Phantom Blade Zero is here and it’s taking over Steam’s most-played chart already, however there’s a day one patch that you must set up earlier than you play.
In addition to fixing a slew of bugs, the patch gives efficiency benefits for PC and console gamers. It’s roughly 5GB in dimension on PC and 2GB on PS5 (on PS5 the patch seems as model 1.301.524).
The patch improves ray tracing and path tracing, making the real-time lighting and shadows pop much more, with rasterization (the method of changing 3D fashions to real-time) enhancements “making certain the scene’s artwork type is completely conveyed, even with ray tracing disabled.”
In different phrases, it ought to nonetheless look good on mid-range PCs and even handheld gadgets just like the Steam Deck. Although the sport will not be but Steam Deck Verified by Valve, developer S-Recreation stated handheld gadgets have been “extensively examined,” so it’s doubtless verification is simply across the nook.
For PC gamers, the developer stated it had observed some efficiency points on the most recent Nvidia drivers: 621.01. “We discovered that Nvidia’s newest driver 621.01 has some unstable efficiency points,” S-Recreation stated within the patch announcement.
The developer recommends rolling again to 617.42 for optimum efficiency, however Nvidia will doubtless roll out a brand new driver quickly anyway.
Here is the element of Phantom Blade Zero’s day-one patch, from Soulframe LIANG, inventive director and CEO of S-Recreation:
We’ve ready a day-one patch forward of launch. The replace is roughly 5 GB and considerably improves ray tracing and path tracing efficiency, alongside a number of bug fixes. Should you’ve already pre-loaded the sport, please obtain and set up the replace earlier than launching. Should you haven’t pre-loaded, your obtain will robotically embrace the most recent model.
We’ve spent quite a lot of time refining the sport’s rasterized visuals so that every setting stays true to our artwork route even with ray tracing turned off. We’ve additionally extensively examined the sport on mid-range and lower-end PCs, in addition to handhelds, and encourage you to offer it a strive.
We’ve noticed some efficiency instability with Nvidia’s newest 621.01 driver. Based mostly on our testing, model 617.42 at the moment gives one of the best expertise in Phantom Blade Zero. Should you’ve put in a driver newer than 617.42, we suggest rolling again to 617.42 and selecting the clear set up choice. Please keep on this model till Nvidia releases its subsequent driver replace, which we anticipate to reach quickly.
Information broke earlier that the original Phantom Blade Zero protagonist actor had been replaced. As a substitute, Sonic the Hedgehog himself, Roger Craig Smith, takes the lead position for the total launch.
IGN’s Phantom Blade Zero review returned a 9/10. We stated: “Phantom Blade Zero is an unbelievably easy motion sport stuffed with memorable boss fights, compelling fight, and limitless swagger.”
Earlier than you step into the Phantom World, we’ve put collectively a useful listing of Things Phantom Blade Zero Doesn’t Tell You. We’ve additionally obtained a step-by-step Phantom Blade Zero Walkthrough in progress, plus guides for the sport’s Weapons, Accessories, and Phantom Edges.
Kirk McKeand is a Contributor on IGN Information. Discover him on Twitter @MckKirk