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Extensive Changes, Fixes Detailed for Skyrim 1.4 Patch

PS3 performance tweaks incoming, alongside fixes for quest problems.

Even when Skryim is kicking you around, there's something about the world that calls you back.
Even when Skryim is kicking you around, there's something about the world that calls you back.

Several months out, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is not without its issues, some more severe than others.

The latest patch, version 1.4, will attempt to address significant performance issues on PlayStation 3, as well as clean up some of the glitched quests that have been plaguing players.

A beta version of this patch has been available for the PC version via Steam--it’s now final. The patches have been submitted for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, but there’s no timetable on a release.

It’s too bad some of these fixes are happening in February, but alas.

I say this as a person who’s experienced a great number of mild-to-god damnit problems and still, as of last night, crossed the 100 hour mark with the game, and only have two achievements to clean up before putting it to bed.

The full change list, as provided by Bethesda:

New Features:

  • Skyrim launcher support for Skyrim Workshop (PC)

Bug Fixes:

  • General optimizations for memory and performance
  • Fixed occasional issue with armor and clothing not displaying properly when placed on mannequins in player’s house (PS3)
  • Long term play optimizations for memory and performance (PS3)
  • Improved compiler optimization settings (PC)
  • Memory optimizations related to scripting
  • Fixed issue with dangling scripts not properly clearing from memory
  • Fixed crashes related to pathing and AI
  • Fixed crash in “Haemar’s Shame” if player had already completed “A Daedra’s Best Friend”
  • Fixed rare crash with loading saved games
  • Fixed issue with accented characters not displaying properly at the end of a line
  • Fixed issue where dragon priest masks would not render correctly
  • Fixed issue where quests would incorrectly progress after reloading a save
  • Fixed issues with placing and removing books from bookshelves in the player’s home
  • Optimized bookshelf script in player-owned houses that would occasionally block other scripts from properly firing off
  • Fixed issue where weapon racks and plaques would not work correctly in player’s house if player immediately visits their house before purchasing any upgrades
  • Fixed issue where the player house in Windhelm would not clean up properly
  • Fixed crash related to giant attacks and absorb spells
  • Fixed issue with ash piles not cleaning up properly
  • Fixed occasional issue where overwriting an existing save would fail
  • Fixed memory crash with container menu
  • Fixed infinite loop with bookshelves
  • Fixed issue where transforming back to human from werewolf would occasionally fail
  • Bows and daggers will display properly when placed on weapon racks
  • Fixed occasional audio issue that would play sound effects louder than intended
  • Fixed bug related to hitching between cell boundaries
  • Master Criminal achievement/trophy unlocks properly in French, German, Spanish and Italian
  • Fixed issue where traps in Shalidor’s Maze would not work properly in French, German, Spanish and Italian versions

Quest Fixes:

