CD Projekt Red addresses divisive lighting changes in a new Witcher 3 Remastered PC patch
The Witcher 3 Remastered has received a second hotfix addressing community concerns about divisive lighting changes introduced with the PC update. Hotfix 5.00c specifically targets visual adjustments in Velen, including modifications to Bloom effects, vegetation lighting, saturation levels, and path tracing lighting—elements that have been controversial since the remaster’s launch.
Beyond lighting adjustments, the patch also resolves a notable audio issue where voiceover volume became significantly quieter after players used the game’s pause menus. Additionally, the patch addresses a technical issue preventing game saves and loads when the Documents folder path contains certain characters.
The release of this second hotfix indicates CD Projekt Red’s responsiveness to player feedback regarding the visual overhaul that accompanied the Remastered edition. The lighting changes were particularly contentious among the community, with players expressing concerns about how the remaster altered the game’s visual presentation. By releasing targeted adjustments so quickly, the studio is attempting to find a middle ground between the artistic vision of the remaster and player preferences for the game’s original aesthetics.
This iterative approach to post-launch updates demonstrates the developer’s commitment to refining the remastered experience based on community reception. The Witcher 3 Remastered represents a significant graphical update to the 2015 original, and lighting and visual fidelity are central to how such remasters are perceived by longtime players and newcomers alike.