The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings

Platform(s): PC, Xbox 360
Genre: RPG/Action
Publisher: Atari
Developer: CD Projekt
Release Date: May 17, 2011

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'The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings' (ALL) v1.3 Patch Comes With Free DLC

by Rainier on July 18, 2011 @ 1:52 a.m. PDT

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings features all new dialogue, updated graphics engine, realistic environment, revamped day/night cycle, actions that affect AI behavior, more dynamic/spectacular/bloody finishing moves and plenty more.

Patch 1.3 is not quite here yet, but we would like to show you an early changelog with the fixes and amendments that will be implemented in the nearest update. There is still no ETA on its release so please bear with us and stay tuned for more information.

  1. New FREE DLC – “A Sackful of Fluff” is a new quest in Chapter 2 of the game. To start the quest, visit the eccentric Elthon, who inhabits a solitary hut near the quarry outside Vergen. The quest will prove most rewarding to those who demonstrate patience.
  2. Game now supports 4:3, 5:4, 16:10 aspect ratios.
  3. Item storage has been added. Players can now store items from their Inventory at inns. To leave items in storage or collect previously stored items, talk to innkeepers.
  4. A „Junk‟ panel has been added to Inventory to provide greater clarity in item classification.
  5. New menu option added in „Extras‟ - enables players to view in-game animated sequences (flashbacks, memory flashes, dreams stolen by harpies) outside of the game.
  6. A „Quickload‟ option has been added under the F9 key.
  7. The game's HUD can now be hidden in order to produce HUD-free screenshots! On newly installed game copies, the option to hide/show the HUD is available by default under the 'H' key. Users who have modified the key assignments on their installations should go to the 'Input Settings' dialogue of the Witcher 2 Configuration Tool to assign a key to this option. Please note that the game cannot be played with the HUD hidden.
  8. Issue involving the game not running at 2560x1440 resolution has been resolved.
  9. Issues with nVidia 3D Vision technology have been resolved. Players no longer need to uninstall the related drivers.
  10. Key bindings have been corrected to enable configuration of mouse buttons for use by left-handed players.
  11. Assorted key binding options have been added to facilitate configuration of controls and quick access to various in-game panels.
  12. Issue related to game settings being reset to defaults upon patch installation has been resolved. Patches no longer reset
    game settings.
  13. The configuration file is no longer over-written when the launcher/configuration tool is patched and over-written.
  14. The launcher now closes while the game is being patched, thus eliminating the resulting game patching error.
  15. The launcher now closes completely and no longer continues to operate in the background.
  16. „Installed game version is invalid or incomplete‟ error in updater when free space on system drive is insufficient – message has been corrected to reflect more accurately the nature of the error.
  17. Mutagens are now alchemy ingredients. Minor mutagens drop more frequently than do major mutagens, though the overall mutagen drop rate has been reduced.
  18. Corrections have been made in the mutagen drop rate and in Thorak‟s store.
  19. „Dragon‟ section of Prologue does not become available until after all assault-related sections have been completed, thereby softening the difficulty curve at the start of the game.
  20. During the fight against the kayran, when the bridge collapses, a map pin appears at the end of the bridge to facilitate player navigation and quest completion.
  21. Map pins have been corrected in many quests.
  22. Quen Sign slightly de-buffed – Sign dissipates 20% faster after foes land a blow. Assorted minor balance issues related to this Sign have also been resolved.
  23. Issue with Dragon‟s Dream bombs has been resolved. Damage to bosses from cast daggers has been reduced by onehalf.
  24. Several optimization improvements have been made in the tavern in Vergen.
  25. Problem with music accompanying „stealth‟ sequences has been resolved.
  26. Issue related to arm wrestling Bart Bargee has been resolved. Players can no longer win coin from this character endlessly.
  27. Option to fist fight woman praying at a statue in Vergen has been deactivated.
  28. Mini-game contestants at one of the in-game taverns now switch positions correctly without blocking one another.
  29. Problem involving Fenn‟s sword in combat has been resolved.
  30. Problems with herbalist‟s gloves have been resolved.
  31. In the Prologue, Geralt retains his steel long sword throughout, i.e., he is no longer automatically equipped with his default sword for the „Assault‟ sequence.
  32. Problem with some nekkers being immortal has been resolved.
  33. Issue with triggered black screens blocking game progress has been resolved.
  34. Interactions no longer appear on nekker nests after these have been destroyed.
  35. The “Scent of Incense” quest no longer shows up as failed after being completed successfully.
  36. Sudden switch to gameplay just prior to cut scene involving Cynthia and Philippa has been eliminated.
  37. Triss, Roche and Iorveth are now de-spawned before the final credits roll.
  38. Guard pacing cycles have been corrected.
  39. The Redanian messenger in Henselt‟s tent can no longer be killed, preventing him from re-spawning.
  40. Elf woman in Vergen no longer strikes a T-pose.
  41. Rotfiends feeding on corpses no longer re-spawn after corpse is burned.
  42. Several fixes have been made in the functioning of in-game populaces.
  43. Numerous problems with cameras in dialogue sequences have been resolved.
  44. Assorted corrections have been made in dialogue sequences (including King Foltest‟s gestures on the town walls in the Prologue).
  45. A progression break in the „In the Claws of Madness‟ quest has been eliminated.

The second entry in the Witcher saga is characterized by an incredibly gripping, mature and non-linear plot. In addition, the new combat system is even smoother and guarantees a greater variety of tactical possibilities.

The game is built upon completely new technology, designed from scratch by CD Projekt RED to develop role-playing games with non-linear plot. The new technology also delivers beautiful visuals, transporting players to one of the most vivid RPG universes ever.

The Xbox 360 version will be an enhanced adaptation of the PC game released to instant international acclaim in mid-May. Accordingly, it will incorporate numerous improvements and enhancements. Details will be announced over the coming months. 

CD Projekt RED Executive Producer John Mamais stated, “We’re very proud of The Witcher 2 and the highly positive reactions it has received from both our players and the media. Taking it to the Xbox 360 represents an exciting opportunity to introduce it to a new segment of the gaming audience. I’d like to stress that we are doing a full adaptation to the new platform, not just a straight port. Technology-wise, this means we are aiming to push its limits in order to get visual quality as close to high-end PCs as possible – and during E3, you’ll see how good the results we’ve already achieved are. Gameplay-wise, it means we are looking closely at all the feedback we have received about the PC release, and are addressing it during the adaptation process to be sure we provide a superb, completely polished gaming experience. Of course, we are not changing our vision. The Witcher 2 for Xbox 360 will have exactly same flavor, that of deep, mature, non-linear role-playing.”

John Mamais also commented on the planned release date, "Some people may be disappointed that the game is scheduled for the end of the year, not earlier. Market-wise, that might be profitable, but I think everyone has had enough of ports rushed to different platforms, so we really don’t want to follow this path. As always, quality and the players' experience are paramount for us.  So now, we have a few precious months to focus on delivering a superb RPG to Xbox gamers, and we are going to do that”  

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings for Xbox 360 will be rated “M” for Mature (Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs).


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