  • The Unusual Gem that was inside the Thalmor Embassy is now accessible after finishing “Diplomatic Immunity”
  • In “Breaching Security”, the quest token is no longer required to receive a fortune reading from Olava the Feeble
  • Fixed issue where Galmar would not complete Joining the Stormcloaks properly if “Season Unending” was an active quest
  • Fixed issue where starting “Season Unending” after finishing “Joining the Stormcloaks” would prevent “The Jagged Crown” from starting properly
  • Fixed issue where progressing through “Message to Whiterun” while “Season Unending” was still open would block progression for both quests
  • In “Arniel’s Endeavor”, fixed issue where a quest journal would trigger multiple times
  • In “Forbidden Legend”, the amulet fragment can no longer disappear after player leaves a dungeon without taking it
  • Fixed rare issue in “Forbidden Legend” where killing Mikrul Gauldurson while sneaking would make his corpse unaccessible
  • In “The White Phial”, the phial can no longer disappear if player leaves dungeon without taking it
  • “The White Phial” will now start properly if player already has a briar heart in their inventory
  • Player can no longer get stuck in Misty Grove after completing “A Night to Remember”
  • Fixed issue where leaving Riften during “A Chance Arrangement” would prevent quest from progressing
  • In “Darkness Returns”, a door in Twilight Sepulcher will properly open if the player leaves the dungeon for an extended period of time before completing the quest
  • In “Revealing the Unseen”, if the player leaves the Oculory for an extended period of time after placing the focusing crystal and returns, the quest will proceed correctly
  • “Onmund’s Request” will now start properly if player has already found Enthir’s staff before receiving this quest
  • Fixed instance where Tonilia would stop buying stolen items and also would not give Guild Leader Armor
  • “Repairing the Phial” will start properly if player already has unmelting snow or mammoth tusk in their inventory
  • Finding Pantea’s Flute before speaking with Pantea no longer prevents her quest from updating
  • In “The Break of Dawn”, fixed rare instance where a quest object would spawn incorrectly on the Katariah during Hail Sithis
  • Fixed rare issue in “The Mind of Madness” where player is unable to equip the Wabbajack
  • Fixed issue in “Pieces of the Past” where Mehrunes Dagon’s Razor will not trigger properly if player leaves the cell for extended period of time before activating it
  • “Blood’s Honor” will start properly if you visited and completed Driftshade and an extended period of time passes before starting the quest.
  • Fixed rare issue where “Dampened Spirits” would not start properly
  • Fixed issue where player would be unable to become Thane of Riften if they purchased a home first
  • Fixed issue where killing guards in Cidhna Mine would block progression for “No One Escapes Cidhna Mine”
  • Fixed numerous issues with “Blood on the Ice” not triggering properly
  • In “Blood on the Ice”, Calixto can now be killed if player owns a house in Windhelm
  • In “The Cure for Madness”, killing Cicero then resurrecting him no longer impedes quest progress
  • Fixed rare issue in “To Kill an Empire” where an NPC would fail to die properly
  • Clearing Knifepoint Ridge before starting “Boethiah’s Champion” no longer prevents quest from starting.
Patrick Klepek on Google+

91 Comments

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silentxero

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Edited By silentxero

IS there any information yet about MORE MONSTERS COMING to this game. I FREAKING LOVE SKYRIM (I'm 320 hours into it and still rolling), but I'd like some new creatures to kill. I read that Bethsheda is working on bringing in spears and epic mounts and stuff, and even possibly goblins and Giant Mudcrabs. That's fine, but I want MINOTAUR!! I'd also like some other creatures like Kraken (for a level at sea), Manticore, Basilik, Hydra,Chimera, and Gryphons. I know it might be too warcrafteee, but I don't care. I want this game to continue with epic updates and more monsters to kill. The Dragons in this game freaking RULE, but I need new stuff to ghost. I also hope they raise the level cap (for your specs in destruction magic,weapons and additonal spells). I also hope they fix the economy...in this game....and also in real life too. But yeah, Skyrim still rules, but I want Minotaur to hunt....or they hunt me...however the game will go.

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kuz101

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Edited By kuz101

@tonywilde: Sorry I don't think I can help you. My quest marker updated right after I downloaded the patch.

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tonywilde

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Edited By tonywilde

@kuz101: I am playing on Xbox 360 and still cannot start Dampened Spirits after the patch update. any tips please ?

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tearhead

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Edited By tearhead
@yakov456
This better fix my freeze when I try to wait and move time ahead.
Yep, this pisses me off.
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NellyK

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Edited By NellyK

Hopefully, they fix that crazy shield slow-mo glitch soon.

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RubberBabyBuggyBumpers

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i still can't rid myself of the stupid quest to find rjorn's drum. i've turned it in numerous times. {=o|

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Whitelock

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Edited By Whitelock

does this mean I can play my PS3 version without it freezing and corrupting my saved games? because that was seriously annoying.

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yakov456

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Edited By yakov456

This better fix my freeze when I try to wait and move time ahead.

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Evilsbane

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Edited By Evilsbane

I can finally turn in the Jagged Crown HUZZAH!

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MeatSim

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Edited By MeatSim

I put 200 hours into this game I gonna take a break from it let some more patches roll out and hop back in when some DLC is out.

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NellyK

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Edited By NellyK

Ha! Mild-to-god damnit. I'm gonna steal that one.

The beta patch definitely improved the PC version. I'm completely hooked on Skyrim and am experiencing little to no problems. And it's running a little smoother, too. I did encounter the shield slow-mo bug for a brief period, but it has since disappeared. Hope this patch fixes that lame PS3 slowdown issue.

