Multiplatform Official Next-gen WITCHER 3 Discussion

[rikwebb]

Digital Foundry Hands on

 

[GearSolidMetal]

Digital Foundry Hands on

Like most of the other previews recently released, there hasn't been much new info in this video for how long it is... however the new info in this video is...

*PC users get 4 technologies of Ray Tracing running at the same time, as opposed to PS5/SeriesX's 2 technologies.
*PC gets a new graphics preset setting called 'Ultra+' [Longer Draw Distance & Denser Grass]

*The PS5/SeriesX's performance mode maintains a consistent 60FPS for the cast majority of the demo played, with the occasional dip below 60FPS. But this may be fixed by the update is released on the 14th.

*SeriesS has 30FPS & 60FPS modes, but the 30FPS doesn't have Ray Tracing but a higher resolution than its 60FPS mode.



It really is starting to get aggravating how none of these recent video previews have specified what modes have been at what resolution. They've only mentioned '4K Textures.'

 

[rikwebb]

Like most of the other previews recently released, there hasn't been much new info in this video for how long it is... however the new info in this video is...

*PC users get 4 technologies of Ray Tracing running at the same time, as opposed to PS5/SeriesX's 2 technologies.
*PC gets a new graphics preset setting called 'Ultra+' [Longer Draw Distance & Denser Grass]

*The PS5/SeriesX's performance mode maintains a consistent 60FPS for the cast majority of the demo played, with the occasional dip below 60FPS. But this may be fixed by the update is released on the 14th.

*SeriesS has 30FPS & 60FPS modes, but the 30FPS doesn't have Ray Tracing but a higher resolution than its 60FPS mode.



It really is starting to get aggravating how none of these recent video previews have specified what modes have been at what resolution. They've only mentioned '4K Textures.'

There's a article now to go along with the video for anyone interested https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfo...xt-gen-update-ps5-and-series-x-tested-with-rt


Looks like AMD's FSR 2.1 is doing a lot of work on these versions for upscaling to 4K, wonder if its something along the lines of 1620/1800 upscaled to 4K

As mentioned, PS5 and Series X versions of the game offer a 60fps performance mode and a 30fps ray tracing mode, each of which uses AMD's FSR 2.1 upscaling to produce a 4K output with dynamic resolution scaling. FSR 2.1 also takes over anti-aliasing duties from the older FXAA and TAA options, providing a much more stable image as a result.

 

[Valhoven]

Nice stronghold walk-down in run-up to launch in 48h:

​

 

[GearSolidMetal]

Lots of videos are dropping from YouTube fanboys of the game.

 

[GearSolidMetal]

Next-gen update list of changes

After the update your game version will be 4.0. Below you'll find the list of changes:

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-Specifc

• 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.

Next-Gen Console-Specifc

• Improved the overall quality of graphics on next-gen consoles. Including enhanced textures, improved fidelity, shadow quality, greater draw distances and crowd density.
• Ray Tracing Mode — provides ray-traced global illumination and ambient occlusion with dynamic resolution scaling targeting 30 FPS for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
• Performance Mode — ensures smoother gameplay targeting 60 FPS with dynamic resolution scaling for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
• The Xbox Series S version has no ray-tracing features. Quality Mode provides increased resolution and better image fidelity targeting 30 FPS, whereas Performance Mode targets 60 FPS and prioritizes smoother gameplay over visual quality.
• Implemented the use of adaptive triggers and haptic feedback on PS5 DualSense controllers.
• Added Activity Cards for PS5.

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

Detailed information on how to redeem the rewards will be available from Dec 14th, 1 AM CET at thewitcher.com/my-rewards.

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.
• 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.
• 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.

Remember – these are just the highlights! There are lots of changes in this update, so check them out for yourself.

 

[Hitman81]

I'm all in, i need a game to play. Particularly interested in the combat as I thought this game was nearly perfect aside from the combat.

 

[WhiteMousse]

Says DLSS 3.0. Does that mean that 3000 cards won't be able to use it?

 

[Law Talkin’ Guy]

Says DLSS 3.0. Does that mean that 3000 cards won't be able to use it?

It supports DLSS 3.0 if you’ve got a 4000 series card, but you don’t need one to play, you just wouldn’t be able to enable DLSS 3.0 without one. It probably still supports DLSS 2.whatever and of course you can just forgo using DLSS at all.

 

[Dizzy]

Looking awesome, still haven’t played the DLC so seems like a good opportunity to jump back in.

 

[Dizzy]

 

[Bornstarch]

I'm going to replay this game once the update goes live

 

[rikwebb]

Finally a comparison with some figures @GearSolidMetal

- 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

- 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.

 

[Valhoven]

Looking awesome, still haven’t played the DLC so seems like a good opportunity to jump back in.

You haven't played which DLC? B&W? Ma dude, you need play all expansions for Wild Hunt. CDPR essentially set an industry bar with the latter of the two. Play Hearts of Stone first, then Blood. I've long been two trophies short of the Platinum for Wild Hunt and this current-gen patch might be the motivation I need to go full Blaviken again myself.

 

[Valhoven]

Benji rounding up some scores (all good) but what's the text at bottom about with in-game additions inspired by the Netflix series?

​

 

[Valhoven]

Seeing Netflix on my games feels...wrong, lol. Go away.

 

[rikwebb]

Benji rounding up some scores (all good) but what's the text at bottom about with in-game additions inspired by the Netflix series?

​

A quest with armor and swords from the tv version asell as Dandelion has a look inspired by it and a new outfit for Yennifer

 

[GearSolidMetal]

- Xbox Series X:
Performance Mode: Dynamic 3840x2160p/60fps (common 1548p)

FINALLY.

I bought a used copy a few days ago, just in case the digital price was $60 when the update is released, and I played through the flashback in Ker Moren, and 30FPS is damn near unplayable on such a high-speed game. Add to that I play on a 65" samsung so slow frames are extremely noticable.

Practically the only games that can get away with 30FPS are CRPGs, and even then its still extremely lazy of the developer.

 

[GearSolidMetal]

Seeing Netflix on my games feels...wrong, lol. Go away.

Agreed. Especially the foreskin armor.

 

[GearSolidMetal]

Its bizarre.

This is the first time I think a sizable portion of the gamer community has ever looked forward to an update. This certainly beats the buzz for CP2077's next-gen update last March.

And practically no one was hyped up for Witcher 3's initial release in 2015, because the audiences for the first two games were so comparatively small but I bet some were paying attention to it due to the E3 demos that had been released.

Now it seems somewhat like this update hype is like what the game deserved upon its release seven years ago. Collective respect for one of the GOAT games getting the update it deserves.

Not the update we deserve.
But the update the game deserves.

And after 28 months, the wait is over.