The Witcher 3 Remastered Comparison Video Draws Criticism Over Visual Changes

CD Projekt RED released a side-by-side comparison video showing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered alongside the current version, but the footage has attracted significant criticism from players questioning the visual direction of the update.

The comparison, posted on September 23, depicts Geralt battling Drowners in a swampy area using the Ignis sign. While the Remastered version demonstrates higher visual fidelity and modern graphics technologies including accurate reflections, player responses on social media have been mixed.

Several players pointed out that the Remastered version appears to lose atmospheric elements present in the original. The fog surrounding the swamp in the current version contributes to the area feeling mysterious and dangerous, whereas the Remastered release's focus on higher fidelity and resolution removes that visual effect, making the environment feel less immersive. Others noted that reflections in the water do not appear to capture the fire from the Igni blast in the new version.

Some players questioned whether CD Projekt RED had mislabeled the two versions in the video. However, the studio may have simply encountered timing issues during recording. The fog differences could reflect different times of day or in-game weather effects rather than intentional design changes. CD Projekt RED labeled the footage as "Work in progress" and stated it "does not represent the final look of the game."

The Remastered update will arrive as a free upgrade on September 29 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2. CD Projekt RED co-CEO Michał Nowakowski confirmed the update will not incur a charge. "We started chatting about what we could do to improve it," Nowakowski said. "It started with small things, and then it turned into this larger project, and we suddenly realized we had a remaster on our hands. But coming back to your original commercial question, we never thought about it this way. The commercial bit is the expansion, but with the game, we really felt this is the CDPR way to gift it to the players who already own it."

The Remastered release includes new features such as an improved adaptive camera for combat, enhanced traversal and movement, improved monster behaviors, and cross-platform mod support alongside numerous other refinements. Expansions Heart of Stone and Blood and Wine will become free for all base game owners. The update also introduces Xbox Play Anywhere support and Nintendo Switch 2 specific features.

The Remastered update serves as a technical foundation for The Witcher 3's third expansion, Songs of the Past, directed by Jakub Rokosz of Fool's Theory. Rokosz has indicated that Songs of the Past would not have been feasible without the enhancements included in the Remastered release.