- Latest Patch
- First Update — October 16, 2026 (1.004 on console)
- Platforms
- PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S patched together
- Cost
- Free — no paid gameplay patches
- Next Up
- New Game+ and French VO, later in 2026
Patch Timeline: Launch to Now
| Build | Released | Version Label | What It Covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch build | October 13, 2026 | — | Full release on PC (Steam), PS5 and Xbox Series X|S for $39.99. Launch-day PC coverage focused on black screens, shader-compilation stutter and crashes — the workarounds are on the Fixes & FAQ page. |
| First Update | October 16, 2026 | 1.004 on console (per MP1st) | Crash fixes, Xbox graphical issue fixes, a PC GPU driver detection popup and reduced error logging, plus progression and quest fixes: the Chapter 4 post-boss save blocker, a progression / cutscene lantern unlock the notes word as Chapter 12, the Chapter 5 side quest In the Name of Art, and the Volunteer backstab patrol bug. |
First Update (Oct 16): The Full Change List
Wording below follows the official Steam news post; MP1st's write-up adds the console 1.004 label. Where a note affects a guide on this site, the affected page is named so you know what to re-check.
| Category | Change | What It Means for You |
|---|---|---|
| Stability | Crash fixes across the game. | Fewer mid-run crashes; if you still crash, the launch-day PC checklist on the Fixes & FAQ page still applies. |
| Console visuals | Fixes for Xbox graphical issues. | Xbox Series X|S rendering artifacts introduced or exposed at launch are addressed. |
| PC diagnostics | GPU driver detection popup; reduced error logging. | The game now tells you when it suspects an outdated or missing GPU driver instead of failing quietly, and writes less noisy logs. |
| Progression | Fixed the Chapter 4 post-boss save blocker. | Players who could not progress or save after the Chapter 4 boss are unstuck — the walkthrough's Chapter 4 row no longer needs a workaround. |
| Progression | Fixed a progression issue and cutscene lantern unlock the notes describe with the wording Chapter 12. | Public chapter guides count 11 playable story chapters; read Chapter 12 here as patch-note wording, not a new twelfth chapter. |
| Quests | Fixed the Chapter 5 side quest In the Name of Art. | A Vale of Wrath side quest named in the patch notes — see the FAQ below for how it relates to the six launch-verified quest lines. |
| Enemies | Fixed the Volunteer backstab patrol bug. | Volunteer enemies no longer patrol or backstab in a broken way; expect slightly different enemy behavior in old farm routes. |
Played the Playtest or Demo? Delete GameUserSettings.ini
The official recommendation for anyone who played the Playtest or Demo is to delete the old settings file so the full release builds a clean one. This fixes settings that refuse to stick or load wrong values carried over from the earlier build.
- Close Valor Mortis completely.
- Delete the file GameUserSettings.ini at AppData\Local\ValorMortis\Saved\Config\Windows\GameUserSettings.ini (paste that path into the File Explorer address bar).
- Start the game and re-enter your display and graphics settings — they are now written to a fresh file.
Announced & Still Coming (Free)
- New Game+ — planned for later in 2026, free. This is also the announced answer for replaying the story and recovering a missed Abyssal Eviction.
- French voice-over — planned for a later update per the same Steam news track.
- More performance work — the studio states ongoing performance improvements are still in the pipeline.
- Cosmetic and story content for Deluxe owners follows its own 2026–2027 schedule — see the DLC & Editions page.
Patch FAQ
What is the latest Valor Mortis patch?
The First Update, released October 16, 2026 — MP1st labels the console build 1.004. It is a fix-and-QoL patch: crashes, Xbox graphics, PC driver detection, and the progression and quest fixes listed above.
Do I need to delete GameUserSettings.ini?
Only if you played the Playtest or Demo on the same PC and your settings misbehave in the full release. Delete AppData\Local\ValorMortis\Saved\Config\Windows\GameUserSettings.ini while the game is closed, then relaunch and re-enter your settings.
The patch notes say Chapter 12 — is there a twelfth chapter?
The public chapter guides we verified count 11 playable story chapters, ending with Reflection. The patch note's Chapter 12 wording is quoted as-is above and should be read as the developer's internal numbering, not evidence of a hidden chapter.
What is In the Name of Art?
A Chapter 5 side quest named in the October 16 patch notes as fixed. Our Side Quests page details the six quest lines verified at launch; we have not yet re-verified In the Name of Art against the patched build, so it gets a named mention in the Chapter 5 row of the walkthrough instead of a full breakdown.
Has New Game+ shipped yet?
No. New Game+ is planned as a free update later in 2026, alongside the French voice-over. Until then a finished save stays in post-game free roam.
Did the patch change any trophies?
Nothing in the October 16 notes touches trophies: the list is still 39 trophies with exactly one missable, Abyssal Eviction. Only enemy behavior around the Volunteer fix may shift old farming routes slightly.
Sources & Verification
- Steam Community — Valor Mortis First Update News (Oct 16, 2026)Official · 2026-10-20
- MP1st — Valor Mortis First Update 1.004 Applies Quality-of-Life Additions & FixesCommunity Guide · 2026-10-20
- GamerFuzion — Valor Mortis PC Performance, Crashes & Stutter (Launch Day)Community Guide · 2026-10-13
- PowerPyx — Valor Mortis Trophy Guide & RoadmapCommunity Guide · 2026-10-13