The Witcher 3’s Next-Gen Update Lands on December 14: Here’s What’s New
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is getting a next-gen update on December 14, and publisher CD Projekt Red has detailed all the improvements that come with the update. Revealed during the REDstreams live stream, held late Wednesday, the development team described improved visuals with ray tracing, faster load times on console, portrait mode, and new Netflix DLC based on Henry Cavill’s Netflix-led series The Witcher. The update will be available as a free download for those who already own The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X.
The update will use AMD’s FSR 2.1 technology and Nvidia’s DLSS 3 to ensure stable frames while implementing better textures, displays, and ray tracing in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. CD Projekt Red has confirmed that new graphics settings will be included in the update, allowing players on PS5 and Xbox Series S/X to choose between 60fps performance and 30fps quality modes. The latter prioritizes visual fidelity over smooth frames, bringing ray-traced shadows and reflections to the game released in 2015. Haptic feedback has been added to the PS5 version, creating a vibration effect when clashing swords or casting spells in the game.
On PC, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt next-gen update adds the same visual enhancements, with portrait mode and an over-the-shoulder camera angle, reminiscent of God of War (2018). While only briefly shown, the portrait mode options look similar to Cyberpunk 2077’s, allowing you to tinker with camera angles, depth of field, effects, and overlays. Cross-platform progress is also included in a future update, so you can carry your savings over, regardless of which system you’re playing on.
As for the long-term inspired content of Netflix’s The Witcher, players will gain access to a new line of quests. Completing the same will offer gear inspired by Cavill’s portrayal in the show, in addition to optional outfits for princess Ciri, the witch Yennefer, Tris the redhead mage, Dandelion the bard, and the Nilfgaardian soldiers. Meanwhile, the Netflix series was recently renewed for a fourth season, but without Cavill. After three seasons playing Geralt of Rivia, the lead star has stepped down from the role, making way for Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games films) to take over.
Other quality-of-life improvements are also set to arrive with the next-gen update for The Witcher 3. Drawing inspiration from open-world titles like Elden Ring and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, CD Projekt Red is adding a new filter setting that removes symbols of puzzle questions on the map. This creates a more immersive experience and adds a level of curiosity when exploring the Continent. With this update, players should be able to encounter events on the fly, naturally, instead of treating them like a to-do list. If you’re riding on your trusty steed Roach or just checking the map at length, the minimap and other HUD features will now disappear. With the same effect, you can now pause during cutscenes.
The Witcher 3 sequel was originally scheduled for launch in 2021, but was delayed twice, with third-party studio Saber Interactive handling development in 2021. A separate physical CD release is also planned later. Last month, the publisher confirmed a remake of its first game released in 2007, The Witcher, which was built from the ground up using Unreal Engine 5. The title was first announced under the code name, “Canis Majoris,” during the company’s strategy. will air in October, along with three new entries in the franchise.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt update will be out on December 14, across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X.
