Overview
- Patch 1.5 (version 1.005.001 on consoles) is live December 17 across Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC.
- Nightmare Experience boosts enemy intelligence and aggression, introduces daytime Volatiles in some Dark Zones, and tightens resource availability.
- The new Alpha Volatile tracks player scent, ignores UV from the flashlight, and can hunt across the map until players reach safety or kill it.
- Survival features now include a Hunger System that weakens stamina and health regeneration plus a draining, flickering flashlight that requires battery replacements.
- The update adds two weapon finishers, exclusive rewards for high‑end challenges, extensive New Game+/Legend level balancing and technical fixes, with community challenges ongoing and no further patch expected before January 2026 unless issues arise.