Next-gen update list of changes

The free next-gen update will go live on December 14 at 1 AM CET. It will include various visual, performance, and technical enhancements, as well as fixes and additional content.

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

• 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.

• 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 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.

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