Kinetic Games has confirmed that Phasmophobia’s long-awaited Grafton Farmhouse rework will launch on August 12, 2025. The update overhauls the map with a decayed, abandoned look, adding a brand-new attic space, fresh interactables, and environmental changes that will alter ghost hunts.
Unlike the Bleasdale farmhouse rework, which expanded into a medium-sized map, Grafton remains a small-map experience—perfect for solo or quick investigations. The design leans into its dilapidated state: collapsed roofs, broken railings, shattered windows, and rotting interiors. Open-air sections could influence ghost temperature readings, making evidence collection more challenging.
Kinetic Games is also hosting preview streams on August 7–8, where partnered creators will showcase the map ahead of release. Viewers can earn exclusive Twitch drops, including animated and standard badge versions tied to the Grafton update. Animated badges are only available during partner streams within the two-day window, while standard badges will remain accessible until August 26.
Nell’s Diner Revealed as New Small Map
Alongside Grafton’s launch date, the development preview introduced Phasmophobia’s next new map: Nell’s Diner. Inspired by classic American roadside diners, the location sits along a desert highway in Tucson, blending nostalgic neon-lit charm with unsettling horror.
Nell’s Diner is slightly larger than Tanglewood but still falls into the small map category. It features 13 unique rooms—11 of which can host the ghost—offering tight corridors, looping spots, hiding areas, and new interactable objects. Lighting varies sharply between the front dining space and the darker, run-down back rooms.
A standout twist is the walk-in freezer, which is permanently cold. This design forces players to rethink temperature-based ghost identification, as standard freezing evidence won’t behave as expected. The team has also emphasized environmental storytelling, hinting at a sudden, disturbing abandonment. Warm meals remain on tables, dishes clutter the counters, and clues to the building’s fate await discovery.
How Grafton and Nell’s Diner Change Gameplay
Both updates introduce mechanics that can alter investigative strategies. Grafton’s collapsed exterior sections could mimic outdoor conditions, complicating temperature tracking. The attic adds a new layer to its familiar layout, creating potential for less predictable ghost paths.
Nell’s Diner shifts the tone to an open-yet-confined structure, with areas that demand careful sound and light management. The freezer and varied lighting may create high-risk zones where identifying the ghost requires more than just checking the thermometer.
By focusing on small, high-density maps, Kinetic Games caters to the majority of Phasmophobia players who favor compact, intense hunts over sprawling, slow-paced maps.
What’s Next for Phasmophobia
The team hasn’t provided a release date for Nell’s Diner beyond “later this year,” but it’s already positioned to become a fan favorite thanks to its unique setting and focused design.
Looking ahead, Kinetic Games plans to roll out its player character update and continue expanding the game through the rest of 2025. September will mark Phasmophobia’s fifth anniversary, with the studio preparing special events to celebrate. Players can expect more news on both the anniversary plans and the 2026 roadmap in the coming months.
For now, the next major milestone is August 12, when the reworked Grafton Farmhouse officially joins the map roster. Small map fans have plenty to look forward to, both in returning to Grafton and eventually stepping inside Nell’s Diner.
