The December 2022 version 4.0 update made The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt look and play better on supported hardware, while adding camera, interface, quest, and cross-progression features. It was a free update—not a paid expansion—and its features varied by platform. In 2026, a separate release called The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered is the newer upgrade, so it’s worth distinguishing that from the 2022 update.
What “next-gen update” means
CD PROJEKT RED released version 4.0 on December 14, 2022, as a free update for existing players. It brought major visual and feature changes to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The update also reached PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, but the feature set was not identical across platforms. The publisher’s December 12, 2022 change list put it plainly: “After the update your game version will be 4.0.” CD PROJEKT RED’s version 4.0 change list.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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NAMCO - CD Projekt Red - The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt - Complete Edition, Playstation 5 [English Edition] | $49.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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DEATHLOOP - PS5 | $10.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Borderlands 3 Ultimate Edition (PS5) [video game] | $34.05 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Funko POP Games: The Witcher-Ciri Action Figure | $84.99 | Buy on Amazon |
So “original” here means the pre-4.0 release, while “next-gen” usually refers to the 2022 update and its later 4.x patches. Neither term should be confused with the distinct Remastered release, which launched September 29, 2026.
How the graphics changed
Version 4.0 added ray-traced global illumination and ambient occlusion on PC and newer consoles. Compatible PC hardware could also use ray-traced reflections and shadows. The update improved lighting, weather, water, vegetation, and environmental detail, and upscaled several characters’ textures to 4K, including Geralt, Yennefer, Triss, Ciri, and Eredin.
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CD PROJEKT RED also integrated community-made or community-inspired work, including the HD Reworked Project by HalkHogan, HD Monsters Reworked by Denroth, Immersive Real-time Cutscenes by teiji25, Nitpicker’s Patch by chuckcash, and World Map Fixes by Terg500. These additions complemented broader changes to the game’s visual presentation rather than changing its story or core world.
PC graphics options
On PC, version 4.0 added Ultra+ settings, AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 2.1 (FSR 2.1), and NVIDIA DLSS 3 support on compatible hardware. Support for these technologies does not guarantee a particular frame rate: results depend on the PC’s components, settings, and resolution. Later 4.x updates added Intel XeSS support and further performance improvements.
Console modes and targets
The official mode descriptions set targets, not guaranteed or independently measured frame rates. The available options also differ between Series X and Series S:
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| Platform | Mode | What the publisher specified |
|---|---|---|
| PS5 and Xbox Series X | Ray Tracing | Ray-traced global illumination and ambient occlusion, with dynamic resolution scaling targeting 30 FPS. |
| PS5 and Xbox Series X | Performance | Dynamic resolution scaling targeting 60 FPS. |
| Xbox Series S | Quality | No ray tracing; targets 30 FPS with higher resolution and image fidelity. |
| Xbox Series S | Performance | No ray tracing; targets 60 FPS and prioritizes smoother play. |
These descriptions are from the publisher’s 2022 update notes. The Series S did not receive ray-tracing features in this implementation. PS5 also gained DualSense adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, and Activity Cards.
Camera, controls, and interface changes
The update was more than a graphics refresh. It added a closer alternative camera that responds more dynamically to movement and combat, photo mode, and the ability to pause during cutscenes. Players could also choose alternative Quick Sign Casting, filter the map, and set the minimap to hide dynamically. These options let players adjust moment-to-moment play without changing the underlying combat or quest systems.
New quest, appearances, and voice-over
Version 4.0 added the Velen side quest “In the Eternal Fire’s Shadow,” with rewards inspired by the Netflix series. It also added alternate appearances for Dandelion and Nilfgaardian armor. Chinese and Korean voice-over was introduced, though console availability varied by region. Details of the launch additions appear in the official version 4.0 notes.
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Cross-progression and account conditions
Cross-progression lets players upload the latest saves by save type after signing in, making it possible to continue a compatible save on another platform. It is not simply an automatic transfer between every account and device: availability depends on the player’s platform and account setup. For Switch, patch 4.04 replaced the previous save integration with cross-progression; CD PROJEKT RED says the feature requires a GOG account regardless of platform. Check the account and platform requirements for your particular setup before relying on a save transfer.
Why version 4.0 is not the whole story
Later patches refined the update and added features, so a comparison based only on launch-day 4.0 misses part of the final 2022-era experience.
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- Patch 4.01: Improved overall stability and performance, added a PC ray-traced global-illumination performance mode, and improved screen-space reflections and ray-tracing performance on newer consoles. Official 4.01 notes.
- Patch 4.02: Improved CPU core utilization in PC DX12, improved next-gen console Performance Mode, and added a motion-blur slider, alongside fixes. Official 4.02 notes.
- Patch 4.03: Added Intel XeSS support on PC, improved ray-tracing performance, and introduced auto-apply oils across platforms. Official 4.03 notes.
- Patch 4.04: Arrived on Switch in July 2023 with selected 4.0 content and later fixes, cross-progression, quality-of-life changes, and additional Netflix-inspired content. Switch did not receive the same implementation as PC, PS5, or Series X|S. Official 4.04 notes.
What changed in the 2026 Remastered release
As of October 4, 2026, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered is a newer, separate update that launched September 29, 2026. The publisher’s September release notes describe an improved shading model, updated textures and models, lighting and foliage improvements, added visual effects, and changes that vary by platform.
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On PC, Remastered adds Path Tracing, DLSS 4.5 with Ray Reconstruction, AMD FSR 4 on supported hardware (with FSR 2 used on unsupported GPUs), Intel XeSS 2.0, and Ray-Traced HairWorks. It also changes system requirements, so check the current requirements for your PC before updating or changing settings. Those PC features should not be assumed to apply to console versions.
Do existing owners need to buy it again?
CD PROJEKT RED says qualifying existing owners can upgrade for free within the same platform ecosystem. Check the game in your platform library and confirm eligibility before buying another copy. The publisher’s Remastered FAQ says the Complete Edition replaces the former base-game listing and includes Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. On older consoles, the previous-generation setup otherwise remains unchanged, with the expansions now available to base-game owners at no extra cost.
Quick Recap
Which version should you play?
- You already own the game: Update through your platform and check your library for Remastered eligibility before purchasing anything else.
- You play on PC, PS5, or Xbox Series X|S: The 2022 update brings the most obvious changes in graphics options and console modes, though the exact features depend on platform and hardware.
- You play on Xbox Series S: The 2022 version offers Quality and Performance modes, but no ray tracing.
- You play on PS4, Xbox One, or Switch: You receive some of the broader 4.x additions, but not the full next-gen feature set. Switch received selected additions later, with patch 4.04.
- You are buying now: Check the platform store and your existing library for the current Complete Edition and any qualifying free Remastered upgrade before paying for a new copy.
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.
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