Key information
CD Projekt Red recently released The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Remastered across current consoles, PC, and for the first time on Switch 2, PS5 Pro, and Battle.net. Senior Publishing Producer Oleg Shatulo stated that the project aims to modernize both visuals and gameplay for new and returning players. The team sought to address friction from the original release while maintaining the game's spirit.
The remaster introduces significant technical overhauls, including a reworked engine foundation. Shatulo noted that the team leveraged their experience porting Cyberpunk 2077 to Switch 2 to optimize The Witcher 3 for the platform. The update includes comprehensive quality-of-life improvements, ranging from UI and accessibility adjustments to revamped combat and character progression systems.
Cross-progression is supported, allowing players to move saves forward into the Remastered version. However, Shatulo clarified that saves are not backward compatible with older versions due to significant under-the-hood changes like the revamped Skill Tree. Additionally, achievements and trophies do not automatically unlock when importing saves across different platforms.
The Xbox version supports Play Anywhere, functioning as a standalone Microsoft Store release with feature parity to other PC versions. On Switch 2, the game utilizes HD Rumble 2, gyro aiming, and motion controls. While the remaster introduces visual upgrades, the team prioritized maintaining performance parity on lower-powered hardware like the Steam Deck.
