UPDATE 2: Here's a couple of GIF images showing HBAO+ and the FleX based weapon debris in action.

UPDATE: NVIDIA reached out to us in order to clarify that the technology used for the new weapon debris effects is NVIDIA FleX. You can read a lot more about it here.

ORIGINAL STORY: Bethesda has just posted the changelog for the latest Fallout 4 update (1.3), and there's quite a few interesting items in the list.

For instance, there is now a new ambient occlusion setting for HBAO+ (the technology developed by NVIDIA which is however available on AMD cards as well). Moreover, Bethesda added new weapon debris effects in this Fallout 4 update and specified that these will be NVIDIA only. It seems likely that they are based on NVIDIA's PhysX, though there is no such official confirmation yet; we'll update this story once we have screenshots and/or videos of the new effects.

Keep in mind that this is a beta update, so you'll have to follow this procedure in order to try it right now, and the developer also recommends to back up any saves before trying it.

Log into Steam Right Click on Fallout 4 in your Library Select Settings Select Betas A drop down menu will appear. Select Beta Update Select OK. Wait a few minutes and Fallout 4 should update. When done, Fallout 4 should appear as Fallout 4 [beta] in your Library

Here's the full changelog of the 1.3 Fallout 4 update:

New Features

New ambient occlusion setting, HBAO+

New weapon debris effects (NVIDIA cards only)

Added status menu for settlers in your settlements

Added ability to rotate an object you are holding with left/right triggers and pressing down on left thumbstick lets you switch the rotating axis

Improved "ESDF" keys remapping support while in Workshop mode

Gameplay Fixes

General memory and stability improvements

Improved performance when looking through a scope

Fixed issue where player could warp to a different location when aiming

Companions can no longer get stuck with radiation poisoning

Fixed an issue where Vault 81 residents would not dismember correctly

Big Leagues perk now displays calculated damage correctly

Fixed issue with third person camera not displaying properly after exiting certain crafting stations

Fixed an issue where subtitles would occasionally not update properly

Effects will properly be removed on companions when items are unequipped

MacReady’s Killshot perk now calculates headshot percentages properly

Fixed an issue with NPCs getting stuck in Power Armor

Fixed a rare issue with companions getting stuck in down state

Second rank of Aquaboy now calculates properly

Fixed an issue with resistance not always lowering the damage correctly when added by mods

Enabled number of characters available when renaming an item (XB1)

Fixed issue with player becoming dismembered while still alive

Robotics expert is now usable in combat

Stimpaks can now be used on Curie after the transformation

Playing a holotape found in wilderness while switching point of view no longer causes the screen to blur or controls to be locked

Quest Fixes

Fixed an issue with "Taking Independence" where the minutemen remaining from the battle against the Mirelurk Queen would not gather in the Castle

Fixed an issue where invulnerable characters would get stuck in combat

Fixed an issue where Preston would send player to a settlement instead of a dungeon as part of a Minutemen quest

Fixed an issue where Synths could attack the Castle while the player was friends with the Institute

Fixed an issue where killing a caravan would leave a quest open

Fixed an issue where Dogmeat would stay at Fort Hagen after "Reunions" was completed

Fixed an issue where the player couldn't talk to Desdemona to complete "Underground Undercover"

Fixed an issue where the player could get stuck exiting the cryopod

Fixed an issue where the player could no longer get Preston as a companion

In "The End of the Line," fixed an issue that would prevent the player from killing the leaders of the Railroad

Fixed an issue with Minutemen quests repeating improperly

Fixed an issue where the player couldn't get back into the Railroad headquarters after being kicked out of the Brotherhood of Steel

After finishing "The Big Dig," fixed an issue where Hancock would no longer offer to be a companion or help with the "Silver Shroud" quest

Fixed an issue with obtaining the Dampening Coils from Saugus Ironworks before going to Yangtze

During "Unlikely Valentine," fixed an issue where the player could be blocked from entering Vault 114

In "Confidence Man," Bull and Gouger can now be killed

During "Taking Independence," fixed an issue that would prevent the radio transmitter from powering up

In "Human Error," fixed an issue where killing Dan would cause the quest to not complete properly

Fixed an issue with "Tactical Thinking" where leaving dialogue early with Captain Kells to reprogram P.A.M. could cause quest to not completely properly

Workshop Fixes

Fixed a bug that would cause settler counts to appear incorrectly

Fixed an issue that could prevent the player from setting up a supply line in settlements with a high population

Improvements to snapping pieces together while in Workshop mode

Fixed an issue that caused powered items to stop functioning permanently if its power source was ever removed

Player can now build workbenches in their Diamond City house

Building wires no longer uses up copper

Fixed issue with certain settlement attacks not generating properly

Fixed an issue with settlement happiness calculations

Settlers assigned to weapons stand will now stand next to it

Diamond City house now shows provided power

Repairing items will now correctly consume resources

Fixed an issue where companion would ignore commands at workshop locations

Fixed an issue with crops appearing destroyed after saving and reloading

In case you're still pondering whether or not Fallout 4 is worth buying, you may check our full review of the game.