This is not a bug. It’s the In the remake, if you die and reload a manual save, you keep your equipment but you lose all “Ephemeral Essence” (the currency used to upgrade your demon-hunting yo-yo and talismans). To keep essence, you must reach a “Clean Zone” (a subway restroom or a shrine) before saving.
Gone are the days of the inconvenient “telephone save points.” The Urban Demon Remake has introduced a layered, risk-reward saving mechanic that blends modern autosaves with punishing classic difficulty. If you want to exorcise the Oni of the Central Subway or banish the Slit-Mouthed Woman from the high-rise apartments, you need to understand the system first. urban demon remake save