Latest Witcher 3 update lets you auto-apply oils in combat

Despite its issues, The Witcher 3’s next-gen update is arguably the best way to play the game. However, a few bugs and issues have been spotted, which have been fixed in the latest version. Despite being a “feature” in the game since 2015, the developers decided to remove Geralt’s ability to eat or drink anything underwater other than potions and decoctions.

Another controversial change is the ability to automatically apply oils during combat. Many community members feel that this breaks game mechanics. Some argue that preparing for an encounter, tracking down the enemy, and applying the right oil are a crucial part of being a skilled witcher, and this feature brings the game closer to hack-and-slash territory. Regardless of the debate, Patch 4.03 is out now on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.

Witcher 3 update 4.03 patch notes

PC SPECIFIC

• Fixed an issue where ray-traced vegetation shadows would “pop” depending on Geralt’s proximity and angle.
• Fixed an issue where repeatedly turning off and on ray-traced reflections and shadows could result in black shadows appearing on the edges of objects.
• Fixed the issue where the DirectX 11 version of the game could crash on launch or after loading a save on certain AMD GPUs.
• Added support for Intel Xe Super Sampling, an upscaling technology that uses machine learning to improve performance and image quality.
• Fixed some lighting issues with screen space reflections when global ray tracing lighting was disabled.
• Performance improvements for ray-traced global lighting and ray-traced reflections.
• Fixed an issue where purple splashes could appear on screen when Roach rode through puddles of water.

Console specific

• The cross progression popup now correctly shows which account is logged in.
• Fixed an issue where dark streaks or shadows appeared on Geralt in the inventory screen when Performance Mode was enabled on PlayStation 5.
• Fixed an issue where the game could freeze or stutter momentarily when auto-saving on next-gen consoles.
• Fixed the issue of performance degradation on next-gen consoles when using Witcher Senses in Beauclair and Novigrad.

VISUAL – Exclusive to PC and next-gen

• Fixed an issue where, with ray tracing enabled, a grid of light points could appear on the floor and walls in certain weather conditions.
• Spider webs no longer change color when moving the camera while ray tracing is enabled.
• Fixed an issue where some character textures appeared as not fully rendered in cutscenes.
• Through time and space – Fixed an issue where the fog in Poison Valley was pink instead of white.

QUESTS & GAMEPLAY – Exclusive to PC and next-gen

• Added the community created mod Next generation script fixes by Sergeanur.

QUESTS & GAMEPLAY – Available on all platforms

• In the shadow of eternal fire – The quest ambient music will no longer continue to play after completion. For players who have already experienced this issue, it may be necessary to re-enter the Novigrad or Oxenfurt Sewers to fix it.
• Added an option to automatically apply oils in battle.
• With the exception of potions and decoctions, it is now impossible for Geralt to eat or drink underwater. // While the team agreed that it might be possible to drink liquids from a corked bottle, consuming pints of ale or grilled meat underwater is too taxing.

The Nintendo Switch patch for The Witcher 3 will be released soon and users will migrate to the new cross progression system. This allows users to continue from the same place regardless of the platform. The only limitation is that players need a GOG account to use this functionality.