Configuring The Witcher 3 on the Steam Deck may have just gotten a bit easier! As of the 4.03 update, which came out on May 11th, a new Steam Deck settings preset was added to the game! Using this preset will automatically set your configurations to something that works well with the Deck, which includes FSR 2 and putting most quality settings on low:

Witcher3Preset

After testing the preset for a little, I would say it is a solid way to play the game! The quality FSR 2 keeps the game looking nice, while the low settings don't impact the visuals as much as they could. On top of that, getting a solid 45 FPS at a TDP limit of 10 seems quite likely. There could be ways we can optimize further, but for those who just want something simple and easy to set to without configuring, this seems to be a decent alternative.

Witcher3Preset1
Witcher3Preset2
Witcher3Preset3
Witcher3Preset4

On top of the added preset, the 4.03 update fixes up a lot of issues and adds in support for Intel Xe upscaling. Here is the full list of the major changes from the update:

The Witcher 3 4.03 Update Changelog:

PC-SPECIFIC

  • Fixed an issue with ray-traced vegetation shadows “popping”, depending on Geralt’s proximity and angle.
  • Fixed an issue where repeatedly disabling and enabling ray-traced reflections and shadows could cause black shadows to appear at the edge of objects.
  • Addressed 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 ray-traced global illumination is off.
  • Performance improvements to ray-traced global illumination and ray-traced reflections.
  • Fixed an issue where purple splashes could appear on the screen when riding Roach through puddles of water.

VISUAL

  • Fixed an issue where a grid of light spots could appear on the ground and walls in certain weather conditions with Ray Tracing enabled.
  • Spider webs will no longer change color when moving the camera with Ray Tracing enabled.
  • Fixed an issue where some textures on characters during cutscenes would appear as not fully rendered.
  • Through Time and Space - Fixed an issue where the mist in the Poisoned Valley was pink instead of white.

QUESTS & GAMEPLAY

  • Added the community-made mod Next Gen Script Fixes by Sergeanur.

QUESTS & GAMEPLAY

  • In the Eternal Fire's Shadow - The ambient music from the quest will no longer continue playing after completion. For players who have already experienced this issue, it may be necessary to enter the Novigrad or Oxenfurt sewers again to resolve it.
  • Added an option to auto-apply oils in combat.
  • With the exception of potions and decoctions, it's now impossible for Geralt to eat or drink underwater. // While the team agreed it might be possible to drink liquids from a corked flask, consuming pints of ale or grilled meats underwater is too much of a stretch.

You can buy The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on Steam for $40, though the game does regularly go on sale if you can wait!

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Noah Kupetsky
A lover of gaming since 4, Noah has grown up with a love and passion for the industry. From there, he started to travel a lot and develop a joy for handheld and PC gaming. When the Steam Deck released, it just all clicked.
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