I'd like a patch that makes the NPCs address you accordingly after you complete a shit job for them. It kinda breaks the illusion when you retrieve their fucking flute or save their wife or whatever, then when you attempt to converse with them again, they say a random snarky thing like, "I don't have time for talk! Leave me alone!" Kind of annoying.

Better late than never on these patches. Gotta give Bethesda a little credit for trying to make things right (and they should--we did buy their game legit).

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hockeymask27

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Edited By hockeymask27

yes my weapon racks will finally work!!!!

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Aarny91

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Edited By Aarny91

Maybe I'll start playing properly again. Been neglecting it lately.

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Glees0rz

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Edited By Glees0rz

I'm still waiting for them to fix The Forsworn Conspiracy; keeps spawning the wrong NPC so the end quest dialogue options are not available...

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rethla

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Edited By rethla

Those bookshelves seems to have been an major pain in the ass for Bethesda.

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Ronald

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Edited By Ronald

So where is the fix that allows me to turn in these books I have but can't because I picked them up before I got the quest and I can't remove them from my inventory? Or the fix where the guards in Markarth stop harassing me with no way of stopping them even though I was told they would leave me alone?

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napalm

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Edited By napalm

As much as I love Skyrim and am happy with most of these fixes/changes, when I read them, this looks like a pre-beta bug list. "Fix X quest because it doesn't activate properly."

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ffdthree

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Edited By ffdthree

@McGhee said:

I'll believe it when I see it.

As much as I love this game, This.

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probablytuna

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Edited By probablytuna

Steam Workshop looks extremely promising and appealing for mod management. This will likely extend my game time for another 100 hours playing around with people's mods.

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deactivated-5c7ea8553cb72

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I'm looking forward to seeing the improvements on PC tomorrow.

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Spiritof

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Edited By Spiritof

Eddard Stark totally gets dead at the end of S1.

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njean777

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Edited By njean777

Wont believe the ps3 fixes until I see it. I have it for pc, but would still like to see ps3 owners not have to deal with what I had to deal with while playing New Vegas.

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Bubbly

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Edited By Bubbly
@Vitor: There are definitely performance improvements. I have a i5 2500k (OC'd to 4.4 ghz) and a gtx 570, and before this update got noticeable framerate drops (even with SkyBoost it would usually drop to around 50 fps) in intensive areas (looking down steps at Dragonreach). Most of the game ran at a nice solid 60 fps but the drop in certain spots was annoying me. I just downloaded this update (didn't opt in beta in the fear of something getting screwed up) and looked down the steps during the day and was happily greeted with a mostly solid 60 fps (jumping between 57-61 fps when I turn really fast). Still, good enough for me.
 
Unfortunately I still have this stupid misc. quest that won't go away. The misc. quest says to "Investigate the Boethia Cultist", but I have already completed the quest Boethia's Calling, which that misc. quest is related to. I'm like Vinny where I wanted to remove everything from my misc. quest list, and I have done that, but that one stupid glitched quest just sits there...taunting me. I know it is minor compared to actual broken quests, but it is still annoying and I hope it eventually gets fixed. Haven't spent any real time with the update, but hopefully the beta did what it was supposed to do and the update won't cause any major problems.
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MordeaniisChaos

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Edited By MordeaniisChaos

@Impossibilium: That was actually the first glitch i saw in the game. Luckily my horse was fine.

When the fuck are they going to fix the whole slow motion perks totally breaking the game? I had that start happening to me last week and now the game is ruined until it's stopped.

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Impossibilium

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Edited By Impossibilium
@TheHBK said:

With so many changes.... I am anticipating seeing some crazy ass stuff happening with the dragons.

 
No dragons, but I did see a horse flying slowly backwards into the sky before plummeting to the ground like a punctured horse-shaped balloon float.
 
I never checked to see if it survived but the horses are so wooden anyway it would be hard to kill.
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CrystaljDesign

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Edited By CrystaljDesign
In “Blood on the Ice”, Calixto can now be killed if player owns a house in Windhelm

lol wut?

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tourgen

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Edited By tourgen

cool, Blood on the Ice was broken for me. hopefully I can finish it now

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mariussmit

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Edited By mariussmit

@JBird: In the long run that my turn out to be wise. I could have finished my masters degree a year earlier were it not for Oblivion.

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alexeik

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Edited By alexeik

What about the Red Eagle quest glitch? Still triggers the quest every time I pick up the book.

