Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →There is no single best preset for every PC. For The Witcher 3’s 2022 Next-Gen Update, tune settings around your graphics card, output resolution, and target frame rate: start with ray tracing off if smooth performance is your priority, then raise visual options selectively; enable ray tracing only if your hardware can meet your frame-rate goal. First confirm you are launching the Next-Gen Update rather than the separate 2026 Remastered release, because the renderer and version context differ.
Confirm which version of The Witcher 3 you are running
This guide is for the 2022 PC Next-Gen Update, not The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered, released on September 29, 2026. CD PROJEKT RED says Remastered replaces the Complete Edition on supported platforms, and its support page says reverting to version 4.04 is possible on supported platforms. Check the version your launcher starts before changing settings: advice for the Next-Gen renderer may not map exactly to Remastered. The Next-Gen update feature list and Remastered announcement identify the separate releases and their scope.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition - PC | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (PC-DVD) | $18.52 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Namco Bandai The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Game Of The Year Edition | $24.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The distinction matters technically as well. NVIDIA describes Remastered’s PC renderer as DirectX 12-only; the Next-Gen Update used a hybrid DirectX 11/12 renderer. Use settings and performance advice intended for the version you actually launch. NVIDIA’s Remastered renderer overview
Choose a starting point based on your priority
Use the paths below as starting points, not guaranteed presets. CD PROJEKT RED cautions that performance varies with system configuration, graphics settings, and output resolution, and notes that higher resolution significantly affects FPS. The publisher’s official performance figures are tied to stated test configurations, not independent benchmarks for every PC. CD PROJEKT RED PC support and requirements
#1 Best Overall
- Play as a highly trained monster slayer for hire.
- Built for endless adventure, the massive open world of The Witcher sets new standards in terms of size, depth and complexity.
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Game of the Year edition brings together the base game and all the additional content released to date.
| Priority | Suggested starting path | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Smoother frame rate | Turn off ray tracing; lower demanding ULTRA+ world-detail options if needed; use a supported upscaler if available. | Less ray-traced lighting and potentially less fine detail; upscaling can change image sharpness. |
| Balanced image quality and performance | Keep ray tracing off initially, choose the highest resolution and detail level that holds your target frame rate, then test ray tracing separately. | Requires adjustment for your hardware and resolution; no universal optimal values are established. |
| Ray-traced visuals | Enable ray-traced global illumination and ambient occlusion, then add reflections or shadows if supported and performance remains acceptable. | Ray tracing can be demanding; the usable combination depends on hardware and target frame rate. |
What the ULTRA+ options change
The Next-Gen Update added ULTRA+ graphics options on PC. They cover several scene-detail settings rather than one single quality switch, so adjust them selectively if performance is inconsistent instead of dropping every option at once. The official list includes:
- Background characters
- Shadow quality
- Grass density
- Texture quality
- Foliage visibility range
- Terrain quality
- Water quality
- Detail
These controls affect different parts of the image. If you need more performance, lower the options whose visual impact matters least to you, then revisit the game in a busy area to judge the result. The available sources do not establish one best value for each setting across different GPUs, resolutions, and targets. Official Next-Gen Update changes
When to use ray tracing
The Next-Gen Update adds ray-traced global illumination and ambient occlusion. On compatible PC hardware, ray-traced reflections and shadows are also available. These options aim at visual effects, not maximum frame rate, so enable them only if the resulting performance is acceptable for your target. A practical way to assess the cost is to turn them on one at a time and compare the same scene, resolution, and other settings.
If frame rate is your main concern, leave ray tracing off and establish a stable baseline first. If image quality is the priority and your compatible hardware can sustain play comfortably, try the lighting options and then test reflections and shadows individually. No source-backed universal setting combination or frame-rate promise exists for all PC configurations. Official list of ray-tracing additions
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- Italian edition.
Use DLSS or another upscaler only when supported
The Next-Gen Update supports DLSS 3 on compatible hardware. NVIDIA advertised a performance improvement of “up to 2.3X” for DLSS 3; that is a vendor-stated maximum, not a result every GPU, scene, or configuration should expect. Treat upscaling as an option to test when native rendering does not meet your frame-rate goal, rather than a guaranteed multiplier. NVIDIA’s Next-Gen Update and DLSS 3 overview
CD PROJEKT RED’s published RT Minimum, RT Recommended, and Path Tracing performance measurements use DLSS, FSR, or XeSS set to Auto. Its other listed configurations use native resolution with upscaling off. Those are the publisher’s test conditions, not independent benchmark results, and they should not be read as a direct prediction for your PC. Publisher support page
Adjust settings in a repeatable order
- Confirm the game version. Make sure the launcher is starting the 2022 Next-Gen Update if you are following this guide.
- Set your output resolution and target. Choose the resolution you actually play at and decide whether smooth frame rate or visual detail matters more. Resolution is a major performance factor.
- Establish a non-ray-traced baseline. Start with ray tracing off and select the ULTRA+ detail levels your PC can handle.
- Change one class of setting at a time. If performance falls short, adjust world-detail options or test a supported upscaler before changing several settings together.
- Test ray tracing separately. Add the ray-traced options one at a time, checking the same scene and resolution so you can see their effect on your experience.
PC requirement to know
CD PROJEKT RED’s current support page says an SSD is required for the game’s latest technical enhancements. It also stresses that performance varies by configuration. This is a stated game requirement, not a reason to buy new hardware solely to change graphics settings; whether your existing PC is suitable depends on its configuration and the version you play. CD PROJEKT RED system requirements and support
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
