The first retail balance update shipped right after worldwide launch. PC and PS5 are live; Xbox Series rollout was still unconfirmed as of August 23.
| Item | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| PC | Live | Restart Steam and allow the retail game to update. |
| PlayStation 5 | Live — Playstack confirmed the rollout on Aug 23 | Use Check for Update, then verify the in-game notice or the changes below. |
| Xbox Series X|S | Rollout not confirmed | Check Manage game and add-ons; compare the change list rather than assuming the earlier hotfix is this patch. |
Economy changes
| System | Change | Player impact |
|---|---|---|
| Shell-location maps | Now cost Gloom instead of Glimpses. | Finding another Shell no longer consumes the currency used to bond with it. |
| Previous Shell-map purchases | Spent Glimpses refunded in the Shell Keeper's alcove in Blackmarrow. | Check the alcove before farming more Glimpses. |
| Gold drops | Enemy Gold drops raised; Mammon enemies drop twice as much. | Weapon-crafting material discovery needs less Gold farming. |
| Tarforge smelting | Gloom price reduced by 75%. | Changing weapon upgrade plans is much cheaper. |
Boss and enemy balance
Most enemies that appeared in the Open Beta returned to their beta health values. The Caerinid Spider in Magdalena's area is the stated exception, intended to stay a threatening non-respawning encounter.
| Encounter | Change |
|---|---|
| The Lost Child | Base damage -10%; maximum health -15%. |
| The Monolith | Base damage -19%; maximum health -10%; some attacks retimed. |
| Cultist with mace | Maximum health -21.1%. |
| Caerinid Spider | Maximum health -33.3%. |
| Infested Stalker | Maximum health -52.4%. |
| Rusted Knave with halberd | Maximum health -20.8%; overhead-strike hit detection fixed. |
Weapon, Seal, and Tarstone changes
- Great Martyr's Blade attack damage increased by 20%.
- Troubadour's Lute attack damage doubled.
- Caged Hystrix and Triarch Repeater no longer require a minimum amount of Resolve to fire.
- Axatana, Black Needle, and Clockwork Scythe light attacks received better target tracking.
- Seal: Guard can now remain active while the player walks (a control improvement, not a new item).
- Tarstones: Parasitic, Grudge, Clerik's, and Squall Stone buffed; Bulwark Stone got a substantial damage-reduction increase (no exact values published).
Crash, bug, and performance work
General crash, bug, and performance fixes. No individual crash signatures, settings, or frame-rate targets were listed. Cold Symmetry published separate retail hotfix notes for the Slayer Seal menu, stolen riposte weapons, PS5 input and Beta saves, and Xbox skin entitlements.
What is planned next
The developer says a larger patch is in testing and future updates are planned to expand Night Mode, Tarstones, and “PP Items.” These are development intentions, not confirmed dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Balance Patch 1 live on PS5 and Xbox?
What PS5 version contains Balance Patch 1?
Where are refunded Glimpses from Shell maps?
Did Balance Patch 1 make the game easier?
Sources used for this page
| Type | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Official | Cold Symmetry / Playstack — Balance Patch 1 (Official News) | checked Aug 23, 2026 |
| Official | Playstack — PS5 rollout confirmation and Xbox correction | checked Aug 23, 2026 |
| Community | PS5 players — version 1.000.007 reports in the Global Release thread | checked Aug 23, 2026 |