The recent remaster of The Witcher 3 has introduced performance issues for some PC players, but two potential workarounds may alleviate the strain on graphics cards until official patches are released by CD Projekt Red. Players can opt for a simple in-game setting adjustment or install a community-created mod.
The first recommendation comes directly from CD Projekt Red's support account on X. The studio advises players to disable Nvidia's Hairworks graphics technology, as it has been identified as a potential cause of significant performance degradation. "We recommend disabling that setting until this is addressed in a patch," the official account stated.
Many players have independently discovered this solution, with discussions on platforms like Reddit highlighting the impact of Hairworks. One user noted on Reddit that "Hairworks is absolutely f*cked, so that is turned off here." Other visual settings, such as bloom, have also been reported as potentially buggy, leading to a washed-out appearance in-game.
For those seeking further performance improvements, a mod titled "Path Tracing and Ray Tracing Optimization (Remastered)" is available on Nexus Mods. Created by modder HourLines, this mod aims to enhance efficiency, with claims of gains up to 30 percent in certain areas. However, users should be aware that installing this mod may result in darker indoor environments and a slower reaction of global illumination to light changes.
While player mileage may vary with these solutions, disabling Hairworks and utilizing the optimization mod present two of the most promising options for enhancing performance in The Witcher 3 Remastered on PC ahead of future official updates.