An official comparison clip showcasing gameplay from The Witcher 3's upcoming remaster alongside the original version has drawn a mixed reaction from fans, with a notable segment of the community suggesting the updated visuals may actually be a step down in certain aspects.
The comparison clip features Geralt casting the Igni sign on a group of drowners in a swamp. While the remaster clearly offers enhanced detail on Geralt's armor and more defined water, the reflections have become a point of contention. In the original game, fire from Igni is visible as a somewhat blurry orange reflection in the water. However, the remaster's clip reportedly shows no such reflection, despite the inclusion of ray tracing technology.
The fog effects also differ significantly. The original game displays distinct clouds of fog near the ground, whereas the remaster opts for a more atmospheric fog in the distance. These visual discrepancies, largely attributed to the remaster's use of ray tracing compared to the original's lack thereof, have led to divided opinions.
One X (formerly Twitter) user, LeafusMaximus, expressed dissatisfaction, stating that "despite literally adding RT to the game you managed to post a pic with worse water reflections, worse fog effects, worse armor textures in some cases (the glove he keeps back towards the camera for example), the new drowner just look wetter, the old ones actually look scaly/mucky." Another user, desugar_64, questioned the footage, asking, "Are you sure you didn't swap the footage around?"
For PC players unhappy with the visual changes, the option to roll back to an earlier version of the game by disabling automatic updates is available. The article notes that it is unclear if a similar option will be present for console players. Those intending to upgrade to the remaster will be able to carry over their save data when the game releases on September 29.