The Witcher 3 Gets New Update 8 Years After Launch

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has just received a new update that fixes a wide variety of issues. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt first released eight years ago in 2015, and it received critical acclaim at the time of its launch, having a score of 93 on Metacritic for the PC version of the game.

Since then, CD Projekt Red has released The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on newer platforms like PS5, Xbox Series X, and the Nintendo Switch. The Witcher 3 came out on current generation consoles in December 2022, adding support ray tracing and a performance mode for 60 FPS gameplay. Now, CD Projekt RED has released update 4.04 for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on all available platforms.

The patch notes for update 4.04 of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt detail all the changes coming to the various versions of the game, with specific sections dedicated to some platforms. The first section discusses improvements made to the PC version of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, such as fixes for an issue that was making the game freeze under a specific circumstance.

As far as console-specific changes, patch 4.04 for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt fixes flickering issues present in the game, in addition to solving problems related to particular quests. It also improves the stability, during or after loading a save file, when users have been playing The Witcher 3 with ray-tracing enabled for a prolonged duration. Other changes include improvements to the visuals and grass collision, in addition to bug fixes.

The Nintendo Switch version of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has received some major upgrades in patch 4.04, as it adds new content in the form of a side quest and an alternate appearance for Dandelion. The Switch edition also comes with a bunch of quality of life changes, such as a Quick Sign Casting option, increased minimum height for taking fall damage, the ability to instantly loot herbs, and many more. Finally, the last section of the patch notes details gameplay changes coming to the Switch version of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Overall, it appears to be a massive update that makes some important changes to the user experience of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on all platforms. The Switch versions in particular has received a lot of attention, adding content and bug fixes that were present in other editions of The Witcher 3.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Update 4.04 Patch Notes

PC-SPECIFIC

Fixed an issue where GOG achievements for the Complete Edition would unlock for the base version instead.
Frames allowed by the "Maximum Frames Per Second" setting will now be counted properly when DLSS Frame Generation is enabled.
Fixed some instances where characters' hair could look too bright when Ray Tracing was enabled.
Bald Mountain - Fixed a crash that occurred when Ray Tracing was enabled and all the other Ray Tracing options were off.
The Beast of White Orchard - Fixed an issue where loading a certain checkpoint save could cause the game to freeze if Ray Tracing was enabled.
Fixed an issue where the game would start without REDlauncher and open a browser tab request for permission to "Use Cyberpunk 2077 with your Epic Games Account".
Fixed an issue where input from a gamepad could still work while having the game in a suspended state.
Fixed an issue where a second cursor with high sensitivity would appear in the Main Menu when "Hardware Cursor" was set to "Off".

CONSOLE-SPECIFIC

Fixed an issue where certain hairstyles from the "Beard and Hairstyle Set" DLC would clip through the Nilfgaardian helmet on previous-gen consoles.
Fixed an issue with flickering textures that occurred during Gwent matches on next-gen consoles.
A Towerful of Mice - Fixed an issue on previous-gen consoles where the conversation with Keira would sometimes not trigger after the fight with the pesta.
Cabaret - Fixed some visual issues with Dandelion's model before and during the staged fight on previous-gen consoles.
The Last Wish and Wandering in the Dark - Fixed an issue where the game could crash on PlayStation 5 during these quests.
Improved stability during or after loading a save file after playing in Ray Tracing mode for prolonged periods of time.
Fixed an issue where the Cross Progression setting does not update the interface of the Cloud Saves status correctly on Xbox Series X.

VISUAL - PC and Next-Gen Exclusive

Fixed an issue where fog could look as if it were 2D in some places.
Fixed an issue where the sky's reflection on the water with Ray Tracing enabled was partially missing at specific locations in White Orchard, Velen and Toussaint.
Grass collision now works properly.
Added an HDR calibration option.
Fixed an issue where the mountains in Kaer Morhen could disappear when changing the camera angle while Geralt is under water.
Get Junior - Removed an unnecessary body of water from Oxenfurt sewers.
Fixed an issue where the loading screen would stutter while having Ray Tracing enabled.

QUESTS & GAMEPLAY

Added an option to switch potions and apply oils from the radial menu.
Fixed an issue where Geralt's health rapidly depleted when diving.
The Final Trial - Fixed an issue where leaving the area and coming back could cause Lambert to stand in the water instead of sitting in the boat, blocking progress.

MISCELLANEOUS

Addressed some issues with loading saves when using the Cross Progression feature on multiple machines with the same GOG account.

ONLINE FEATURES — NINTENDO SWITCH

Added a cross-progression feature between platforms which replaces the previous save file integration introduced in patch 3.6 for the Nintendo Switch. 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. Please note that it requires a GOG account regardless of your platform.

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 is available at thewitcher.com/my-rewards

ADDITIONAL CONTENT — NINTENDO SWITCH

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-overs. Availability varies by region and version.

QUALITY OF LIFE CHANGES — NINTENDO SWITCH

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.
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.
Added an option to switch potions and apply oils from the radial menu.
Added an option to auto-apply oils in combat.
New default map filter. The new default filter hides some icons such as "?" And boat icons in order to reduce the icon flood. These icons can be turned back on with the “All” map mode toggle.

GAMEPLAY — NINTENDO SWITCH

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.
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 the Grandmaster Wolven Set wouldn't require Mastercrafted items.
Various small fixes to quests and cutscenes.