The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Patch 4-era Act 3 slowdowns were reported by some players, but the reports do not establish that the update made the game lag for everyone. Larian later confirmed it targeted frame-rate spikes in the Lower City with model-streaming work across platforms. For a slowdown that persists now, update the game, check whether it happens consistently in the same place, and use platform-specific troubleshooting rather than assuming one fix applies to every save or system.
Did Patch 4 cause Act 3 lag?
Some players described Act 3 as severely slow after Patch 4 or a nearby hotfix. That timing is a reported association, not proof that Patch 4 universally caused the problem. Larian’s Patch 4 notes list continued performance optimization, Lower City lighting optimization, and general UI performance work; they do not say that all Act 3 performance issues were resolved.
Later, Larian specifically acknowledged frame-rate spikes in busy areas such as the Lower City. In Hotfix #34, published September 23, 2025, the studio said model-streaming improvements across platforms should reduce those spikes. That establishes that the developer targeted the symptom in that location, but not that the change fixed every player’s slowdown.
What later updates addressed
| Update | What Larian said it changed | What that means for Act 3 lag |
|---|---|---|
| Patch 4 | Continued performance optimization, Lower City lighting optimization, and UI performance work. | The notes document optimization work, not a declaration that Act 3 lag was fixed. |
| Hotfix #34 | Model-streaming improvements on all platforms, intended to reduce frame-rate spikes in busy areas including the Lower City. | The clearest official link between a later change and Lower City frame-rate spikes; it does not guarantee a fix for every case. |
| Hotfix #35, November 20, 2025 | Focused mainly on performance and included a specific PS5 freeze fix, along with other platform-specific fixes. | A freeze fix is not evidence that all PS5 Act 3 lag was resolved. |
| Hotfix #36, March 26, 2026 | Version 4.1.1.7209685 addressed performance issues that had triggered crashes after a prior update, including a frame-rate drop and crash when loading a savegame. | The stated scope concerns save loading and related crashes, not every slowdown while playing Act 3. |
The patch notes describe what Larian changed, not whether a particular player’s present issue is fixed. Lag can vary with platform, save, location, and game version.
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What to try on either platform
- Install the latest available game update. Patch notes document fixes and optimizations over time; make sure the version you play includes the current updates available for your platform.
- Recheck the same situation. Compare performance in the same Lower City area or activity where the slowdown occurs. Note whether it is a persistent frame-rate drop, a brief spike, a freeze, or a problem loading a save; these symptoms may have different causes.
- Protect your saves before extensive troubleshooting. Avoid deleting saves or making other irreversible changes as a first step.
- Report a reproducible problem to Larian. If it continues on the latest version, use the developer’s support hub for troubleshooting resources and bug reporting. Include your platform, game version, the affected location or action, and what happens.
PC checks
- Check the installation drive and available space. Larian’s Windows system requirements specify an SSD and list 150 GB of available SSD storage for both minimum and recommended specifications. Confirm the game is installed on an SSD and that the drive has the required available capacity.
- Keep graphics drivers current. Larian advises current drivers for compatibility and performance. This is a sensible baseline check, not a confirmed Patch 4-specific remedy.
- Account for your configuration. Record whether you use mods and whether the slowdown occurs with a particular save or location when reporting the problem. Do not assume that removing mods, reinstalling, or changing graphics APIs will fix the issue; the available official notes do not establish those as universal solutions.
An SSD is a stated PC requirement, not a proven cure for patch-related Act 3 lag. Consider changing storage only if your installation does not meet that requirement or lacks the stated capacity; the requirement alone does not show that buying an SSD will resolve a software or save-specific performance problem.
PS5 checks
Install the latest game update and check whether the slowdown can be reproduced in the same place or situation. Hotfix #34’s model-streaming work covered all platforms, while Hotfix #35 documented a particular PS5 freeze fix. Neither note establishes a setting that reliably eliminates all Act 3 lag on PS5. If the problem persists, report its location, symptom, game version, and reproducibility through Larian’s support hub rather than applying PC-only advice such as graphics-driver or graphics-API changes.
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What is not established
There is no reliable published count or percentage showing how many PS5 or PC players experienced Patch 4-era Act 3 lag. Individual player reports can describe what happened to those players, but they cannot establish prevalence or a single cause. The official notes confirm performance work in the Lower City and later fixes with narrower stated scopes; they do not prove that every current slowdown has the same cause.
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