v0.7.4

What's new

Faster loading, shorter hitches arriving in Hyrule Castle: the game unpacks its files with zstd, and the step that rebuilds the data (the "sequences") now runs as native PC code instead of the translated Switch code. It does exactly what the game's own code does, byte for byte: we checked it by running both side by side on over 100,000 calls in eight places, with no difference. Measured here on the same loads: 720 MB/s against 340 MB/s. Arriving in Hyrule Castle (75 % render resolution, two runs each), the time lost in frames of 40 ms and more goes from 1324 and 908 ms to 809 and 814 ms, and the longest frame from 593 and 164 ms to 173 and 149 ms. Some loading is still there right after the arrival: another of the game's loading threads (the one that prepares the next areas) now takes the larger share.

Shader cache check at start: the graphics driver can empty its own shader cache (a driver update, a cleanup tool, or the driver itself). The game used to trust its own note that the cache was ready, and then compiled shaders while you played, which made the camera stutter on the first visit of each place. Each start now checks a handful of shaders against the cache, and when the driver lost them, the start warms the cache again (a few minutes once, with the usual loading screen).

This update translates the game's code again: expect the rebuild to take a few more minutes than usual. Your saves, settings and prepared shaders are kept.

Known issues (v0.7.4)

• Water freeze on RTX 50-series: the GPU stops in the game's half-resolution pass on RTX 5060, 5070 Ti and 5080. The testers in #6 and #7 ruled out three causes; 0.7.2's report should name the exact draw.
• Camera turning in the Market: frames over 25 ms while the camera turns toward the busy side. Measured here: mostly the game's own work in that view (its scene and loading threads).
• Mouse camera while aiming and indoors (0.7.1): checked on open ground only so far (#13, #2).
• Fairy fountain floor (0.7.2, #14): the repair runs on every install and update; not yet confirmed in the grotto by the reporter.
• FSR tested on NVIDIA only: not yet on AMD or Intel cards.
• Short trails with FSR and DLSS: what moves by itself without a skeleton (particles, water, plants in the wind) can leave short trails.
• 4K native on 8 GB cards: the card is full in Hyrule Castle at 3840x2160 and 100 %; use 67 % or 75 % render resolution (FSR or DLSS make that look closer to native).
• Frozen Zora's Domain: green and purple patches on the snow and plants (#9). Not confirmed fixed.
• Gyro on some Pro-style controllers: left/right can come out reversed and weak (#8); official Nintendo Pro Controllers work as expected.

Updating

The launcher offers the update. The game is built again (a few more minutes this time, see above); saves, settings and prepared shaders are kept.

If something does not work, please open an issue and attach relink_log.txt from the game folder.