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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesPhasmophobia: Ascension (v0.9) launched on August 17, 2023. Kinetic Games’ official listing gives the date but does not state a release time or time zone. Ascension is a past update, not a forthcoming 2026 release. Its biggest changes were a new leveling and prestige system, three equipment tiers, and substantial revisions to evidence tools and contract mechanics.
When did the Phasmophobia Ascension update release?
Kinetic Games dated the Ascension v0.9 update August 17, 2023. The official patch notes do not specify a launch time or time zone, so there is no verified hour to convert for a particular region. Kinetic Games’ official news listing
The developer introduced it as “the grand update for the new Progression system and Equipment Tiers.” Kinetic Games’ Ascension v0.9 patch notes
What changed in Ascension?
Progression, levels, and prestige
Ascension replaced the previous progression structure with new leveling rates, unlocks, and a prestige system. Existing players were reset to Prestige 1, level 1, while keeping difficulties and locations they had already unlocked. New players started at Prestige 0, level 1.
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On their first launch after updating, players could choose a legacy badge based on their level before Ascension. The notes said that choice could not be changed afterward and warned that editing a player’s level would result in a ban.
Three tiers for equipment
Each equipment item gained three tiers, increasing the stated equipment count from 22 to 60. To upgrade an item, players had to meet its level requirement and use the item tile in the shop. The upgrade required a large sum to unlock; the contract cost to bring an item was the same across its tiers.
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Several shop categories were renamed to accommodate the expanded equipment list:
- Fingerprints became Ultraviolet; Footsteps became Footprints.
- Candles and Lantern became Firelight; Matchbox and Lighters became Igniter.
- Smudge Sticks and Censer became Incense.
- Camcorders and Movie Camera became Video Camera.
- Glowsticks and UV torches became UV Light.
- Sanity Drink, Pills and Shot became Sanity Medication.
- Head Mounted Camera, Flashlight and Goggles became Head Gear; Weak or Strong flashlights became Flashlight.
Evidence and equipment behavior
- D.O.T.S.: Ghosts with D.O.T.S. evidence could enter a temporary state in which they became visible under infrared light, moved toward the nearest player in the same room, and then disappeared. A D.O.T.S. photo counted as a normal ghost photo. Banshees instead tried to roam toward their target.
- Firelight and Igniters: Players could switch off a Firelight by pressing Use again while holding it. Firelights gained timed effects and no longer completely stopped sanity drain; the benefits differed by tier.
- Parabolic microphone: Sounds aimed at and within range of the microphone could be heard clearly, while other sounds were muffled.
- Incense: The ghost checked more frequently whether Incense was active, making repelling more consistent. Using Incense while its effect was already active reset the timer.
- Salt and Ultraviolet: Salt revealed footprints only when the ghost had Ultraviolet evidence. UV prints needed to be charged with a UV light before a successful photo, and ghost traits affected footprints. Players could shake a dimmed glowstick to restore its light.
- Thermometers: Thermometers became starter evidence equipment. Cold breath appeared at 5°C and below, but freezing temperatures had to be identified with a thermometer reading of 0°C (32°F) or below. On tiers II and III, players had to hold Use briefly to get a room-temperature reading. The update also adjusted temperature consistency and how quickly temperatures fell below the minimum weather temperature.
- Video cameras and tripods: The maximum number was reduced to four. Ghosts could throw video cameras and, rarely, knock over tripods.
- Photos: A revised camera system considered evidence distance and viewing angle. Evidence needed to be closer to the center of the frame for a higher-quality reward.
Consumables and contract costs
Some shop items marked as consumable had to be repurchased after a contract. The patch listed all Crucifix tiers, Firelight I and II, all Igniter tiers, Incense I and II, all Salt tiers, and all Sanity Medication tiers. Disabling item loss in Custom Difficulty prevented consumption, but set rewards to zero.
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Rewards and training
Ascension adjusted rewards and increased those for objectives, tasks, and weekly challenges. Experience earned also awarded the same amount in dollars. Bone collection rewards were no longer affected by the reward multiplier.
The old training mode was replaced by a warehouse experience with rooms demonstrating evidence equipment and offering gameplay tips in a controlled environment.
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Gamepad, blocking, and other additions
Gamepad support added UI button controls for the Journal, voice-recognition text, and main menu, and replaced navigation with a virtual on-screen cursor. Players could block or unblock others through a player card, the recent players page, or the Blocked Players tab. Blocked players stayed muted until unblocked.
Other additions included equipment help and upgrade screens, equipment descriptions and lore notes, auto-buy loadouts, placement-range indicators for Ghost-Writing Books and Motion Sensor III, VR loading fades, and support for Quest Pro and Vive Focus 3.
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Engine and voice changes
Kinetic Games said Ascension upgraded the Unity engine for performance and switched from the Forward renderer to Forward+. The stated aim was to prevent multiple lights from drastically reducing performance; the patch notes do not provide independent performance measurements.
The game’s in-game voice system changed to Photon Voice. Kinetic Games said this significantly improved fixes for desynchronized voice chat, delays, and poor voice quality; that is the developer’s claim, not an independent test result.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Notable balance changes and fixes
The update gave Crucifixes 50% extra range against Demons and Incense 50% extra duration against Moroi. It also rebaked lighting, revised weekly challenge equipment loadouts, changed the Monkey Paw custom-game penalty, and adjusted the ghost-reveal wish.
The developer’s extensive fix list covered light limits and invisible lighting, weekly timer precision, Thaye behavior, EMF collisions, player order, VR initialization crashes, repelling from the truck, Yokai behavior around talking players, map boundaries and ghost locations, item collisions, Arabic player-name number translation, and crashes on low-end hardware. It also listed fixes for camera detection during hunts when held by a non-host, the High Priestess card in single-player, and additional map- and ghost-specific issues. See the full Ascension patch notes for the itemized list.
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Ascension is the 2023 v0.9 update, distinct from Kinetic Games’ later plans. In a June 2026 roadmap announcement, the studio scheduled the 13 Willow Street rework and first quality-of-life update for July 21, another quality-of-life update for August, Unity 6 for October, and the next player-character update for November. It moved Phasmophobia 1.0 and the next new map to 2027. These are roadmap plans, not features or release details for Ascension; consult the studio’s latest notices for any changes. Kinetic Games news and roadmap announcements
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