With CD Projekt Red’s The Witcher 3 Remastered now available, a fresh side-by-side visual comparison has laid bare just how dramatically the beloved RPG has been transformed. The comparison pitted the game’s new Version 5.00 against the most recent prior release, Version 4.04, running both at 4K resolution with Ultra settings and every option switched on. The results underscore the scale of the upgrade, most notably through path tracing, a rendering technique exclusive to the Remastered edition.
The technical comparison was conducted with ray tracing enabled in Version 4.04, while Version 5.00 ran with both ray tracing and path tracing active. Path tracing represents the most significant graphical leap in the Remastered version, delivering fully simulated light behavior that the original build simply cannot replicate. Because the feature does not exist in the older version, the two could not be tested on identical footing for that particular setting, but the visual divergence it produces is unmistakable.
A Side-by-Side Look at the Upgrade
The comparison was built to give players a concrete sense of what the Remastered edition changes beyond a simple reskin. Every frame was captured with everything turned on, ensuring the differences reflect the game running at its absolute visual best rather than a curated highlight reel. The intent was to show how lighting, reflections, and shadow quality shift when the title is pushed through the Remastered engine’s enhanced pipeline.
Players who want to experience the upgrade firsthand may be able to do so without paying anything extra. It might cost you nothing to upgrade to The Witcher 3 Remastered if you already own the original game, a detail that adds considerable weight to the visual comparison and makes the case for revisiting Velen, Skellige, and the Northern Kingdoms all the more compelling.
Pre-Release Caveats and Developer Transparency
CD Projekt Red was upfront about the state of the build used for the comparison. The graphics were tested in a pre-release version of the game, and the studio acknowledged that minor graphical issues may be present in the footage. The developer warned that it would continue working on these problems right up until launch, and it cautioned that anything visible in the embedded video and screenshots could change once the game ships.
CD Projekt Red confirmed the comparison used a pre-release build and noted that some minor graphical issues may appear, with the team continuing to refine the game until launch. Any visuals shown may change when the game officially releases.
CD Projekt Red
The studio’s willingness to share an unfinished build and flag its imperfections in advance reflects a broader trend of transparency among developers showcasing games ahead of release. It also sets expectations for viewers who might otherwise mistake test footage for the final product, ensuring the visual comparison is understood as a preview rather than a guarantee.
Release Details and the Road Ahead
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered launches on September 29 across PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, bringing the enhanced visual treatment to the widest possible audience. The Witcher 3 Remastered marks the culmination of a major technical rework that restores the game to its modern audience with current-generation fidelity.
For those drawn in by the comparison, the Remastered edition offers a chance to revisit Geralt’s journey with the lighting and detail the original never could have supported. And for players who think the visual upgrade alone is reason enough to return, it might cost you nothing to upgrade to The Witcher 3 Remastered makes the decision even easier.
Meanwhile, the broader Witcher franchise shows no signs of slowing down. The Witcher 3 is set to receive a new expansion in 2027, Songs of the Past, which will be the first DLC for the title in over a decade. Centered on a mystery involving Dandelion, Geralt’s lute-wielding friend, the expansion promises to draw players back into the world long after the Remastered edition’s opening hours have passed.
Looking Ahead
As the September 29 release date approaches, the focus remains on how the Remastered edition holds up in its final form. CD Projekt Red’s commitment to polishing the game up to launch suggests the lighting and path tracing showcased in the comparison will only sharpen further. With a new expansion already on the horizon, the Witcher franchise appears poised to carry its legacy forward for years to come.
Bluesky profile of Jean-Luc Seipke @jeanluc.bsky.social
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