Ghost hunters have a brand-new reason to return to Phasmophobia as Kinetic Games rolls out the revamped 13 Willow Street map across all platforms.
The update doesn’t just modernise one of the game’s most recognisable haunted houses—it also introduces the first of two major quality-of-life updates planned for 2026, delivering smoother gameplay, accessibility improvements, and hundreds of bug fixes.
A Familiar House With a Fresh Horror Twist
While the overall layout of 13 Willow Street remains largely unchanged to preserve its classic feel, nearly every room has received a visual overhaul. Players will discover redesigned interiors, new paranormal interactions, additional hiding spots, and environmental storytelling that expands the game’s growing lore.
Several familiar rooms have been replaced to better fit the new vision for the map. The former bedroom, garage and basement have made way for an art studio, home gym, and entertainment room, while the basement itself has been reconfigured to improve navigation and gameplay.
Like the recent 6 Tanglewood Drive rework, the update focuses on keeping the map instantly recognisable while bringing it up to Kinetic Games’ modern design standards.
Hidden Storytelling Expands Phasmophobia’s Lore
Beyond the visual refresh, eagle-eyed investigators can uncover new pieces of environmental storytelling scattered throughout the house.
Senior Narrative Designer Anastatia Dukakis explained that the team is continuing to build Phasmophobia’s narrative through its locations, encouraging players to work together to uncover the mysteries hidden within each map.
The developer says it enjoys watching the community share theories and piece together the stories behind the game’s haunted locations.
New Rewards for Brave Ghost Hunters
The update also introduces a brand-new map challenge.
Players who successfully identify—and survive—50 ghosts on 13 Willow Street will unlock the exclusive Sun Seeker ID card and badge.
Meanwhile, those who tune into two hours of Phasmophobia streams during the first week following the update can also earn the limited-time Cool Cat ID card and badge through Twitch Drops.
Massive Quality-of-Life Improvements
Launching alongside the map overhaul is the largest of two planned quality-of-life updates for 2026.
Many of the improvements come directly from community feedback following the recent Player Character Update, with Kinetic Games focusing on refining the overall gameplay experience before Phasmophobia eventually leaves Early Access.
Some of the biggest additions include:
- Hundreds of bug fixes and gameplay improvements
- Faster, smoother player animations
- Improved evidence collection
- New keyboard shortcuts allowing PC players to switch equipment using the 1, 2, 3 and 4 keys
- Additional accessibility improvements
- New watch inspection controls
- Various gameplay refinements designed to make investigations more intuitive.
Kinetic Games has also teased that players may encounter “a new presence lurking in the shadows,” giving fans another mystery to uncover.
More Updates Coming Later This Year
The studio isn’t stopping here.
A second quality-of-life update is scheduled to arrive in late August, with further improvements planned throughout the rest of 2026. Upcoming updates include the move to Unity 6, additional player character improvements, and more content outlined in the updated development roadmap.
Available Now!
The 13 Willow Street rework is available now as a free update for all Phasmophobia players.
Phasmophobia remains in Early Access and is available on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation VR2, and Xbox Series X|S, priced at £16.75 in the UK.
