The Witcher 3 Remastered: All Changes and New Features

A new version of one of the most important games of its generation is almost here. Today, September 29, a massive update for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered launches, bringing major changes to the game players already know. CD Projekt has revealed a detailed list of new features and improvements. We've collected the biggest changes to graphics, combat, the interface, exploration, and other areas in one place so you know what to expect from the game after the update.

The industry has changed beyond recognition since The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt first launched. The developers continued working on the game throughout those years, with the most recent major patch bringing it up to the standard of current-generation consoles. However, The Witcher 3 has not received this many systemic and technical changes at once in a long time, making Remastered one of the biggest updates in the game's history.

According to CD Projekt, many aspects of the game have been improved, including exploration, combat, and character progression. The remaster is designed both for players setting foot on the roads of the Continent for the first time and veterans eager to return to the Path. Owners of The Witcher 3 on supported platforms can upgrade to Remastered for free within the same platform ecosystem. Better yet, owners of the base game will receive the Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions at no additional cost, and both are included in Remastered.

The visuals have received some of the biggest changes. The sun-soaked surroundings of Beauclair and the snow-covered peaks of Skellige are now rendered in much greater detail, while the new lighting helps give each region a more distinctive look. You can also check out our graphics comparison between The Witcher 3 Remastered and the original.

Image quality has been improved across almost every area. The developers updated environment, NPC, and monster textures, foliage, lighting, rendering, and ray tracing. Some textures and models were also updated using assets from The Witcher 3 HD Reworked Project.

On PC, Path Tracing works alongside the other visual upgrades. The remaster also supports NVIDIA DLSS 4.5 with Ray Reconstruction, AMD FSR 4 with Frame Generation and Anti-Lag 2, and Intel XeSS 2.0 with Frame Generation and Low Latency. Due to these technical improvements, the developers have also updated the system requirements for The Witcher 3 Remastered.

PlayStation 5 Pro now supports PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR). Ray Tracing Mode targets 60 FPS, while Performance Mode can reach up to 90 FPS on displays with VRR.

Combat is another area that has received a major overhaul. The developers want fights to feel more modern, responsive, and dynamic. The skill system, one of the most important elements of any RPG, has also been completely reworked.

The skill system has been significantly reworked. Abilities are now organized into a proper skill tree, with three ranks for each skill. Unlocking new nodes requires learning the connected prerequisite skills first. Effects, bonuses, and synergies have also been rebalanced, and all skill points will be reset after installing the update.

Refined animations, new brutal finishers, and a dynamic combat camera make battles smoother and more cinematic. The action feels faster and more responsive overall.

Aard, Igni, Yrden, Quen, and Axii have received updated visual effects. Casting Signs now looks more satisfying, and their effects are easier to read during combat.

Encounters with familiar enemies such as wolves and drowners should feel more natural thanks to reworked enemy reactions and combat behavior.

The changes go far beyond graphics and combat. New movement animations, improved exploration, and numerous smaller adjustments are designed to make traveling across the Continent more enjoyable.

Geralt and his faithful Roach have received additional animations, making movement through the world look more natural and fluid. Geralt can now quickly disengage from combat, and you can collect loot without dismounting Roach.

The Accessibility settings now include Toggle Witcher Sense, allowing you to switch Witcher Sense on and off with a single press instead of holding the button.

Meditation now shows a timelapse of the world instead of the standard interface screen, making the process feel like a more natural part of the game world.

The main menu has been reorganized to provide faster access to important features. Quest notifications and tutorial messages are now more compact and easier to follow. The map makes it easier to switch between tracked quests, includes new markers, and supports a higher maximum number of them. Nearby loot can now be grouped into a single window, while recently collected items appear in a dedicated loot feed.

You can now change the appearance of weapons and armor independently of their stats through Reforging. The service is offered by the master craftsmen Yoana and Hattori, while new appearances are unlocked by obtaining equipment and crafting diagrams.

In addition to the major changes to graphics, combat, and the interface, Remastered introduces several extra features. They are not tied to any single system, but they significantly expand what you can do in the game.

Photo Mode now includes many more tools for screenshots: new poses and facial expressions, additional characters and props, camera controls, weather and time-of-day settings, environment presets, selectable aspect ratios, and a first-person camera mode.

Cross-platform mod support provides access to a large library of player-created content. Mods can add quests, weapons, and armor, change the game's balance, and allow players to create their own adventures in The Witcher universe.

Bard's Ballad is a new accessibility preset. It is designed in part for players who have difficulty concentrating for long periods or experience cognitive fatigue. Bard's Ballad can simplify individual mechanics by adjusting Vitality regeneration, disabling equipment and boat durability, removing item weight restrictions, and enabling Infinite Breath.

For Nintendo Switch 2, the developers have highlighted Motion Controls in particular. Gestures can be used to cast Signs, fire the crossbow, throw bombs, use consumables, and make Roach gallop or stop.

Gyroscope aiming is designed to improve accuracy during combat. Mouse Sensor controls are also available as an alternative way to play.

The console's touch screen is supported as well, allowing you to navigate the map and menus and even play Gwent. The Switch 2 version also supports Joy-Con 2 HD Rumble, HDR, and VRR in handheld mode.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered launches on September 29 for PC via Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, and Battle.net, as well as PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2. For owners of the game on supported platforms, Remastered is a free upgrade, while Switch 2 receives a separate native version.

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