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vitor

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Edited By vitor

So has the awful and inexplicable FPS drops in certain areas of towns been remedied? Could run the game flawlessly on a nearly the highest settings but looking down certain empty roads would just make things chug hard on my PC...

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Ben_H

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Edited By Ben_H

I didn't experience any quest bugs, but my brother experienced the "Dampened Spirits" glitch where the quest would not start. His spirit was severely dampened because of this bug.  He couldn't finish the thieve's guild.  Good thing it's being fixed.

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pweidman

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Edited By pweidman

@TEHMAXXORZ said:

I just hope I can continue with the Companions quests now, and dump all these fucking witch heads!

That would be nice. And, if actually doable, about fucking time.

If I even bother, to be totally honest.

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EDfromRED

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Edited By EDfromRED

Looking forward for the patch to hit the 360. I've been putting off playing it the last little while, waiting for it to be released.

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fox01313

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Edited By fox01313

Considering the weight of some of the quest items, I'd be happy if they'd patch in something across all platforms that you can store quest items in your house but not sell them. Nice to see they are fixing some of this stuff.

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dvdwalker8

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Edited By dvdwalker8

Good to see "Blood on the Ice" getting fixed. So annoying going into that awesome house and having the immortal Calixto attack me every time.

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sweetz

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Edited By sweetz

I went from getting averages around 45fps and drops into the 30s in Markarth to it running a constant 60fps (on a Core i7 875K and a single, stock clocked GTX 570). It's a wonder what a difference turning on optimization flags in your compiler so that it inlines getter functions makes...

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JBird

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Edited By JBird

I left my ps3 and skyrim at home during this university term......I feel such a fool

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J0PALACE0K

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Edited By J0PALACE0K

Glad to see these, especially the quest fixes. I can appreciate why it took the time it did but it's just unfortunate with certain games coming out meaning that may not be able to play quite as much as I would have wanted.

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viking_funeral

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Edited By viking_funeral

Saw this patch load right before I fired up Skyrim on Steam today.

Started out laggy, which is unusual for my machine, but then I did a PCB and a 72 hour rest. Since then it's been pretty smooth. Almost smoother than normal, but noticing that might be a placebo effect. I'm glad this hit, and with the Creation Kit hitting soon, this game is going to have some serious life to it.

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ColonelT

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Edited By ColonelT

And.... the bug that broke my Mage College quest goes unaddressed. Perhaps it will be accidentally fixed by another fix....

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Edited By ptys

I'm Stil only Level 10 on PS3 so this suits me... I guess.

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musubi

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Edited By musubi

@MooseyMcMan said:

@Demoskinos said:

@MooseyMcMan: Preformance has been optimized. People are gaining tons of frames in even the worst spots. I've been beta testing the 1.4 patch and its much improved over 1.3

I specifically meant for the PS3 version. If you've been beta testing that, then great! But the article makes it sound like that was PC only (aside from, I assume, people at Bethesda testing these things).

Ah, well my mistake. When you cited preformance I automatically assumed PC.

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EvilTwin

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Edited By EvilTwin
@benspyda said:

I gotta another patch after 1.3 on 360, what was that? 1.35?

Don't know but I'm pretty sure you can actually check your version number on the 360 when you pause the game. 
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Jack_Frost

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Edited By Jack_Frost

Getting all of the achievements does not mean this game is over.

I have all 50 and I still have a ton of things to explore and collect.

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yevinorion

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Edited By yevinorion

@Dark_Lord_Spam said:

"Fixed infinite loop with bookshelves" What. What is this. It sounds incredible and also magic.

It was the key to an exploit with the Ohgma Infinium that allowed you to boost your character to 100 in all skills, and thus level 81, in a relatively short time.

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TheHBK

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Edited By TheHBK

With so many changes.... I am anticipating seeing some crazy ass stuff happening with the dragons.

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Jazz_Lafayette

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Edited By Jazz_Lafayette

"Fixed infinite loop with bookshelves"
 
What. What is this. It sounds incredible and also magic.

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Double0hFor

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Edited By Double0hFor

maybe now I can finally finish Blood on Ice and buy the house

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mechakirby

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Edited By mechakirby
@GS_Dan Nah I'm on PS3
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benspyda

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Edited By benspyda

I gotta another patch after 1.3 on 360, what was that? 1.35?