The Witcher 3 PS5/Xbox Series/Pc update is coming Dec 14th (free to owners)

Thread: The Witcher 3 PS5/Xbox Series/Pc update is coming Dec 14th (free to owners)
Zefah said:
The original certainly didn't look this muddy on my PC, but it does look like the lighting changes are rather significant.

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Can we be certain that their 'before' shots are also from a high end pc with maxed graphics? The lighting does look better, tho.
 
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I feel like people were expecting remake levels of visual change here but honestly, this actually looks pretty great for a remaster. Not even just the lighting either(which I'm most excited about following the foliage), they're actually implementing some of the best mods as well as doing their own work on textures, meshes and models. New weather types, denser npc population and completely reworked foliage. The foliage alone is going to be huge. Modding that to be more diverse and dense, as well as the draw distance, was imo the most tedious and finnicky thing to get working right with the old foliage. They're adding a step above max settings which was something that people did with mods for better LOD, foliage density and distance scaling, etc., but as those were unoptimized before, hopefully they've optimized it and it'll perform better here.

All it has to do now is have great performance and I'll be a happy camper.
 
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Does the change in light require RT?

I could see myself replaying this, I barely remember the story at this point.
 
Not impressed, I don't like the changes based on that video ^^

Lighting may be more accurate but it makes the art worse. But it's free so I can't complain, I can just keep the OG
 
A few days ago, CD Projekt RED detailed the Ray Tracing effects for The Witcher 3 Next-Gen. According to the team, The Witcher 3 Next-Gen will have Ray Tracing for Global Illumination and Ambient Occlusion. However, NVIDIA is also stating that the PC version will also have Ray Tracing for both Reflections and Shadows.

As NVIDIA stated:

"On December 14th, all The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt PC players will receive a free update that adds various gameplay changes, new quest content, and new graphics features that take full advantage of the latest PCs and laptops.

Here's what to expect:

  • RTX Global Illumination (RTXGI) adds more immersive and realistic outdoor ray-traced lighting
  • Ray-traced ambient occlusion improves shading around objects occluding light
  • Ray-traced shadows improve the fidelity, clarity and visibility of shadows
  • Ray-traced reflections increase the accuracy and quality of reflections on bodies of water and other suitably reflective surfaces
On top of that, Ultra+ settings increase draw distances, foliage density, background character detail, asset quality, and more. Texture resolutions are increased and environments gain new geometric detail."

NVIDIA has also revealed that the Next-Gen Update will support DLSS 3. Source
 
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Kadayi said:
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godfather-the-godfather.gif
 
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I couldn't get into this because just like the other Witcher games it was clunky af.

I hope the performance boost makes it tolerable to play now.
 
www.dsogaming.com

The Witcher 3 Next-Gen Update Release Notes

The Witcher 3 Next-Gen Update will become available for download tomorrow, and CD Projekt RED has revealed its full changelog.
www.dsogaming.com www.dsogaming.com

The Witcher 3 Next-Gen Update Release Notes​

PC and Next-Gen Exclusives​


  • Added ray traced global illumination and ambient occlusion.
  • Additionally, PC players with compatible hardware have an additional option to turn on ray traced reflections and shadows.
  • Added various mods and mod-inspired content to the game to improve visuals and overall game quality. We've included some community-made favorites in addition to our own modifications in areas such as environment and cutscene improvements, realistic pavements, and many decoration upgrades.
  • Community-made and community-inspired mods include:
    -The Witcher 3 HD Reworked Project by HalkHogan
    -HD Monsters Reworked by Denroth
    -Immersive Real-time Cutscenes by teiji25
    -Nitpicker's Patch by chuckcash
    -World Map Fixes by Terg500
  • Upscaled texture to 4K for various characters, including Geralt, Yennefer, Triss, Ciri, Eredin and more.
  • All main characters, including Geralt, now cast high-resolution self-shadowing even outside cutscenes. Additionally, hair clipping through armor as well as some other armor-clipping issues have been fixed.
  • Environmental improvements:
    -Added a new weather type – "Gray Sky"
    -Updated sky textures
    -Vegetation and water improvements
    -Various mesh improvements
    -Improved some select VFX
    -Updated global environmental lighting
  • Added AMD FidelityFX™ Super Resolution (FSR) 2.1
  • Added photo mode, allowing players to take stunning pictures within the world of The Witcher 3.
  • Added the option to pause the game during cutscenes.
  • Added an alternative camera option that's closer to the player's character and that reacts more dynamically to combat and movement. You can find this new setting in Options ? Gameplay under Exploration, Combat, and Horseback Camera Distance.

PC-Specific Enhancements​


  • Added "ULTRA+" graphical settings on PC, which significantly increases the visual fidelity of the game. The graphical settings available on ULTRA+ affect:
    -Number of background characters
    -Shadow quality
    -Grass density
    -Texture quality
    -Foliage visibility range
    -Terrain quality
    -Water quality
    -Detail level
  • Added DLSS 3 support. Available only on compatible hardware.

