Witcher 3 Remastered patch rolling out to PC and console, with separate Switch 2 patch aimed at fixing blurry visuals

CD Projekt Red has rolled out a significant patch for the new Witcher 3 Remastered edition of the game, including adding more lighting-related options to console versions of the game, such as Bloom, allowing you to turn them off if you want.

CD Projekt Red also said it was working on an update for the Switch 2 version of The Witcher 3 Remastered to achieve “closer parity between all versions of the game” and improve the “clarity and sharpness” of the image. More information on the Switch 2 patch will arrive in the “coming days”.

Notable fixes in Witcher 3 patch 5.01 – now available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series S/X – include fixes for dodging and strange bugs such as where Geralt’s stamina would suddenly deplete when sprinting and dodging at the same time. Player-controlled boats should no longer “start moving uncontrollably” which is a relief, ladder “interactions” have been improved, and Witcher Mentor Vesemir won’t keep repeating himself when you cast the Quen sign.

The PC patches fix glitches like incorrect graphics settings being applied – and in some circumstances, the wrong GPU selected for use, bizarrely – while the console changes introduce promised performance improvements as well as improvements to voiceover volume and fixes for incorrectly applied frame rate limits.

The full changes in Witcher 3 patch 5.01 are as follows:

Gameplay

• Fixed an issue where the “Automatically Apply Blade Oils” feature would only work if enabled during the current game session.
• Fixed an issue where, under specific circumstances, player-controlled boats could start moving uncontrollably and ignore collisions with terrain.
• Improved scale interaction animations.
• Fixed an issue where Geralt would collide with dead enemies after the Aard finishing move.
• Fixed an issue where Vesemir would repeat the same phrase repeatedly if Quen was cast multiple times.
• Fixed an issue where dodging could have an unintentionally delayed response.
• Fixed an issue where it was possible to throw a bomb even if the option was disabled.
• Fixed an issue where the bonus granted by the Synergy skill displayed incorrect values.
• Added damage reflection to the Explosive Shield skill.
• Fixed an issue where Geralt’s stamina was completely depleted when sprinting and dodging at the same time.

User interface

• Fixed an issue where the message “You have gained an ability point!” » the pop-up might get stuck on the screen.
• Fixed input hints flashing for a brief moment on the meditation screen.
• Fixed an issue where the Potions tutorial would not appear after navigating to the Consumables tab.
• Fixed some misaligned progress bars in the UI.

PC specific

• Fixed an issue where the GTAO quality setting was reset after restarting the game.
• Fixed an issue where dynamic resolution scaling could display the wrong setting after changing Anti-Aliasing mode.
• Fixed cases where it was possible to enable a graphics setting when using a GPU that did not support it.
• Fixed an issue where changing graphics presets could apply DLSS or XeSS on GPUs where they are not supported.
• Changed the default Dynamic Resolution Scaling setting to OFF.
• Fixed an issue where skill tooltips would not update before hovering over them again.
• Fixed an issue where the game could sometimes select the wrong GPU.

Consoles

• Added Bloom, Light Shafts and Depth of Field options to graphics settings.
• Performed various optimizations to improve performance.
• Fixed an issue where PlayStation 5 settings were reset every time the game was launched.
• The fix for voiceover audio to become noticeably quieter than other in-game audio after cycling through pause menu tabs is now also implemented on consoles.
• Fixed issues with incorrect frame rate limits in different graphics modes on the base PlayStation 5.
• Ukrainian text localization is now available in all regions.

Other

• Various visual adjustments have been made, including improvements to Bloom, Tone Mapping, Character Lighting, Ray Tracing, and Path Tracing.
• Due to back-end issues, the policy consent screen will reappear. You will need to confirm your preferences again. Choosing to register helps us improve the game.
• Fixed an issue where My Rewards and Twitch/Bilibili drops would not appear in the Vizima Chest if it had been opened previously. Due to this fix, some elements may be duplicated. Consider them a bonus!
• Fixed an issue where foliage was not responding to collisions.
• Fixed an issue that could affect save file data and added measures to resolve saves that might have already been affected.
• Fixed an issue where dynamic resolution scaling could cause visual artifacts in certain configurations.

The Witcher 3 Remastered Edition arrived for free early last week, representing an extraordinarily generous update that refreshes and revitalizes the beloved RPG game. Millions of players flocked back to The Witcher 3 to play it, but not all received the update well, mainly because of introduced bugs, but also because of visual changes, some felt the game was jazzed up too much. Hence CD Projekt Red’s busy patch work.

All of this work on The Witcher 3 is being done before the game’s unprecedented third expansion, Songs of the Past, arrives next year – unprecedented because I can’t remember another single-player RPG having an expansion 12 years after its release. Songs of the Past adds a whole new rural region to the game called Letten to explore, as well as a Dandelion and his family-themed adventure to follow. Dom recently saw Songs of the Past in action at Gamescom and came away impressed. “Songs of the Past was a great reminder that CDPR’s writing is some of the best in gaming,” Dom wrote.