Sable's Stranger Update unleashes a ghastly new bike and plenty of bug fixes

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But don't expect Shedworks to tell you where to find it.

An eye-popping, grinning mask
(Image credit: Shedworks)

I wasn't expecting Sable to get much in the way of post-launch content, never mind a Halloween update. And yet this week, developer Shedworks unleashed an eldritch new bike and costume on the deserts of Midden—though you'll have to be something of a ghost yourself to find them.

Launching last night, The Stranger Update adds a set of bike parts and clothes to go with the Shade of Eccria mask. One of the game's stand-out quests, the chain follows a spectral entity—and while I won't spoil the quest itself, you'll soon be able to compliment the associated mask with a look that's sure to attract stares.

These can be acquired by visiting a secret merchant, one whose location Shedworks isn't ready to disclose. The only hint the developer gives is a short poem on the update post, though as a permanent addition, you've plenty of time to figure it out (or, uh, check the wikis).

The new bike and clothes are really just a welcome aside, however, to an update that hopes to fix numerous major bugs with the game. Cloth simulations (cited as a major cause of performance drop) have been improved, merchants should no longer freeze your menus, and your bike shouldn't fall beneath the map or get stuck as frequently. A welcome accessibility feature also now means you can choose to toggle bike acceleration, rather than holding the throttle down.

I truly adored Sable, but my experience with it felt so utterly singular that I haven't felt the pull to drop back in since ending my gliding. But if Shedworks plans to keep dropping in new secrets and more costumes to acquire, I might just be tempted to dust off the old bike and head back into the desert.

Natalie Clayton
Natalie Clayton
Features Producer

20 years ago, Nat played Jet Set Radio Future for the first time, and she's not stopped thinking about games since. Joining PC Gamer in 2020, she comes from three years of freelance reporting at Rock Paper Shotgun, Waypoint, VG247 and more. Embedded in the European indie scene and a part-time game developer herself, Nat is always looking for a new curiosity to scream about—whether it's the next best indie darling, or simply someone modding a Scotmid into Black Mesa. She also unofficially appears in Apex Legends under the pseudonym Horizon.