Day 1

Performance and Stability

• Multiple improvements to environmental rendering performance.
• Fixed issues affecting Ray Tracing Mode lighting consistency and performance.
• Changes to improve performance and stability while in photo mode.
• Various improvements to performance in missions with high character counts.
• Resolved uncommon crashes when playing or idling for long periods of time.
• Fixed rare crashes related to loading certain saves.

Gameplay

• Audio fixes to allow impact sound effects to correctly match surface types.
• Fixes several bugs in mini games like bamboo chop and Zeni Hajiki.
• Fixed an occasional long delay when starting buddy grapple pull.
• Fixed pumpkins appearing transparent during the kunai training mission.
• Fixed interrogation camera transitions to avoid popping between angles.
• General camera improvements for world navigation and when using tools in combat.
• Improvements camera behavior while engaged in combat, especially in optional camera modes.
• Fixes various bugs and exploits during duels.
• Various balance adjustments to weapons and charms, especially related to late game content.
• Various balance adjustments and bug fixes related to Lethal difficulty.
• Fixed bugs related to picking and throwing dropped weapons.
• Balance adjustments and bug fixes to stealth kills with weapons other than the katana.
• Fixed bugs with mission dialogue being cut short due to player or NPC actions.
• Fixed several bugs in missions that players could perceive as blocking progress.
• Various mission area improvements to help with mission flow and easier navigation.
• Limit puzzle clues in some difficulty levels.
• Prevent the horse from interrupting certain missions objectives or cutscenes.
• Removed the ability to decapitate bounty capture targets.
• Fixes a bug causing Standoff to select far away enemies.
• Various adjustments and balance changes to wolf abilities, such as when fighting enemy leaders.
• Prevent systemic enemies from appearing when the player is following foxes.
• Added the ability for the player to open photomode (via R1) during certain stages when camping.
• Various economy and loot balance changes to common metals.
• Improved enemy responses to player actions in combat scenarios.
• Reduced the occurrence of tutorials when camping.
• Improved behavior of Saito's men hunting for Atsu in the open world.

Animation

• Improved intro and exit transitions for some cinematics to present a better and more emotional experience.
• Fixed multiple instances of armor blocking camera shots during cutscenes.
• Fixes to prevent geometry fading or popping at incorrect times in cutscenes.
• Fixes for cutscene animation artifacts.
• Fixes multiple instances of weapons appearing incorrectly during cutscenes.
• Fixes characters improperly appearing in some cutscenes.
• Improvements to character expressions and emotions during some cutscenes.
• Updated various NPC animations and voice lines to make characters behave more naturally.
• Updated the intro and exit animations for katana attacks so they feel more natural.
• Updating foot matching across animations to better match characters’ feet to the ground.
• Added new into and exit animations to improve transitions smoothness in foot matching and posture.
• Improved animations for the coal throwing game used in weapon training.
• Fixed a bug that allowed dogs and other animals to play incorrect hunt animations.
• Fixed various NPC animations that would play incorrectly during missions.
• Improved the animation for the Brute enemy grabbing Atsu and throwing her down on the ground.
• Improving various weapon draw and stow animations to reduce clipping.

Environment

• Improved onsen environmental assets, layout, set dressing and world interaction to provide more unique experiences for each onsen.
• Improving appearance and performance of some flower types.
• Improved the look of erosion and details in mountain ranges seen across the world.
• Improved various textures in caves to bring up level of detail and eliminate seams and some artifacting.
• Updated lower levels of detail on various tree assets around the world to prevent visual popping when the player is navigating around locations.
• Updated deep snow blending to better conceal characters and also improve the look of snow on other assets.
• Improvements and optimization across many assets throughout the game to improve performance.
• Improved textures and assets within various caves and dens across the game for general quality polish.
• Tweaked assets across the entire game to fix issues with objects floating above the ground.

UI/UX

• Fixed photo mode flashes and bright glow when rapidly changing the time of day.
• General improvements to the photo mode menu UI and navigation.
• Fixed bugs in mini games related to alternative controller schemes.
• Fixed various bugs in spyglass.
• Fixed conflicting UI elements in various menus and the map.
• Fixed text overflowing in Large Text mode in various languages.
• Fixed text overlap with the Key Items list and objective cards with multiple rewards.
• Adjusted the position of certain UI elements, such as the Charm Level icon.
• Fixed or improved icons for multiple cosmetics and skills.
• Updated skill videos and allow colored glints for clearer instruction.
• Fixed UI elements to avoid overlapping in various cases like duels.
• Fixed a bug with items on the travelers map appearing incorrectly.
• Updated the UI marker shaders, animation and size to improve legibility.
• Fixed a bug where the loadout trainer inappropriately.
• Modified bloom in the spyglass to improve visibility in bright scenes.
• Reduced the number of pop-ups at the start of the game for a smoother experience for players with bonus content.
• Improved various UI elements at vendors.
• Fixed bugs related to loading and popping in menus.
• Updated trophy and activity art.
• Improved the appearance of some elements on the map.
• Fixed the naming of some inventory items.
• Added options to photo mode.