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On PC, first make sure The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered is updated to Hotfix 5.00c, then test performance with NVIDIA HairWorks disabled. CD PROJEKT RED says HairWorks may significantly affect performance for some players and recommends turning it off until the issue is addressed. If problems persist, work through the relevant steps below: check the game version, graphics driver, installation files, overlays and background apps. Crashes need a separate branch from low FPS or stuttering; the fix depends on when and where the problem occurs.
Start by identifying your platform, version, and symptom
The troubleshooting options differ by platform. Graphics drivers, overlays and HairWorks settings apply to PC; they are not console fixes. The official FAQ lists PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2 as Remastered upgrade platforms. CD PROJEKT RED’s Remastered FAQ also notes that rolling back to an earlier version may be possible depending on platform.
- Record your setup: note your platform or PC storefront, installed game version, GPU and driver version, graphics API and settings, resolution, and when the issue began.
- Describe the symptom: distinguish low FPS or repeated stutter from a crash on launch, during loading, or in a particular location. Note whether it started after a game hotfix, driver update, or settings change.
- Reproduce it consistently: when testing a change, return to the same location and settings where possible. Change one thing at a time so you can tell whether it affected the problem.
Update the game before changing PC settings
PC: install Hotfix 5.00c
CD PROJEKT RED’s October 1, 2026 Hotfix 5.00c notes list availability on Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, Battle.net and Xbox Play Anywhere for PC. The hotfix reverted a change that caused significant performance and visual issues with HairWorks enabled for some users. It also fixed saving or loading when the Documents folder path contained special characters and restored the ability to launch the Classic (1.32) version, among other fixes.
Open the game’s update page or launcher and confirm the installed version is current for your storefront. If a crash or save/load issue began after an update, include that timing in your troubleshooting notes.
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Consoles: check the update for your platform
Patch availability and fixes can differ by platform. The October 1, 2026 Patch 5.00b notes cover PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Play Anywhere on PC; the subsequent 5.00c notes cover the PC hotfix. Install the update offered for your console, then test again. If the issue remains, contact CD PROJEKT RED Support with your console, game version and symptom details.
For PC stuttering or low FPS, test HairWorks first
With Hotfix 5.00c installed, turn off NVIDIA HairWorks if it is enabled and compare performance in the same scene. CD PROJEKT RED’s current HairWorks support notice says the setting may significantly affect performance and recommends disabling it until the issue is addressed in a future patch. The hotfix reverted a related performance and visual regression, but that does not establish HairWorks as the cause of every player’s stutter or crash.
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HairWorks is a PC graphics setting; do not apply this step to consoles. If disabling it makes no difference, restore your preferred setting if you wish and continue with the general performance checks.
Work through the general PC performance checks
CD PROJEKT RED’s PC performance checklist addresses low frame rates, choppy performance and long loading times. Try these checks in order, testing after each:
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- Clean-install the graphics driver. Use the process provided by your GPU vendor. If the problem began immediately after a driver update, CD PROJEKT RED advises installing the previous driver version and reporting the issue through support.
- Verify the game files. Use the file verification or repair option in your storefront’s launcher. The exact label and location vary by storefront.
- Disable overlays. Temporarily turn off overlays such as those from Discord, Ubisoft Connect or Galaxy, then test the game again.
- Close unnecessary background apps. The developer specifically includes hardware-monitoring utilities and antivirus or antimalware programs among apps to close while diagnosing performance. Re-enable security software after testing.
Performance can vary with system configuration, game scene, graphics settings and output resolution. CD PROJEKT RED says higher resolution can significantly affect FPS, so record the resolution and settings when comparing results. Its updated PC requirements say the latest technical enhancements require an SSD and that Windows 10 is no longer officially supported or tested going forward, although the game may still run on it. Check the requirements for your configuration, but do not assume a hardware change will fix an undiagnosed stutter.
If The Witcher 3 crashes on startup or during play
Use the crash-specific checklist rather than assuming a low-FPS fix will resolve a crash. CD PROJEKT RED’s PC crash support page recommends confirming system requirements, closing nonessential apps and verifying game files.
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- Check the game’s PC requirements against your system, including the current requirements for the Remastered edition.
- Close nonessential apps and try launching or playing again. If needed, check the PC for malware or viruses, as the support page advises.
- Verify the game files in your launcher and retest.
Do not start with registry edits, BIOS changes or a full reinstall as though CD PROJEKT RED recommends them; those steps are not in the reviewed crash checklist. If the game only crashes in one location, note the location and preserve the relevant save for a support report.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to send support if the problem continues
A useful report makes it easier to distinguish a game-version issue from a driver, configuration or location-specific problem. Include:
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- Platform and, for PC, storefront; game version; GPU and driver version; graphics API, settings and resolution.
- The exact symptom, when it occurs, and whether it started after a hotfix, driver update or settings change.
- The checks you tried and what changed after each one.
- A video of the problem, if possible. For an issue limited to a particular location, CD PROJEKT RED asks for the save folder:
%userprofile%DocumentsThe Witcher 3gamesaves.
Share saves or other personal files only through official support channels, not in a public post. For console issues, provide the console model and game version and contact official support if installing the available update does not help.
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