- New Customization: Patch 1.18 introduces the “Mark of Pride” face paint, expanding Aloy’s cosmetic options across all PlayStation versions.
- Quest Stability: Critical fixes address progression-blocking bugs in “Faro’s Tomb,” “The Kulrut,” and “The Embassy,” ensuring smoother main-path completion.
- Visual Enhancements: Temporal Anti-Aliasing (TAA) has been refined for PS5 Resolution Mode and PS4, reducing shimmering and improving image clarity.
Aloy’s odyssey through the post-apocalyptic frontier continues to evolve as Guerrilla Games prioritizes stability and technical fidelity. The release of Horizon Forbidden West Update 1.18 – Patch Notes on September 01, 2022, marks a pivotal moment in the title’s post-launch lifecycle, focusing on refining the intricate mechanical systems that define the Tenakth territories. While modern players in 2026 often experience these fixes through the Complete Edition, understanding this specific update is essential for those revisiting the base PlayStation experience or managing legacy save transfers.
Unlike other titles updated during the same window, such as GigaBash Update 1.06, Guerrilla’s focus here is deeply rooted in cinematic consistency and open-world logic. This update specifically targets the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles, laying the groundwork for future expansions like Burning Shores.
New Features: Celebrating Identity
The primary addition in Patch 1.18 is the “Mark of Pride” face paint. This cosmetic item is accessible via any Painter in the Tenakth settlements (such as Scalding Spear or Thornmarsh). It allows players to further customize Aloy’s appearance in both standard gameplay and the robust Photo Mode, reflecting the developer’s commitment to inclusive representation within the game’s cultural tapestry.
Pro-Tip: To apply the Mark of Pride, visit a Painter NPC. If you have already cleared the “The Sky Blue” or “The Second Verse” side quests, you can quickly find these merchants in the larger Tenakth hubs.
Main Quest & Story Fixes
Patch 1.18 resolves several high-profile issues that previously hindered the cinematic experience or outright blocked progression in the critical path:
- Faro’s Tomb: Resolved a frustrating bug where the Hunter Merchant would vanish in Thebes, preventing players from restocking before major encounters.
- The Embassy: Fixed “floating weapons” during the cinematic sequence following the objective to talk to the Tenakth Marshal.
- The Kulrut: Hekarro will no longer become stuck behind an invisible wall during his scripted animations.
- The Base: Corrected several entry/exit errors and a “ghost” audio bug where Kotallo’s voice would play when he wasn’t present.
Side Quest & World Activity Optimizations
While Conan Exiles Update 1.80 was busy tweaking survival mechanics during this period, Horizon focused on the “completionist” experience. Players aiming for that elusive 100% trophy will find several hurdles removed:
For those managing combat-heavy sessions similar to Battlefield 2042 Update 1.17, the machine behavior tweaks in Patch 1.18 are notable. The Dreadwing is now significantly more aggressive when engaged in forested environments, and new visual effects (VFX) have been added to the Tremortusk’s “Shatter Swing” and Thunderjaw’s “Laser Blast” to improve combat readability.
Performance and Technical Stability
Guerrilla continues to push the Decima Engine’s limits. Patch 1.18 specifically improves Temporal Anti-Aliasing (TAA). This reduces the “flicker” or “shimmer” effect seen on fine details like foliage or metallic surfaces when playing on PS5’s Resolution Mode. Furthermore, armor jittering—a minor but immersion-breaking visual bug in the 40Hz Balanced Mode—has been addressed.
According to the official Guerrilla Games Release Notes, these changes ensure that the game’s high-fidelity assets remain stable even during the most chaotic combat encounters. This technical foundation proved vital for the PC port’s eventual release in 2024, as many of these PlayStation-side optimizations were integrated into the base code handled by Nixxes Software.
Miscellaneous Improvements
- Skill Balancing: Level 3 of the Toughened Valor Surge saw a reduction in Melee Damage Resistance from 50% to 35% to prevent over-optimization in the endgame.
- Loot Logic: Corrected errors where Apex Shellsnapper Hearts were categorized as “Valuables to Sell” instead of upgrade materials.
- UI Synchronization: Fixed subtitle desync issues during the opening cinematic sequence.
Whether you are a returning player preparing for a New Game+ run or a newcomer exploring the Forbidden West for the first time on a legacy console, Update 1.18 remains a cornerstone of the game’s polished state. These fixes ensure that the focus remains where it should be: on the breathtaking world and the mystery of the Faro Plague’s legacy.
