The Witcher 3 next-gen edition is almost available for PlayStation, Xbox and PC, and the update size has been shared along with how to download and the update notes.
While the upcoming next-gen update doesn’t completely transform The Witcher 3 experience, it makes returning to its rich world all the more worthwhile. IGN previewed the upcoming experience over a few hours, and they claim it’s now “much smoother” and offers enough creative changes.
The original release was already a masterpiece, but all of us can soon enjoy the same magnum opus with several valuable improvements.
The Witcher 3 next generation patch size
The update and download size for The Witcher 3 Next Generation Complete Edition on PS5 is 50.19 GB.
This comes courtesy of PlayStation game size on Twitter. The complete edition itself currently holds a 97 on Metacritic.
As for the Xbox, Purexbox says the update itself is between 35-40GB with the game over 50GB.
How to download next generation The Witcher 3
You’ll be able to download The Witcher 3 Next Gen Update and Complete Edition on PC and Xbox at 4:00 PM PDT and 7:00 PM EST on December 13th, as well as 00:00 UK GMT on December 14th.
As for PlayStation, there’s a local 00:00 launch on December 14th. All of the above hours come courtesy of thewitchergame Twitter account.
Fans should be able to receive and download the next generation update at the mentioned hours. In the meantime, if you don’t already have the game installed, you’ll need to completely reinstall it.
The game is available digitally on the PSN store for PlayStation, the Microsoft store for Xbox, as well as Steam and GOG for PC.
Update patch notes
Below are The Witcher 3 next-gen update patch notes for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC:
PC AND NEXT-GEN EXCLUSIVE
- Added raytrace global lighting 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 favorites in addition to our own modifications in areas such as environment and stage improvements, realistic pavements, and many decoration upgrades.
- Community-created and community-inspired mods include:
- The Witcher 3 HD reworked project by HalkHogan
- HD Monsters reworked by Denroth
- Immersive real-time clip by teiji25
- Nitpicker’s Patch by chuckcash
- World map corrections of 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-shadows 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 amazing photos in The Witcher 3 world.
- Added the ability to pause the game during cutscenes.
- Added an alternate camera option that is closer to the player’s character and reacts more dynamically to combat and movement. You can find this new setting in Options → Gameplay under Exploration, Combat and Horse Camera Distance.
PC SPECIFIC
- Added “ULTRA+” graphics settings on PC, which significantly increases the visual credibility of the game. The graphics settings available on ULTRA+ affect:
- Number of background characters
- Shadow quality
- Grass density
- Texture quality
- Visibility area for foliage
- Terrain quality
- Water quality
- Level of detail
- Added DLSS 3 support. Only available on compatible hardware.
NEXT-GEN CONSOLE SPECIFIC
- Improved the overall quality of graphics on next-gen consoles. Including improved textures, improved fidelity, shadow quality, larger draw distances and crowd density.
- Ray Tracing Mode – raytraces global ambient lighting and 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 capabilities. Quality mode provides increased resolution and better image quality aimed at 30 FPS, while Performance Mode aims at 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.
WEB FUNCTIONS
- Added a cross-progression feature between platforms. Your latest saves are automatically uploaded to the cloud, so you can easily pick up where you left off on other platforms. Cross-progression provides the last save for each save type. This feature becomes available after you log into your account.
- By registering for 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
- Mort card
- Detailed information on how to redeem the rewards will be available from 14 December at 01:00 CET at thewitcher.com/my-rewards.
EXTRA CONTENT
- Added a new side quest, In the shadow of the eternal fire, in Velen. Rewards are inspired by Neftlix The Witcher series.
- Added an alternate look for Dandelions inspired by Netflix The Witcher series. You can enable it in Options → Game.
- Added an alternate Nilfgaardian Armor set inspired by Netflix The Witcher series. You can enable it in Options → Game.
- Added Chinese and Korean voice-over. Availability on consoles varies by region.
- Various improvements and changes to Russian voice-over, including fixes for accelerated/decelerated lines in the vast majority of scenes.
QUALITY OF LIFE CHANGES
- Added a Quick Sign Casting option. It makes it possible to change and discard signs without opening the radial menu. You can find it in Options → Games.
- Added a new default map filter. The new filter hides some icons like “?” and boat icons to reduce icon clutter on the map. These icons can be turned back on with the “All” map mode switch.
- Adjusted the minimum height for fall damage, allowing the player to survive falls from higher heights.
- Herbs can now be looted instantly with a single interaction – without the extra loot window.
- Added options that dynamically hide the minimap and mission objectives when not in combat or using Witcher senses. You can find it in Options → Video → HUD configuration → Hide minimap during exploration and Hide targets during exploration.
- Added the ability to go slow when playing with a controller. You can now go slowly by pushing the left stick slightly forward.
- Added an alternate sprint mode option when playing with a controller. It is activated by pressing the left stick. You can find it in Options → Control settings.
- Added an option to make target lock unaffected by camera inversion. You can find it in Options → Control settings.
- Improved the radial menu so that bombs, bolts and pocket items can now be dynamically swapped without opening the inventory.
- Added the ability to scale the font size for subtitles, NPC chatter and dialog 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.
GAME
- Add 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 find in the mod by default, while other elements were left out.
- Scavenger Hunt: Wolf School Gear – Fixed an issue where the chest at the signal tower could not be opened.
- From Ofier’s Distant Shores – Fixed an issue where the diagram in the chest at the bandit hideout could be missing.
- Hard times – Fixed an issue where Geralt could not speak or give the letter to the blacksmith.
- Swift as the west winds – Fixed an issue where the mission could sometimes fail despite winning the horse race.
- Echoes from the past – Fixed an issue where the quest could get stuck after defeating the Foglets and it wouldn’t be possible to talk to Yennefer.
- Wine warrior – Fixed an issue where the quest could not be completed if the player destroyed one of the required monster nests during exploration.
- Fixed an issue where it was not possible to clear the ruined inn located on the southern shore of Ard Skellig in certain scenarios.
- Fixed an issue where the Grandmaster Wolven Set would not require Mastercrafted items.
- Various small fixes to missions and cutscenes.
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