CD Projekt Red has confirmed that all existing versions of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will be upgraded to the free Remastered edition starting today. The extensive update, detailed in newly released patch notes, will be available from 11 AM BST.
According to a statement provided to Eurogamer, this upgrade applies to all copies of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in circulation, including the Complete Edition, Game of the Year Edition, and the base game. Upon the launch of the Remastered edition, all copies on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC will be updated for free. While the notes detail significant changes across platforms, no specific Xbox-related modifications were highlighted, beyond the game now functioning as an Xbox Play Anywhere title.
The patch notes reveal a comprehensive overhaul, touching upon visual enhancements, gameplay adjustments, user interface improvements, and new features. The game now features an improved shading model, updated textures and models drawing from the Witcher 3 HD Reworked Project, and enhanced lighting and foliage visuals. It also includes native DirectX 12 rendering with multithreading, updated tone mapping, and the addition of features like GTAO and Ray-Traced Local Shadows. Graphical modes on PlayStation 5 have been updated, with Ray Tracing Mode targeting 60 FPS and Performance Mode offering higher resolutions with up to 90 FPS on compatible displays.
Gameplay has seen numerous tweaks, including a rebalanced skill system organized into a skill tree, allowing for new combinations and requiring prerequisite skills to unlock. Players can now reforge equipment to alter its appearance without affecting stats, a service offered by master craftsmen. The combat behavior of many non-boss monsters has been polished, with adjustments to attack patterns and reactions. Roach's collision detection has been improved, and both Geralt and his horse feature refined animations for movement, mounting, and dismounting. New idle and finisher animations for Geralt have also been added.
User interface and experience updates include a more immersive meditation timelapse, an reorganized skill screen, and an updated map screen for easier quest tracking. The game now offers options to hide certain elements on the minimap and group nearby loot into a single window. A new loot feed displays collected items, and item tooltips in the loot window allow for previews before pickup.
The Photo Mode has been significantly expanded with features such as placeable characters and props, poses and expressions for Geralt, and the ability to save camera presets. Players can now change aspect ratios, toggle a first-person camera, adjust weather and time of day, and enable or disable camera collisions. A new accessibility section has been added to the settings, offering features like Vitality Regeneration Boost, Infinite Breath, Unlimited Item Durability, and faster boat travel.
Quality of life improvements include streamlined tutorials and an option to quickly disengage from combat. PC players will benefit from support for Path Tracing, NVIDIA DLSS 4.5, AMD FSR 4, and Intel XeSS 2.0. PlayStation 5 users will see performance improvements and support for PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR).
Additionally, the update introduces cross-platform mod support through an in-game tool powered by mod.io, allowing players to easily browse and install mods. The game also now includes Ukrainian text localization and support for Xbox Play Anywhere.
Minor fixes have also been implemented, including addressing issues with right stick sensitivity and HDR settings on consoles. Specific quest-related bugs in "Wine is Sacred" have also been resolved, though some require players to load a previous save to take effect.
The free Remastered edition is described as an "extraordinarily generous release," paving the way for next year's new expansion, "Songs of the Past." The extensive list of changes aims to bring the game to a new standard, making it a compelling option for a replay ahead of future content.