The Witcher 3 Remastered: Unveiling the Patch Notes

CD Projekt Red has unveiled the patch notes for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered, set to launch tomorrow.

Available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, this update is a complimentary enhancement for existing game owners within the same platform ecosystem. This means that players can upgrade from the original Switch to Switch 2 at no cost, and latecomers with a PS4 or Xbox One disc can also enjoy the next-gen improvements.

This remaster represents a significant overhaul of the game, incorporating advancements to the graphics engine such as the introduction of path tracing on PC, ray tracing options, integration of textures and models from The Witcher 3 HD Reworked Project, and more. The Switch 2 version boasts significantly enhanced performance compared to its predecessor, while PS5 Pro users can benefit from PSSR enhancements.

Moreover, this update lays the groundwork for the upcoming Songs of the Past DLC, with enhancements to traversal mechanics, horse riding, and combat. The skill tree has been revamped, and various UI/UX tweaks have been implemented throughout the game.

Below are the comprehensive patch notes for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered:

Visual and Rendering

• Enhanced shading model implementation.
• Revamped textures and models based on assets from The Witcher 3 HD Reworked Project.
• Improved lighting and shading effects for grass and foliage.
• Upgraded visual effects for Signs and their upgraded versions.
• Introduction of new visual effects for skills.
• Native DirectX 12 rendering with multithreading for improved performance and visuals.
• Enhanced tone mapping for better colors, lighting, contrast, and detail.
• Inclusion of GTAO (Ground Truth Ambient Occlusion) as a new Screen Space Ambient Occlusion option.
• Added Ray-Traced Local Shadows.
• Updated Screen Space Reflections and Shadows.
• Improved HDR calibration panel with new options and enhancements.
• Enhanced Motion Blur for a more cinematic look.
• Updated Subsurface Scattering for realistic skin rendering.
• Improved terrain and material rendering for natural lighting, shadows, reflections, and highlights.
• Implemented new Image-Based Lighting (IBL) for enhanced ambient lighting and reflections in various environments.
• Revamped Bloom for improved lighting effects.

Gameplay

• Overhauled the skill system, now organized into a skill tree with three ranks per skill. Unlocking new skills now requires prerequisite skills instead of a set number of skill points. Note: Skill points have been reset due to these changes.
• Refined the skill tree by adjusting bonus values, effects, and synergies.
• Renamed certain skills for better clarity of their effects.
• Introduced the ability to Reforge equipment to alter its appearance without affecting stats. This service is available from master craftsmen Yoana and Hattori. Unlock appearances by obtaining new equipment and crafting diagrams. Dyes from Blood and Wine applied to equipment will carry over to the reforged item.
• Enhanced combat behavior of non-boss monsters, including attack patterns, counterattacks, movement, reactions, flight, and effect application.
• Added a new “Horse control input sensitivity” slider in Settings → Controls.
• Improved Roach’s and Geralt’s movement, player control, and animations:
• Enhanced Geralt’s jumping animation for a more natural feel.
• Added new finisher animations and idle animations for Geralt.
• Improved Geralt’s climbing and vaulting animations for smoother movement.
• Enhanced gap closing animations in combat for seamless gameplay.
• Introduced a new exploration camera with increased FOV.
• Added a dynamic combat camera for improved visibility during combat.
• Enhanced target-lock switching during camera movement in combat.
• Improved collision avoidance while riding Roach.
• Polished animations for mounting/dismounting Roach, cantering, and galloping.

UI/UX

• Meditation now features a timelapse instead of a UI screen for a more immersive experience.
• Reorganized the skill screen into a more intuitive skill tree layout.
• Updated the map screen for easier quest tracking. Untracked quests now have a distinct marker and can be tracked by selection.
• Increased the maximum number of markers on the map.
• Added new map markers for improved navigation.
• Option to hide herbs, boats, and corpses on the minimap for a cleaner view in Settings → Video → Interface.
• Enhanced quest notifications by consolidating updates into a single HUD notification.
• Grouped nearby loot into a single window for easier collection. This feature can be enabled in Settings → Gameplay.
• Added a loot feed displaying recently collected items on the screen’s left side. This feature can be disabled in Settings → Gameplay.
• Item tooltips added to the loot window for previewing item details before collection.
• Renamed the “HUD Configuration” section in Settings to “Interface.”
• Updated CD PROJEKT RED Account connection, My Rewards, and telemetry consent menus.

Photo Mode

• Revamped the Photo Mode UI with expanded features:
• Option to choose from multiple characters to include in shots.
• Added poses and expressions for Geralt and other characters.
• Confirmation prompt before exiting Photo Mode to prevent accidental exits.
• Lock camera position feature for capturing the perfect shot.
• Environment presets to apply different atmospheres to scenes.
• Save camera presets for reusing specific angles and positions.
• Aspect ratio adjustment for screenshots.
• Toggle first-person camera mode for a different perspective.
• Enable/disable camera collisions with objects and walls.
• Adjust weather and time of day for scene customization.
• Control weather effects intensity like rain or storms.
• Option to toggle Rule of Thirds lines with cinematic black bars in various aspect ratios.
• Display camera coordinates in the UI.
• Hide surrounding NPCs in Photo Mode.
• Add placeable props for scene creation.
• Visible cursor in Photo Mode on PC when using a mouse.

Accessibility

• Added an Accessibility section to the Settings menu, housing existing accessibility options.
• Introduced the Bard’s Ballad preset for reducing cognitive load and simplifying gameplay mechanics. Players can customize options like Vitality Regeneration Boost, Infinite Breath, Unlimited Item Durability, and more.

Quality of Life

• Streamlined tutorials to focus on core game mechanics.
• Added an option to disengage from combat quickly by holding the dodge button and pressing the sprint button.
• Ability to collect loot without dismounting Roach.

Modding

• Implemented Cross Platform Mod Support powered by mod.io for easy browsing and installation of player-created mods.
• Various improvements for REDkit, facilitating mod creation and customization.

Fixes

• Resolved issues related to settings accessibility and HDR display on consoles.
• Fixed bugs in specific quests like “In the Eternal Fire’s Shadow” and “Wine is Sacred” to ensure smooth progression.

Other

• Added Ukrainian text localization and support for Xbox Play Anywhere.

PC-specific

Ensure the latest graphics drivers are installed for optimal performance. Download them from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel websites.

• Added support for Path Tracing.
• Introduced NVIDIA DLSS 4.5 with Ray Reconstruction, AMD FSR 4, and Intel XeSS 2.0 for improved graphics quality and performance.
• Included Ray-Traced HairWorks for enhanced hair rendering.
• Added DualSense controller haptic feedback support.

PlayStation-specific

• Enabled multithreaded rendering on PlayStation 5 for better performance.
• Introduced support for PlayStation 5 Pro with enhancements like PSSR, Variable Refresh Rate, and updated Graphics Modes.

Nintendo Switch-specific

• Added support for Nintendo Switch 2, offering unique features such as multiple playstyles, motion control patterns, touch screen input, and more.

Source: The Witcher