghost — like a Spirit Box, which allows them to communicate with the ghost, and a Video Camera, which helps them spot ghost orbs. As this equipment is used, players will be able to take note of their effectiveness — or lack thereof — in a journal until they've narrowed down the ghost's type.
From there, they are free to leave the scene, upon which they are rewarded money and XP that they can use to upgrade their equipment for future runs in Phasmophobia.
Phasmophobia's Console Port Features High Frame Rate and Resolution Options
After a few mishaps regarding frame rate and resolution in games over the past few years, players should be pleased to know that Phasmophobia's console port will target high frame rates and resolutions so they can get the most out of the game's visuals. On both Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, Phasmophobia will target a 4K maximum resolution as well as a frame rate of 60 fps.
Various Features Are Changing and Being Added to Phasmophobia's Console Port
Several features are also changing or being added to Phasmophobia's console port, affecting things like voice recognition and controls. Firstly, Phasmophobia's console port will feature noise detection, which means if players speak into their mics, the game's ghosts will be alerted to the noise. However, unlike the PC version of Phasmophobia, the console edition will not feature voice recognition at launch, meaning the ghosts will not be able to understand players. Additionally, there will be full haptic feedback implemented into the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller, though there will be no adaptive trigger functionality.
Phasmophobia's console launch is certainly a big step forward for the award-winning horror game, especially in light of its potential to grow its audience beyond the borders of the PC population. However, even those who already have progress on PC can take advantage of Phasmophobia's parity between platforms, as their progress will carry over.
Phasmophobia is launching on the PlayStation 5, PlayStation VR2, and Xbox Series X|S consoles on October 29, 2024.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 76 /100 Critics Rec: 62%
- Released
- October 29, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Use of Drugs, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Kinetic Games
- Publisher(s)
- Kinetic Games
WHERE TO PLAY
Phasmophobia is a 4-player, online co-op, psychological horror game. You and your team of paranormal investigators will enter haunted locations filled with paranormal activity and try to gather as much evidence as you can. Use your ghost-hunting equipment to find and record evidence to sell on to a ghost removal team.
Immersive Experience: Realistic graphics and sounds as well as a minimal user interface ensure a totally immersive experience that will keep you on your toes.
Unique Ghosts: Identify over 20 different ghost types, each with unique traits, personalities, and abilities to make each investigation feel different from the last.
Equipment: Use well-known ghost-hunting equipment such as EMF Readers, Spirit Boxes, Thermometers, and Night Vision Cameras to find clues and gather as much paranormal evidence as you can. Find Cursed Possessions that grant information or abilities in exchange for your sanity.
Full Voice Recognition: The Ghosts are listening! Use your actual voice to interact with the Ghosts through Ouija Boards and EVP Sessions using a Spirit Box.
Locations: Choose from over 10 different haunted locations, each with unique twists, hiding spots, and layouts.
Game Modes: With 5 default difficulties and hand crafted weekly challenges, there are plenty of ways to test your skills.
Teamwork: Dive in head first, get your hands dirty searching for evidence while fighting for your life. If you're not feeling up to the task, play it safe and support your team from the truck by monitoring the investigation with CCTV and motion sensors.
Custom Difficulty: Create your own games to tailor the difficulty to your or your group's needs, with proportional rewards and come up with crazy game modes of your own!
Co-operate: Play alongside your friends with up to 4 players in this co-op horror where teamwork is key to your success.
Play together: Phasmophobia supports all players together, play with your friends with any combination of input types.
- Engine
- Unity
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Number of Players
- 4
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Puzzle
- How Long To Beat
- 36.5 hours (solo) / 28 hours (co-op) / 33 hours (vs.)
- How Long To Beat (Completionist Runs)
- T For Teen // Blood, Use of Drugs, Violence
