The Witcher 3's latest patch improves performance on console, but makes it worse on PC
If you don't have ray tracing enabled, expect your game to run worse.
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A recent update for The Witcher 3 was supposed to improve performance on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, but the latter is actually running worse.
The Witcher 3 saw the arrival of patch 4.01 earlier this week, noting that it "improves the overall stability and performance of the game on next-gen consoles and PC, and brings various fixes to all platforms." Only problem is, as reported by Rock Paper Shotgun, that just isn't the case on PC. Upon booting up the game to test out the new settings, RPS found that if you don't have ray-tracing enabled, the game actually runs worse than before.
One of the PC-specific additions added with this update is that a performance mode for ray-traced global illumination is now available as an option, hardware permitted. This setting "improves frame rate by prioritising performance over range and precision," which apparently works well. But without any RT settings turned on, frame rates can dip lower than 25fps, making for a not particularly smooth experience (as demonstrated here).
The new-gen update for The Witcher 3 arrived last year, whether it needed one or not, and like many new-gen games offer you the choice between performance mode and ray tracing mode.
Elsewhere in the realms of CD Projekt RED, back in December the developer showed off a little bit more of the upcoming Phantom Liberty DLC, revealing that none other than Idris Elba (i.e. Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 2) is joining the cast as Solomon Reed, "an FIA Agent for the New United States of America." The DLC is set to launch next year, though not too much is known about it just yet. We do know Keanu Reeves is back as Johnny Silverhand, and that it will be coming in 2023 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. But there's been no mention of a PS4 or Xbox One release.