Witcher 3 Remastered patch 5.01 is out now on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and the headline change is that console players can finally switch off Bloom, Light Shafts and Depth of Field, which is exactly what a lot of people asked for after the remaster’s slightly washed-out launch on 29 September.
Switch 2 owners don’t get the patch just yet, but CD Projekt Red says an update is coming that targets image clarity and sharpness specifically. So what’s in 5.01, and is the remaster actually in good shape now? Let’s find out!
What Does Witcher 3 Remastered Patch 5.01 Actually Fix?
The full notes are on the official Witcher site, and DSOGaming has a handy rundown too, but here are the bits most players will notice:
- Consoles: new toggles for Bloom, Light Shafts and Depth of Field, plus performance optimisations
- PS5: fixes for settings resetting at launch and frame rate limit issues on the base console
- PC: presets no longer turn on DLSS or XeSS on GPUs that don’t support them, the wrong-GPU selection bug is fixed, and Dynamic Resolution Scaling now defaults to off
- Visuals everywhere: tweaks to bloom, tone mapping, character lighting, ray tracing and path tracing
- Gameplay: Blade Oil auto-apply now works after a restart, boats stop drifting, sprint-dodge no longer drains Stamina, and Exploding Shield reflects damage properly
- Other: a save data fix, foliage collision fixes, and Ukrainian localisation in all regions
That’s a very healthy list for a first patch, and it’s nice to see the gameplay fixes getting as much love as the shiny graphics stuff, because a boat that drifts off on its own is funny exactly once!
Quick NoteThe patch notes warn that the policy consent screen will pop up again because of a backend issue, so you’ll have to confirm your preferences once more. Also, a fix for chest rewards in Vizima may duplicate some items, which, let’s be honest, nobody is going to complain about!
Why Was Everyone Moaning About the Bloom?
Since launch, a lot of players felt the remaster’s lighting looked hazy and over-glowy in places, as if Geralt was wandering around with Vaseline smeared on the camera, and on Switch 2 specifically, players were reporting a blurry image, as Nintendo Life covered.
Giving players a toggle is genuinely the right call here, some people love that soft, dreamy look, and some people want to actually see the griffin they’re fighting, and now both camps get their way. CDPR’s notes even open with the line “Every step on the Path is an opportunity to improve for a witcher”, which is a cute way of saying “yes, we heard you”.
[ADD PERSONAL NOTE: whether you’ve tried the remaster yet, and which platform you’re on]
What About The Witcher 3 Switch 2 Remastered Version?
Switch 2 is the odd one out, patch 5.01 isn’t listed for it, but CD Projekt Red says it’s working on an update that brings the same global changes as other platforms, plus improvements to image clarity and sharpness, with more details promised in the coming days.
That’s good news, because Nintendo Life’s own review called the Switch 2 version excellent overall, so it’s really about polishing the picture rather than rescuing a broken port. Still, if you’re playing on Switch 2 and the image looks soft, it might be worth waiting a week or so before starting a fresh 100-hour run, don’t you think?
Fun FactThe remaster was a free upgrade for existing owners when it launched on 29 September, so if you’ve had The Witcher 3 sitting in your library for years, you may well already own this version without spending a penny!
So Is The Witcher 3 Remastered Worth Playing Now?
If you own The Witcher 3 already, patch 5.01 makes the remaster an even easier recommendation, it’s free, the console options fix the biggest visual complaint, and the gameplay fixes smooth out the rough edges. On PC and PlayStation and Xbox, now’s a great time to dive back in.
If you’re on Switch 2, hold on for the dedicated update before starting a big playthrough. And if you want to see what happens when a remaster isn’t free, our breakdown of whether the Oblivion Remaster was worth buying is a fun comparison!
FAQ
What does Witcher 3 Remastered patch 5.01 change?
Witcher 3 Remastered patch 5.01 adds Bloom, Light Shafts and Depth of Field toggles on console, fixes PC GPU and upscaling issues, and includes a long list of gameplay and save fixes.
Is Witcher 3 Remastered patch 5.01 out on Switch 2?
Not yet. CD Projekt Red says a Switch 2 update with the same global changes, plus image clarity and sharpness improvements, is being worked on.
Is The Witcher 3 Remastered free?
It launched on 29 September 2026 as a free upgrade for existing owners of The Witcher 3.
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