CD Projekt RED Releases The Witcher 3 Next-Gen Update 4.03

[GFreeman]

CD Projekt RED has released the newest update for The Witcher 3 Next-Gen, bringing performance improvements for ray tracing, adding support for Intel XeSS, and fixing some issues seen earlier.

According to the update release notes, the latest The Witcher 3 Next-Gen Update 4.03 introduces general performance improvements for ray-traced global illumination and ray-traced reflections, and fixes some issues seen with ray-traced shadows. It also addresses issue with DirectX 11 crashing on certain AMD GPUs, adds support for Intel Xe Super Sampling, and fixes lighting issues with Screen Space Reflection when ray-traced global illumination is off. There are also plenty of visual, quest, and gameplay fixes on both the PC and other platforms.



Here are the full release notes:

Patch 4.03 - list of changes

PC-SPECIFIC

• Fixed an issue with ray-traced vegetation shadows "popping", depending on Geralt's proximity and angle.
• Fixed an issue where repeatedly disabling and enabling ray-traced reflections and shadows could cause black shadows to appear at the edge of objects.
• Addressed the issue where the DirectX 11 version of the game could crash on launch or after loading a save on certain AMD GPUs.
• Added support for Intel Xe Super Sampling, an upscaling technology that uses machine learning to improve performance and image quality.
• Fixed some lighting issues with Screen Space Reflections when ray-traced global illumination is off.
• Performance improvements to ray-traced global illumination and ray-traced reflections.
• Fixed an issue where purple splashes could appear on the screen when riding Roach through puddles of water.

CONSOLE-SPECIFIC

• The Cross Progression pop-up will now properly display which account is logged in.
• Fixed an issue where dark stripes or shadows appeared on Geralt in the inventory screen when Performance Mode was enabled on PlayStation 5.
• Fixed an issue where the game could briefly freeze or stutter when autosaving on next-gen consoles.
• Addressed the issue of performance drops on next-gen consoles while using Witcher Senses in Beauclair and Novigrad.

VISUAL - PC and Next-Gen Exclusive

• Fixed an issue where a grid of light spots could appear on the ground and walls in certain weather conditions with Ray Tracing enabled.
• Spider webs will no longer change color when moving the camera with Ray Tracing enabled.
• Fixed an issue where some textures on characters during cutscenes would appear as not fully rendered.
• Through Time and Space - Fixed an issue where the mist in the Poisoned Valley was pink instead of white.

QUESTS & GAMEPLAY - PC and Next-Gen Exclusives

• Added the community-made mod Next Gen Script Fixes by Sergeanur.

QUESTS & GAMEPLAY - Available on all platforms

• In the Eternal Fire's Shadow - The ambient music from the quest will no longer continue playing after completion. For players who have already experienced this issue, it may be necessary to enter the Novigrad or Oxenfurt sewers again to resolve it.
• Added an option to auto-apply oils in combat.
• With the exception of potions and decoctions, it's now impossible for Geralt to eat or drink underwater. // While the team agreed it might be possible to drink liquids from a corked flask, consuming pints of ale or grilled meats underwater is too much of a stretch.

Please note: these are only the most notable changes. The patch contains other minor fixes that didn't make it into this list.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[Shihab]

With the exception of potions and decoctions, it's now impossible for Geralt to eat or drink underwater. // While the team agreed it might be possible to drink liquids from a corked flask, consuming pints of ale or grilled meats underwater is too much of a stretch.

Indeed. It only makes sense to consume three chickens, four roasted hams, ten sweet buns and seven gallons of various drinks when fighting an entire garrison on foot...

 

[bug]

Indeed. It only makes sense to consume three chickens, four roasted hams, ten sweet buns and seven gallons of various drinks when fighting an entire garrison on foot...

It's not like you've never done that before...

 

[diatribe]

Cool that CDPR is still patching a game released 8 years ago. It's really stood the test of time well visually.

 

[bug]

Cool that CDPR is still patching a game released 8 years ago. It's really stood the test of time well visually.

I was gonna say. Who else support their titles this well? Especially since it's not an MMO or some title that requires a monthly fee to play.

 

[GunShot]

I was gonna say. Who else support their titles this well? Especially since it's not an MMO or some title that requires a monthly fee to play.

Nah. Just simply milking your best seller... ever... from back in the day due to CDPR has nothing available today in their forecast and they're just hoping that TW3 would attract to a new audience of PS5/XSX owners for next few years because that is how long before CDPR will release a NEW/SEQUEL title. (~2027-29).

