What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s next-gen update added platform-specific graphics options, integrated community-made content, a new quest and a wide range of quality-of-life improvements. It launched on December 14, 2022, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. The details below reflect patch notes reproduced by a secondary source as CD PROJEKT RED’s official notes; later patch changes are not covered here.
What changed in The Witcher 3 next-gen update?
The update’s changes fall into four main areas: graphics and performance options, visual improvements incorporating community work, new quest and cosmetic content, and practical gameplay and interface changes. It also added cross-progression and, on PS5, DualSense controller features.
![Borderlands 3 Ultimate Edition (PS5) [video game]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/510vIObt2KL._SL160_.jpg)
Graphics and performance vary by platform
The update did not give every platform the same rendering features or options. The patch notes reproduced by a secondary source describe the following distinctions:
| Platform | Graphics and performance options described in the notes |
|---|---|
| PC | Ray-traced global illumination and ambient occlusion; ray-traced reflections and shadows as additional options on compatible hardware; AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 2.1; and DLSS 3 on compatible hardware. ULTRA+ settings add adjustable levels for background-character counts, shadows, grass density, textures, foliage visibility, terrain, water and detail. |
| PlayStation 5 | Ray Tracing Mode with dynamic resolution scaling targeting 30 FPS, or Performance Mode targeting 60 FPS. |
| Xbox Series X | Ray Tracing Mode with dynamic resolution scaling targeting 30 FPS, or Performance Mode targeting 60 FPS. |
| Xbox Series S | No ray-tracing features. Quality Mode targets 30 FPS; Performance Mode targets 60 FPS. |
These are modes and frame-rate targets described in the reproduced notes, not independent performance measurements. PC ray-tracing options and DLSS 3 depend on compatible hardware. The notes also describe enhanced textures, fidelity, shadows, draw distances and crowd density on next-gen consoles.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
![NAMCO - CD Projekt Red - The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt - Complete Edition, Playstation 5 [English Edition]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51dWUfwFl5L._SL160_.jpg)
- 1205504
- High-quality material
- Durable
- robustness
Visual improvements incorporate community work
The update incorporated visual mods and mod-inspired changes, including environment and cutscene improvements, more realistic pavements and upgraded decorations. Named contributions in the reproduced notes include:
- The Witcher 3 HD Reworked Project by HalkHogan
- HD Monsters Reworked by Denroth
- Immersive Real-time Cutscenes by teiji25
- Nitpicker’s Patch by chuckcash
- World Map Fixes by Terg500
The notes also mention upscaled 4K textures for characters including Geralt, Yennefer, Triss, Ciri and Eredin, alongside environment and lighting changes. The incorporated material was curated for the update; its presence does not mean every mod was included in full or unchanged.
Rank #2
- Value for money
- Good product with exc\
- Perfect puzzling: Puzzles slowly increase in complexity enabling seamless progression and rewarding exploration.
New quest, appearances and voice-over
“In The Eternal Fire’s Shadow”
The update added a Velen side quest called “In The Eternal Fire’s Shadow,” with rewards inspired by Netflix’s The Witcher series.
Alternate looks
Players also received an alternate appearance for Dandelion and a Nilfgaardian armor set inspired by the show.
Rank #3
Language additions
Chinese and Korean voice-over were added, with console availability varying by region. Russian voice-over also received changes and fixes, according to the reproduced notes.
Quality-of-life and gameplay changes
Several additions make common actions or interface adjustments easier:
Rank #4
- From The Witcher, Ciri, as a stylized POP vinyl from Funko
- Stylized collectable stands 3 ¾ inches tall, perfect for any The Witcher fan
- Collect and display all The Witcher POP Vinyls
- Quick Sign Casting: switch and cast Signs without opening the radial menu.
- Photo mode and cutscene controls: take photos and pause during cutscenes.
- Alternative camera: use a closer camera that responds more dynamically to movement and combat.
- Looting and map: gather herbs instantly and use a less cluttered default map filter.
- Exploration interface: optionally hide the minimap and quest objectives while exploring.
- Movement and text: use controller slow-walk and sprint options, and adjust subtitle, NPC chatter and dialogue font sizes.
- Fall damage: survive higher falls than before.
The update included Full Combat Rebalance 3 in a curated form, with balance changes and gameplay fixes. The reproduced notes say some elements were adjusted and others omitted, so it should not be treated as a full, unchanged copy of the standalone mod.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Cross-progression and PS5 controller features
Cross-progression lets players upload their latest saves to the cloud after logging in to an account. On PS5, the update added DualSense adaptive trigger and haptic feedback support. These are features of the update; the notes do not establish a hardware recommendation or guarantee identical behavior across platforms.
Was the update free, and how large was it?
Launch coverage described the update as free for owners of the original game. It also reported an average download size of 50GB; that is a reported average, not a guaranteed size for every platform, installation or later patch. The Complete Edition was described as including the base game and the Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions. Current availability and platform-specific editions are not established here.
What to take away
The update was more than a resolution bump: it combined platform-dependent graphics modes with a visual refresh, selected community-made improvements, new Witcher-inspired content and useful interface changes. The main practical distinction is platform: ray tracing is described for PS5 and Xbox Series X but not Series S, while PC features such as DLSS 3 and additional ray-traced effects depend on compatible hardware.
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.
