Terrifying New Update for PS5 Exclusive VR Horror Game Dark Pictures: Switchback

Highlights

The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR has released update 1.06, which brings about notable enhancements to the game. This update not only fixes bugs but also elevates the visual quality, offering an improved and more immersive experience. Notably, the fog effects in the Cursed Forest stage have been specifically improved, intensifying its scary atmosphere.

The release of a new update for The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR brings significant enhancements to the on-rails shooter horror game, elevating it as one of the top choices for horror games on PlayStation VR2. Originally launched as a PlayStation 5 exclusive earlier this year, Switchback VR is a spinoff of Supermassive Games' Dark Pictures anthology horror series, and it serves as a spiritual successor to the popular horror rail shooter Until Dawn: Rush of Blood. The update not only offers a smoother gameplay experience but also enhances the game's overall visual appeal.

The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR takes players on a terrifying rollercoaster ride through levels inspired by The Dark Pictures franchise. As they progress, players encounter jump scares featuring familiar monsters from the core games while shooting their way to a high score.

However, despite its innovative horror game scares, The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR received mixed reviews upon release. In response to feedback, Supermassive Games has developed update 1.06, which Game Rant had the opportunity to test prior to its release. Horror fans can expect a substantial upgrade with this 8.193 GB update.

The new Dark Pictures: Switchback VR update not only fixes numerous bugs, but also greatly enhances the game's visual quality. The patch notes promise improved graphics, and the update delivers on this promise. The overall visuals are much crisper and more detailed, aligning more closely with the standards of a PlayStation VR 2 game. Additionally, specific levels have been improved, with the Cursed Forest stage receiving a noteworthy upgrade. Prior to the update, the Cursed Forest stage, based on The Dark Pictures: Little Hope game, appeared lackluster. One major issue was the intrusive and unrealistic fog. However, players will immediately notice a substantial improvement in the fog effects, creating a more immersive and, consequently, scarier stage.

Dark Pictures: Switchback VR Update 1.06 Patch Notes

: The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR offers various improvements that are evident throughout the game, resulting in a significantly enhanced experience compared to its pre-patch state. However, it's important to note that certain issues with the general gameplay still persist. Despite this, the game remains largely unchanged, albeit with a more polished presentation. Nevertheless, for PlayStation VR2 horror enthusiasts, it remains one of the top choices available, and those who haven't tried it yet can do so now and enjoy a vastly improved gameplay experience compared to the launch version.

PATCH NOTES

General

Introduction of FSR (flexible scaled rasterization) and FR (foveated rendering) support to greatly improve visual quality.

Enabled Temporal Anti-Aliasing (TAA) for a smoother image

Optimisation pass throughout the game for improved performance and prevention of objects and textures ‘popping’ as the cart moves.

Memory usage improvements

Various crash fixes

Reduction in loading times

New and improved models and textures for environment objects

New higher-quality textures for several enemies

Improvements to visual effects throughout the game, including fire, headshots and more.

Added dynamic hit reactions to several enemies.

Improved lighting in several levels

Improved the look of fog throughout the game.

Various fixes and improvements to enemy animations

Various fixes to clipping issues throughout the game.

Improvements to headset vibration caused by obstacles.

Fixes for cart / track audio and haptic feedback on the controllers Improved fading effects for destroyed materials.

Adjusted position of various objects throughout the game so they are no longer floating.

Added missing materials to various objects.

Various improvements to collisions, making it easier to shoot objects.

Various fixes to checkpoints and reloading levels

Various adjustments to enemy pathing

Added shadow casting from the cart light.

Improved decals like blood and oil

Added wet effect on hands and weapons when the player is under the rain.

Loading icon brightens up when spinning faster.

Turning down audio sound effects no longer turns off haptics.

Added sound effects to non-damaging head impacts.

Fixed an issue where the player’s vision got progressively darker in several levels.

Fixed various streaming issues that cause the environment to ‘pop in’ throughout the game

UI Fixes

Various fixes to subtitles in several languages

Various fixes to voiceover and subtitles timings

The leaderboard screen now correctly displays the accurate score after each chapter.

Text no longer gets cut off in multiple languages on the 'Journey So Far' screen.