 

[mouacyk]

Wow 3.03x as good as the golden release.

 

[ZeppMan217]

I was gonna say. Who else support their titles this well? Especially since it's not an MMO or some title that requires a monthly fee to play.

Valve.

 

[Readlight]

When will Witcher 1 remake will be ready?
It's full off bugs.

 

[Space Lynx]

I am just glad they are still patching it. I'd like for it to be a smooth experience whenever I get around to beating the expansions, only ever beat the base game, not the expansions.

 

[oxrufiioxo]

I am just glad they are still patching it. I'd like for it to be a smooth experience whenever I get around to beating the expansions, only ever beat the base game, not the expansions.

Blood and Wine is Awesome AF you better get on that lol.

 

[Space Lynx]

Blood and Wine is Awesome AF you better get on that lol.

I am waiting until I can play it on high (not ultra) settings, no rt, at 140+ fps 1440p. Once I can hit that I plan to play the expansions. I played the main game on my gtx 1070 laptop, and damn it was a hot laggy mess, but those days are behind me now. I'm playing Diablo IV open beta this weekend, so no time just yet. I am about to beat the Dishonored DLC on my Steam Deck, then I am heading over to Dishonored 2 on Steam Deck.

 

[Deleted member 57642]

Cool that CDPR is still patching a game released 8 years ago. It's really stood the test of time well visually.

They did the same in the past - even releasing Deluxe level of content - as digital content on GoG, for example - this are the "Extras" from the digital package included with The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition:

Not to mention - back when all the major Game Devs (high tier titles wise) - used to charge extra even for minor esthetics let alone a DLC, add-ons released by RED Project (or any other content like above) - used to be Free (an extra generosity for supporting them by buying their game).

Unfortunately... as it usually goes when a company grows larger (as their team expanded including new investors) - Red Project joined the rest with a F2P title inspired by Witcher's in game card game - while releasing GWENT: The Witcher Card Game. The basic game is F2P - but the premium package with all the add-ons/DCL's - is around 620$.

That being said - there's probably a division in this company, as in - two sides: The old gang who's trying to live-up to its values (still working on older projects and releasing the extra content for free) - and - the new gang which seem to borrow marketing ideas from E.A. and Co. As in... how to turn every new project in a milking cow ($). The old gang still has some authoritative power - seeing that Cyberpunk 2077 wasn't affected to that extent. But still... just take another glace at their old way of doing things - like the extras listed above for Witcher 2 and then... look at the extras for Cyberpunk 2077 or even Witcher 3 (at least the rework is free).

 

[somethinggeneric]

Valve.

Angry TF2 noises

 

[Veseleil]

I played the main game on my gtx 1070 laptop, and damn it was a hot laggy mess

Dude, I've finished TW3 with both expansions on a Phenom 2 x4 965 be, 550ti 1GB, looking at a 17" 720p 100Hz CRT...
Replaying it on a Xeon 1241v3, 1060 6GB and a 24" 1200p 60Hz IPS was more like playing a sequel.

 

[Space Lynx]

Dude, I've finished TW3 with both expansions on a Phenom 2 x4 965 be, 550ti 1GB, looking at a 17" 720p 100Hz CRT...
Replaying it on a Xeon 1241v3, 1060 6GB and a 24" 1200p 60Hz IPS was more like playing a sequel.

did you have any stuttering? i seem to get stuttering on my gtx 1070 laptop in witcher 3, like i will be riding my horse and it just starts and fps is all over the place. i tried all kinds of stuff to fix, never could figure it out, so i gave up. hopefully all these new updates and new hardware it will be fixed for me... but i am playing dishonored 1 and 2 at the moment.

 

[Veseleil]

did you have any stuttering?

No, not really. Even though I had really low fps, the speed of the CRT did make up for it.

i seem to get stuttering on my gtx 1070 laptop in witcher 3, like i will be riding my horse and it just starts and fps is all over the place. i tried all kinds of stuff to fix, never could figure it out, so i gave up.

Maybe the laptop was throttling, after all it is a demanding game, being an open world and with a lot of details.

hopefully all these new updates and new hardware it will be fixed for me... but i am playing dishonored 1 and 2 at the moment.

I don't really like what they've made with the "next-gen" updates. Changed a lot of game's visuals to worse imho.