Online Features​


  • Added a cross-progression feature between platforms. Your latest saves will be automatically uploaded to the cloud so you can easily pick up where you left off on other platforms. Cross-progression provides the latest save for every save type. This feature becomes available after you log into your account.
    By signing up to MY REWARDS in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, players can receive:
    -Swords of the Nine-Tailed Vixen
    -White Tiger of the West Armor
    -Dol Blathanna Armor Set
    -Roach Card

Additional Content​


  • Added a new side quest, In The Eternal Fire's Shadow, in Velen. Rewards are inspired by Neftlix's The Witcher series.
  • Added an alternative appearance for Dandelion inspired by Netflix's The Witcher series. You can enable it in Options ? Gameplay.
  • Also added an alternative Nilfgaardian Armor set inspired by Netflix's The Witcher series. You can enable it in Options ? Gameplay.
  • Added Chinese and Korean voice-over. Availability on consoles varies by region.
  • Various improvements and changes to Russian voice-over, including fixes for accelerated / slowed lines in the vast majority of scenes.

Quality of Life Changes​


  • Added a Quick Sign Casting option. It allows signs to be switched and cast without opening the radial menu. You can find it in Options ? Gameplay.
  • Added a new default map filter. The new filter hides some icons such as "?" and boat icons in order to reduce icon clutter on the map. These icons can be turned back on with the "All" map mode toggle.
  • Adjusted the minimum height for fall damage, allowing the player to survive falls from higher heights.
  • Herbs can now be instantly looted with 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 in Options ? Video ? HUD Configuration ? Hide minimap during Exploration and Hide objectives during Exploration.
  • Added the option to slow walk when playing with a controller. You can now slow walk by lightly pushing the left stick forward.
  • Also added an alternative sprint mode option when playing with a controller. It's activated by tapping the left stick. You can find it in Options ? Control Settings.
  • Added an option to make target-lock unnaffected by camera inversion. You can find it in Options ? Control Settings.
  • Improved the radial menu so bombs, bolts and pocket items can now be switched dynamically without opening the inventory.
  • Added the option to scale the font size for subtitles, NPC chatter and dialogue choices. You can find it in Options ? Video ? HUD Configuration.
  • Added various other small fixes, tweaks, and quality of life changes, including a few secrets to be discovered by players.

Gameplay​


  • Added the mod Full Combat Rebalance 3 by Flash_in_the_flesh which includes balance changes and various fixes to gameplay. We took a curated approach to this mod, with some elements further tweaked from what you'll find in the mod by default, while other elements were omitted.
  • Scavenger Hunt: Wolf School Gear – Fixed an issue where the chest at the Signal Tower couldn't be opened.
  • From Ofier's Distant Shores – Fixed an issue where the diagram in the chest at the bandit's hideout could be missing.
  • Hard Times – Fixed an issue where Geralt couldn't talk or give the letter to the blacksmith.
  • Swift as the Western 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 it wouldn't be possible to talk to Yennefer.
  • Wine Wars – Fixed an issue where the quest couldn't be completed if the player destroyed one of the required monster nests during exploration.
  • Fixed an issue where clearing the Ruined Inn Abandoned Site situated on the southern shore of Ard Skellig was not possible in certain scenarios.
  • Fixed an issue where the Grandmaster Wolven Set wouldn't require Mastercrafted items.
  • Various small fixes to quests and cutscenes.
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PS4: 1920x1080p/30fps - PS4 Pro: 1920x2160p/30fps with checkerboard
- PS5: Ray-Tracing Mode: Dynamic 2560x1440p/30fps (common 1188p)

Performance Mode: Dynamic 3840x2160p/60fps (common 1548p)
- This update focuses on applying several visual improvements on PS5, highlighting new textures on some assets, vegetation, longer draw distance, improved lighting, more post-processing effects, better anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering.

- The PS5 version features two display modes: Ray-Tracing or Performance.

- Ray-Tracing mode only applies to global illumination of the sun, moon and fire. There is no RT for reflections and shadows.

- This Ray-Tracing improves the contrast of shaded areas, brightness contrast and ambient occlusion of some elements.

- Ray-Tracing mode also improves SSR reflections. - Performance mode dispenses with these lighting enhancements to offer 60fps and higher average resolution than Ray-Tracing mode.

- The free Nextgen patch will be available for free to all users who own The Witcher III GOTY on PS4, Xbox One or PC.

- Ray-Tracing mode has some issues with shadows in the distance at the start of the game. It is expected to be corrected at launch.

- Some animations have been reduced, such as the interaction with water or the frequency with which the wind blows. Personally, I am not convinced by the appearance of the water with RT activated.

- Loading times have been improved on PS5, reducing load times to less than 15 seconds and fast travel between 5 and 10 seconds.

