The recent free upgrade for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, intended to bring the game to modern hardware, has divided the player base, with particular criticism directed at the new lighting system. While the update has reportedly boosted the game's player count, many players express dissatisfaction with changes that they feel detract from the original's aesthetic.
Concerns about the new lighting are widespread, with some players describing it as "lifeless," too bright, and "washed out." This has led to requests for CD Projekt Red to provide an option to revert to the game's older visual presentation, a feature that appears readily available on PC but not easily accessible on consoles. One player on X (formerly Twitter) lamented, "What's the point of removing all whimsy of a fantasy game? Realism is the death of escapism."
Players sharing comparison images on platforms like Reddit highlight a perceived loss of contrast in the remastered version. One Reddit user noted that while graphical enhancements like improved models and textures are welcome, "The lighting is objectively better technologically (path tracing) but it is much brighter and almost 'washed out' sometimes while the 'original' (next gen upgrade actually which already had ray tracing) had more contrast and a different type of lighting. What you prefer is very much subjective here."
A significant factor contributing to the brighter, less contrasted look appears to be the Bloom setting, which can be disabled on PC. However, console players lack this specific option, adding to their frustration. The implementation of Path Tracing, while a technologically advanced feature for those with capable hardware, is also noted for its high computing cost and often negligible visual improvement, leading many to avoid it.
Further complicating the visual experience are updated HDR settings. Some players with compatible displays report that these settings can make The Witcher 3 "blindingly bright."
Beyond lighting, the remaster has introduced other technical issues. PC players utilizing AMD hardware are reporting a variety of graphical glitches. Owners of the Nintendo Switch's successor, the Switch 2, have encountered blurry visuals in handheld mode, even with blur-related options disabled. Audio mixing issues have also been noted, with voices sometimes becoming too quiet while the music remains loud, although an in-game meditation can reportedly resolve this.
Console players, particularly those on the Xbox Series S, are experiencing performance drops. The update has raised the game's minimum hardware requirements, impacting frame rates compared to previous versions. As the update is applied automatically on consoles, players have limited recourse.
While many of these issues are expected to be addressed as bugs, the broader aesthetic choices, particularly the deliberate brightening of the game's visuals, remain a point of contention. CD Projekt Red has been contacted for comment on these visual changes.
Despite the criticisms, a significant portion of the player base expresses positive reactions, with many believing the game "looks so much better now." The overall changes have been described by some as making The Witcher 3 feel "modern and revitalised" without fundamentally altering the core experience.