Fixed an issue where subtitles were visible in the pause menu if the subtitle settings were adjusted whilst dialogue is playing.

Haunted Shipwreck

General

New and improved textures for the enemies in these levels

Added dynamic hit reactions to zombies.

Maiden Voyage

New and improved fire effects

Fixed multiple instances of enemies clipping into the cart.

Fixed multiple instances of enemies floating off the ground.

Adjusted floating objects throughout the level.

Fixed issue with the chain-link fence in the first area changing opacity as you approached it.

Adjusted collision on the puzzle assets so only the valves can be shot to trigger them.

Fixed an issue with enemies not being close enough to the cart to cause damage.

Adjusted the timings of the light flickering in the encounter after the ‘Meat Tunnel’.

Adjusted the speeds of enemies in the boat encounter.

Reworked the paths and tasks of enemies in the last fight for better timing.

Improved the curtain material to ensure no visibility through them. Resolved a bug that caused the game to crash when using the grenade launcher on the swarm of rats. Addressed the issue of gaps present in the water.

Fixed an issue where an enemy left alive behind the cart and could be heard throughout the level, despite being far away.

Fixed collisions so the swarm of rats no longer gets stuck on the track.

Into the Ship’s Heart

Fixed an issue where dying after the first branching track did not reset the level.

Adjusted floating and clipping assets throughout the level.

Fixed an issue with the blood rain visual where sound effects were not playing correctly in the ship’s kitchen.

Resolved an issue where damaged helicopter blades would be visible prior to the helicopter crash occurring at the conclusion of the level.

Fine-tuned the timing of the final confrontation with the boss's assault to ensure that the player does not sustain damage prematurely.

Improved the demon dog animations.

Balance fixes to the demon dog fights.

Added rain haptics on the last outdoor section.

Fixed an issue where we could see an invisible barrel exploding when the boss dies.

Cursed Forest

General

Multiple adjustments and fixes to the fog throughout both levels for better visual quality

New and improved tree and foliage throughout both levels

New and improved fire effects throughout both levels

Added more dynamic hit reactions to the enemies.

Abandon All Hope

Fixed an issue in the Black Cat bar where some objects were misaligned.

Made the headset vibration more intense during the bus crash.

Adjusted collisions on objects to allow for easier shooting.

Adjusted the paths of the giant bats in the tunnel.

Adjusted the fire visual effects so they no longer clip with the walls inside the burning house.

Burning Trials

Lighting improvements throughout the level

Demon in the police station can now be properly interrupted during their attack.

Improved the visual appearance of the UV decal.

Fixed an issue that caused the dolls to sometimes crawl sideways on the ceiling or walls.

Fixed an issue that caused the last demon to not attack during the final phase of the fight.

Forsaken Ruins

General

New and improved textures for the enemies

Added more dynamic hit reactions to enemies.

Ancient Temple

Lighting improvements throughout the level

Shortened the eclipse scene so that the fight starts sooner.

Fixed an issue with Belial clipping into the cart.

Fixes to several floating objects

Added missing sound effects when the environment changes with the blinking mechanic.

Added missing sound effects on the rock falls.

Into the Abyss

Lighting improvements throughout the level

Environment improvements throughout the level

Fixed an issue where the passenger could still be heard speaking despite being dead.

Improvements on timings and other issues with the boss fight

Doomed Hotel

Enjoy Your Stay

Scythes now deal significantly more damage.

Fixed several instances of enemies clipping through the floor when appearing.

Fixed an issue where shooting the mirrors resulted in blood effects coming out of them.

Panopticon

Visual improvements to the acid traps

Fixed an issue where repeatedly shooting one of the animatronics with the stun gun caused it to be pushed through walls.

Fixed an issue where shooting through the mattress killed an animatronic on the other side.

Significant improvements to the environment, particularly outdoor sections

Lighting improvements throughout the level, particularly in the final section

Switchback Levels

Welcome to Inferno’s Ride

New and improved trees and foliage throughout the level

Adjusted collisions on objects to allow for easier shooting.

Frozen Hell

Fixed various floating objects, duplicated objects and clipping issues in dolls and mannequins

Fixed noticeable holes in icy objects

Fixed an issue with voiceover and subtitles being out of sync at the end of the level.

The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR is available now for PS5.