The Witcher 3 finally has the rights to its huge new-gen patch on PS5, Xbox Series and PC. Here are all the details of the patch note.
Starting December 14, The Witcher 3 PS5, Xbox Series, and PC players are entitled to one of the biggest free updates to the game. This long-awaited new gene patch, announced a long time ago, is finally coming and comes complete with heaps of improvements. Graphic overhaul, technical upgrades, bug fixes, mods and other exclusive content share this imposing patch note. We give you all the details.
When will the PS5, Xbox Series and PC patch be released?
To ensure a flawless launch, CD Projekt decided to send the online launch. In France it will be possible to download the new gene patch from The witcher 3 December 14 at midnight on PS5 and 1am on PC and Xbox Series.
The Witcher 3 Patch 4.0 PS5, Xbox Series and PC Notes
Global: exclusive additions for the PC, PS5 and Xbox series
- Added ray tracing for lights and ambient occlusion effects.
- Additionally, PCs with compatible hardware have an additional option to enable ray tracing for highlights and shadows
- Various mods and mod-inspired content have been added to the game to improve the graphics and the overall quality of the game. Realistic sidewalks and many decoration improvements.
- Community created and inspired mods include:
- The Witcher 3 HD Project by HalkHogan
- HD monsters reworked by Denroth
- Immersive real-time cutscenes by teiji25
- Nitpicker’s Patch by chuckcash
- World map corrections by Terg500
- Texture in 4K for various characters including Geralt, Yennefer, Triss, Ciri, Eredin and more.
- All main characters, including Geralt, now have high-resolution self-shadowing, even outside of cutscenes. Also fixed issues with hair colliding through armor and other armor clipping issues.
- Environmental improvements:
- Added new weather type – “Gray Skies”
- Updated sky textures
- Vegetation and water improvements
- Various mesh improvements
- Improved some selected VFX
- Global ambient lighting update
- Added AMD FidelityFX™ (FSR) 2.1 Super Resolution
- Added photo mode that allows players to take great photos in the world of The Witcher 3.
- Added ability to pause the game during cutscenes.
- Added an alternate camera option that is closer to the player character and more dynamically responsive to combat and movement. You can find this new setting in the options menu
PC specific
- Added “ULTRA+” graphics settings on PC, which greatly improves the visual fidelity of the game. The graphics settings available on ULTRA+ affect the following:
- Number of background characters
- The quality of the shadow
- grass density
- texture quality
- Foliage visibility range
- soil quality
- water quality
- level of detail
- Added support for DLSS 3. Only available on compatible hardware.
Specific to the PS5 and Xbox series
- Improved overall graphics quality on next-gen consoles. Including improved textures, improved fidelity, shadow quality, longer distances and mass density.
- Ray Tracing Mode: Enhances global illumination and ambient occlusion with dynamic resolution ray tracing targeting 30 FPS for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
- Performance Mode: Delivers smoother gameplay with dynamic resolution 60fps targets for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
- The Xbox Series S version does not have ray tracing. Quality mode offers higher resolution and better image fidelity with a target of 30 FPS, while Performance mode aims for 60 FPS, prioritizing smoother gameplay over visual quality.
- Adaptive trigger and haptic feedback support for PS5 DualSenses.
- Added activity blocks for PS5.
Online Features
- Added a cross-progression feature between platforms. Your latest saves are automatically uploaded to the cloud, so you can easily pick up where you left off on other platforms. Cross-progression provides the latest backup for each backup type. This feature becomes available once you have logged into your account.
- By signing up for MY REWARDS in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, players can receive:
- Nine-tailed vixen swords
- Western Armor of the White Tiger
- Dol Blathanna armor set
- Map of Gwent
Exclusive add-on content
- A new side quest “In the Shadow of Eternal Fire” has been added to Velen. The rewards are inspired by the series The Witcher by Neftlix.
- Added an alternate appearance for Dandelion inspired by Netflix’s The Witcher series. You can enable it in Options → Gameplay.
- Added an alternate Nilfgaard armor set inspired by Netflix’s The Witcher series. You can enable it in Options → Gameplay.
- Added voiceover in Chinese and Korean. Availability on consoles varies by region.
- Various improvements and changes to the Russian voiceover, including fixes for sped up/slowed down lines in the vast majority of scenes.
Improved quality of life and accessibility
- Added option to use quick characters. It allows toggling and launching shields without opening the radial menu. You can find it under Options → Gameplay.
- Added a new default map filter. The new filter hides some symbols like “?” and boat icons to reduce icon clutter on the map. These icons can be re-enabled using the All map mode toggle.
- Adjusted the minimum fall damage height to allow the player to survive falls from a greater height.
- Herbs can now be instantly looted in a single interaction without the additional loot window.
- Added options that dynamically hide the minimap and quest objectives when not in combat or using Witcher Senses. You can find it under Options → Video → HUD Setup → Hide Minimap while exploring and Hide Objectives while exploring.
- Added slow walking option when using a controller. You can now walk slowly by slightly pushing the left stick forward.
- Added an alternative sprint mode option when using a gamepad. It is activated by pressing the left stick. You can find it under Options → Control Settings.
- Added option so that aim lock is not affected by camera flip. You can find it under Options → Control Settings.
- The radial menu has been improved so that bombs, bolts, and bag items can now be dynamically changed without opening the inventory.
- Added option to scale font size for subtitles, NPC chatter and dialogue options. You can find it under Options → Video → HUD Setup.
- Added various other small fixes, adjustments, and quality of life changes, including some secrets for players to discover.
playing style
- Added mod “Full Combat Rebalance 3 by Flash_in_the_flesh” which includes balance changes and various gameplay fixes. We’ve also made changes to this mod, further tweaking some things over the stock mod while removing other things.
- Treasure Hunt: Wolf School Equipment – Fixed an issue where the Beacon Tower chest could not be opened.
- From the Distant Shores of Ofier – Fixed an issue where the diagram could be missing in the bandit’s hideout chest.
- Hard Times – Fixed an issue that prevented Geralt from speaking or giving the letter to the Blacksmith.
- Swift as the West Winds – Fixed an issue where the quest could sometimes fail despite winning the horse race.
- Echoes of the Past – Fixed an issue where after defeating the Foglets the quest could get stuck and not being able to talk to Yennefer.
- Wine Wars – Fixed an issue where the quest could not be completed if the player destroyed one of the required monster nests while exploring.
- Fixed an issue where it was not possible to clear the Ruined Inn abandoned site on the south bank of Ard Skellig in certain scenarios.
- Fixed an issue where the “Grandmaster Wolven Set” did not require master items.
- Various small fixes to quests and cutscenes.
