Phantom Blade Zero is right here and it’s taking on Steam’s most-played chart already, however there’s a day one patch that it is best to set up earlier than you play.
In addition to fixing a slew of bugs, the patch provides 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 “guaranteeing 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 shouldn’t be but Steam Deck Verified by Valve, developer S-Sport mentioned handheld gadgets have been “extensively examined,” so it’s seemingly verification is simply across the nook.
For PC gamers, the developer mentioned it had observed some efficiency points on the newest Nvidia drivers: 621.01. “We discovered that Nvidia’s newest driver 621.01 has some unstable efficiency points,” S-Sport mentioned within the patch announcement.
The developer recommends rolling again to 617.42 for optimum efficiency, however Nvidia will seemingly roll out a brand new driver quickly anyway.
Here is the element of Phantom Blade Zero’s day-one patch, from Soulframe LIANG, artistic director and CEO of S-Sport:
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. For those who’ve already pre-loaded the sport, please obtain and set up the replace earlier than launching. For those who haven’t pre-loaded, your obtain will routinely embody the newest model.
We’ve spent quite a lot of time refining the sport’s rasterized visuals so that every setting stays true to our artwork path 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 attempt.
We’ve noticed some efficiency instability with Nvidia’s newest 621.01 driver. Based mostly on our testing, model 617.42 at the moment provides one of the best expertise in Phantom Blade Zero. For those who’ve put in a driver newer than 617.42, we advocate rolling again to 617.42 and selecting the clear set up possibility. Please keep on this model till Nvidia releases its subsequent driver replace, which we anticipate to reach quickly.
Information broke earlier that the unique Phantom Blade Zero protagonist actor had been changed. As a substitute, Sonic the Hedgehog himself, Roger Craig Smith, takes the lead function for the complete launch.
IGN’s Phantom Blade Zero evaluate returned a 9/10. We mentioned: “Phantom Blade Zero is an unbelievably easy motion recreation full of memorable boss fights, compelling fight, and limitless swagger.”
Earlier than you step into the Phantom World, we’ve put collectively a useful checklist of Issues Phantom Blade Zero Doesn’t Inform You. We’ve additionally received a step-by-step Phantom Blade Zero Walkthrough in progress, plus guides for the sport’s Weapons, Equipment, and Phantom Edges.
Kirk McKeand is a Contributor on IGN Information. Discover him on Twitter @MckKirk