THIS WILL REQUIRE A FULL-BACKUP OF YOUR MODDED WITCHER 3 FOLDER PRIOR TO THE UPDATE

Since the new Classic Beta Branch was released, it now includes the REDprelauncher.exe that seems to break users from still using their original modded copy.

CDPR releasing the next-gen update!


I was able to fix mine by the following steps.

Make sure you have selected to move your game to the beta branch version in the game properties of steam.

Witcher 3 Game Properties -> Betas -> classic - Select this branch to play the classic release of The Witcher 3 (Patch 1.32).

Once the game is updated & on that branch, you will want to copy all of your original files from your backup & overwrite anything it asks for.

Once that is completed, you will want to launch the game from Steam, this should now launch the new REDprelauncher.exe

You will need to select DX11 & launch the game from within the new REDprelauncher.exe (the beta branch does not have DX12 so that option will not work).

Hopefully the game compiles all of your scripts & launches for you at this point with no issues & can skip to Step #7, or if you are like me...continue to #6.

When attempting to launch the game I got the following script error:

Error [content0]gametypes.ws(52): Enum 'EAreaName' already defined.
Error [content0]gametypes.ws(68): Enum 'EDlcAreaName' already defined.

This is because of a previous mod that I had installed "All Quest Objectives on Map" and can be fixed by removing the following:

Navigate to the following folder steamappscommonThe Witcher 3contentcontent0scriptsgame and the delete or rename the file "areaTypes.ws".

Attempt to launch the game again, this should allow for the scripts to be recompiled. Mine successfully compiled, but then never launched the game afterwards.

This usually would happen when my game would need to recompile new scripts after changes were made so I just ran the game launcher again & it loaded into my modded Witcher 3 game with all my game saves fully working. The only downside is that not all the quest objective markers displayed anymore since that was deleted in order to make the game work again.

From the main Witcher 3 game directory, Open the launcher-configuration.json file in notepad or text editor of your choice. Change the following line from "fallback": "DirectX 12" to "fallback": "DirectX 11" and save the file.

Once that is done, select the game properties in Steam & under "Launch Options" add the following line command:

--launcher-skip

Close Properties. The game will now launch directly to the main menu whenever you launch the game from Steam, completely bypassing the new REDprelauncher.

Q: What's the difference between running the game directly from the witcher3.exe in my original backup folder vs. this method.

A: Running the witcher3.exe from your original backup folder works perfectly fine with the modded game just like you used to, however since it is considered an external program now....you will not be able to unlock Steam Achievements that way. Using the method described in this guide will allow for you to still run your modded copy of the game through Steam & still be able to unlock any achievements.

Working Mod Menu using the new Classic Beta Branch:




I hope this helps other's try to revert back to the original classic version & restore their modded game back into steam!