- Ray-Tracing mode improvements with appreciable, but anecdotal. I don't think it's worth sacrificing resolution or framerate for the visual improvements this mode brings. I would choose Performance Mode.
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- Xbox Series S: Quality Mode: Dynamic 2560x1440p/30fps (common 1440p)
Performance Mode: 1080p/60fps
- Xbox Series X: Ray-Tracing Mode: Dynamic 2560x1440p/30fps (common 1188p)
Performance Mode: Dynamic 3840x2160p/60fps (common 1548p)

- PS5: Ray-Tracing Mode: Dynamic 2560x1440p/30fps (common 1188p)
Performance Mode: Dynamic 3840x2160p/60fps (common 1548p)

- PC: 2160p | Max. Settings | RTX 4080 | i9 12900K | 32GB DDR5
- The Nextgen patch will be available for free to all users who own The Witcher III GOTY on PS4, Xbox One or PC on December 14, 2022.
- PS5 and Xbox Series S offer two modes: Ray-Tracing or Performance. Xbox Series S also offers two modes: Quality or Performance.
- Ray-Tracing mode on consoles only applies to global illumination of the sun, moon and fire. Xbox Series S does not have Ray-Tracing. This mode also improves the quality of SSR reflections.
- PS5 has better SSR reflections in performance mode compared to Xbox Series X in some areas.
- Xbox Series S has lower settings. Performance mode reduces draw distance, vegetation quality and shadows.
- PC Ray-Tracing shows a palpable difference. It is the only version with Ray-Tracing for global illumination, shadows and reflections.
- On PC, Ray-Tracing has some visual bugs in shadows and reflections. These are expected to be fixed with future patches.
- PS5 has a slightly more noticeable pop-in than the other versions. - Series X performs better with Ray-Tracing, but PS5 offers better performance in Performance mode.
- PS5 has better loading times.
- In some areas,Series X resolution is higher than PS5 and vice versa, but overall both have a similar average resolution.
- On Xbox Series S I recommend Quality mode, while on PS5 and Xbox Series X I would choose Performance mode.
- Hairworks still marks an advantage on the PC version in terms of the fur on some models. However, this technique does not behave correctly with Ray-Tracing global illumination.
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Have they said if this is going to be a full game download? Or will this just be a patch for the existing game? I have the game on PS4 but never redownloaded it on my PS5 to save space. Should I redownload it again? Or just wait for the native PS5 version?

EDIT: Just found an article on it. It looks like it is just a patch to the base game and not a complete new download. So you will need the complete game already installed.
 
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The last season of witcher got me playing witcher 3 again and I really don't know that it ever needed a graphical update to begin with. I've replayed it twice now and can't wait if we ever get another sequel.
 
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Hinedorf said:
The last season of witcher got me playing witcher 3 again and I really don't know that it ever needed a graphical update to begin with. I've replayed it twice now and can't wait if we ever get another sequel.
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Witcher 4 is in development
though Geralts story is pretty much done unless he serves as a mentor/teacher?
and Witcher 1 is getting remade as a open world game. After how Cyberpunk 2077 launched I am hesitant on Witcher 4 and 1 Remake unless proven otherwise.
 
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How does this save transfer business work? I have the base edition on GOG and was trying to update it but nothing seemed to be happening this morning. I did notice I had the Complete Edition in my library now, am I going to have to lose like 150 hours of progress or can I just import my old save across.

Guess I shall have to find out once I finish work.
 
Amorous Biscuit said:
How does this save transfer business work? I have the base edition on GOG and was trying to update it but nothing seemed to be happening this morning. I did notice I had the Complete Edition in my library now, am I going to have to lose like 150 hours of progress or can I just import my old save across.

Guess I shall have to find out once I finish work.
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Yeah, it sucks. This update seems to only be for the Complete Edition that included all of the DLC and not the original. For whatever reason, the save data from the original was not made to be compatible with the Complete Edition.

Oh well, this gives me a good excuse to start from the beginning and play through the whole thing again.
 
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Zefah said:
Yeah, it sucks. This update seems to only be for the Complete Edition that included all of the DLC and not the original. For whatever reason, the save data from the original was not made to be compatible with the Complete Edition.

Oh well, this gives me a good excuse to start from the beginning and play through the whole thing again.
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Noooo, CDPR what are you doing.

Looks like I have to do it all again.
 
Ray Tracing on my PC with any settings seems to chug. I only have a 2070 though, so that's often the case. It does play fine @ 4k Ultra no RT. Although the Steam framerate counter doesn't display so I don't have any hard data.

Ray Tracing mode on consoles is unplayable. Too low a frame rate and too much stutter. Not sure why they even included it. In performance mode the game is smooth and looks nice. It still looks much older then more current open world games, but I guess that is to be expected.

I was able to transfer my XB GOTY edition save to my PS5 base game + Expansion pass version quickly with no issue.
 
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So, the base game does get this patch. For whatever reason, the updater on GOG Galaxy just doesn't automatically apply it if you have the "Keep this game updated automatically" option ticked on the configure menu.

Good job CDP!
 
teezzy said:
Now I just gotta decide if I wanna play on Steam or Series X

🤔
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Steam! You get extra options for RT and graphics. As you've just made an upgrade to your PC, it makes sense!

Plus, I believe you're locked to either 30 or 60FPS on console. Fuck that noise.
 
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Amorous Biscuit said:
Steam! You get extra options for RT and graphics. As you've just made an upgrade to your PC, it makes sense!

Plus, I believe you're locked to either 30 or 60FPS on console. Fuck that noise.
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Yeah... but my Series X is connected to a 77" LG C2 OLED 😩🤌
 
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