The Witcher 3 can finally be played well on the PS5 in the most beautiful graphics mode

The first patch for The Witcher 3's next-gen update gets a lot right, but there's still work to be done CD Projekt RED.



The first patch for The Witcher 3’s next-gen update gets a lot right, but there’s still work to be done CD Projekt RED.

Surprisingly, CD Projekt RED has updated the next gen versions of its masterpiece The Witcher 3. In addition to some bug fixes for the quests and the save system, the Polish studio took care of the massive performance problems in ray tracing mode. These were also our biggest criticisms of the otherwise impressive PS5 and Xbox Series X update.

Version 4.01 in the frame rate check

The Witcher 3 Next Gen update basically has two graphics modes: performance and ray tracing. In our analysis, the performance mode, which outputs 60 fps, turned out to be the clearly better choice, since the title had great difficulties maintaining a reasonably playable frame rate of 30 fps with ray tracing switched on.

Combat was pretty rough in ray tracing mode.  (Image: PS5)






Combat was pretty rough in ray tracing mode. (Image: PS5)

The technique for realistically calculating light rays is used in The Witcher 3 to represent shadows and lighting cast by the environment. Interiors in particular appear more realistic with the correctly cast shadows, and the open game world also appears more alive, since the light cast interacts with the entire scenery and thus creates a more coherent overall picture.

performance

performance

Ray tracing

Ray tracing


The lighting is far more authentic with ray tracing. (Images: PS5)

If you want to learn more about ray tracing in The Witcher 3, you can also check here:

The most important innovation turns the game into a jerky game


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The Witcher 3 Next Gen Update:

The most important innovation turns the game into a jerky game

However, The Witcher 3 showed more than clearly that the technology takes up a lot of resources. Especially in densely populated cities like Novigrad and Oxenfurt, where tens of dynamic shadows are cast by passers-by and objects around, such as baskets and towels, the refresh rate in the release version of the next gen update was at a disastrous level.

With the current patch, that has changed drastically. When riding through Oxenfurt, the frame rate on the PS5 no longer dropped to 26 fps, but to a maximum of 28 fps:



v4.01








The PS5 version in the city center of Oxenfurt no longer fell below 28 fps. (Image: PS5)



v4.00








It looked completely different before… (Picture: PS5)

The situation was similar in the coastal town of Novigrad, where the fps counter lingered at 30 fps or just below much more often. Only in absolute exceptions did it go down to 25 fps:

This marketplace was already a rough hammer for the refresh rate in the release state and has remained so.  Overall, the frame rate in Novigrad remains more stable and close to 30 fps.  (Image: PS5)






This marketplace was already a rough hammer for the refresh rate in the release state and has remained so. Overall, the frame rate in Novigrad remains more stable and close to 30 fps. (Image: PS5)

However, the jump in performance was most evident when galloping through the wilderness. We were plagued by smaller stutters much less frequently there. Only densely overgrown forests with countless shadows are still a huge hurdle for the game, where we still recorded large frame rate drops to an average of 27 fps.

Fighting in the forest is still not a good idea, because the shadows cast by the foliage cause annoying jerks.  In general, the more trees in the picture, the sooner the frame rate drops.  (Image: PS5)






Fighting in the forest is still not a good idea, because the shadows cast by the foliage cause annoying jerks. In general, the more trees in the picture, the sooner the frame rate drops. (Image: PS5)

Overall, we come to the conclusion that CD Projekt RED has done a solid job and the ray tracing mode no longer scratches the unplayability. However, it is not completely stable either.

And the Xbox version?
We’ve focused on the PS5 for now, as the Xbox Series X patch is still a long way off. At least we couldn’t not trigger the update. However, as soon as we were able to carry out measurements, the article was immediately updated with the data obtained.

A small graphic upgrade

The patch notes for the 4.01 patch also mention that the reflections have been improved. And fact: in the original Next Gen update, the reflections were a little too hazy, with the current patch they are a whole bit sharper.

v4.00

v4.00

v4.01

v4.01


The reflections have clearly improved in ray tracing mode.

But that was it with the technical changes, all further information about the gameplay adjustments can be found here:

Update 4.01 takes care of the biggest problems of the next gen version


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The Witcher 3:

Update 4.01 takes care of the biggest problems of the next gen version

So CD Projekt RED has made some improvements, but we don’t think we’ve seen the final form of the role-playing hit yet. There is still room for improvement in the performance of the ray tracing mode, so there is a good chance that more patches will follow.

Are you still playing The Witcher 3 or have you ended your trip to Redania, Skellige and Co. in the meantime?

Reference-www.gamepro.de

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