CD Projekt Red has released an update for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and the Xbox Play Anywhere version on PC, days after the remaster's launch drew complaints about its lighting.
The studio set out the changes on the official Witcher account on X:
- Fixed an issue where DLSS was unavailable in the Xbox Play Anywhere version of the game on PC
- Made various lighting adjustments, including fixing some interiors that appeared too dark
- Made various other adjustments to ensure parity with the PC version
CD Projekt Red has not detailed the parity changes. The studio also said it is preparing a separate hotfix for the PC version to address reports of save-game problems, and that it is continuing to investigate issues submitted through its Technical Support portal.
The lighting debate
Since the remaster arrived this week, players have argued over whether its lighting is overly brightened and washed out. Eurogamer reported that the Bloom setting appears to be a significant contributor and can be switched off on PC but not on consoles, with path tracing and HDR making the effect more pronounced. The patch notes do not say whether that setting is among the lighting adjustments.
What the remaster changed
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered launched this week on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2 and PC, both as a standalone release and as a free update for anyone who already owns a version of the game. It bundles both of the original's expansions alongside a visual overhaul, animation work, enhanced combat and traversal, new effects for some powers, a revamped skill tree and transmogrification.
Reviews began appearing on Monday and were broadly positive. Video Games Chronicle reported that the remaster holds a Metacritic score of 94, the highest of any game on the site so far this year. CD Projekt Red is preparing a third expansion for the game, Songs of the Past, for release next year.
