The Witcher 3 Remastered on Nintendo Switch 2 offers significant visual upgrades and faster loading times

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Remastered on Nintendo Switch 2 provides a substantial visual and performance overhaul compared to the original Switch release. This free upgrade increases the game's file size to 55.5 GB, accommodating higher-quality assets, including improved textures, geometry, and physically based materials. Resolution sees a significant boost, with docked mode targeting 1080p via DLSS upscaling from a dynamic 540p base, while portable mode targets 720p from a 360p base. Lighting is enhanced through a form of global illumination and more precise ambient occlusion, replacing the original's heavier SSAO technique. Performance-wise, the Switch 2 introduces a 40 FPS cap for 120Hz displays, though it struggles to maintain this in demanding areas like Novigrad or during complex combat. A stable 30 FPS mode remains the recommended experience for consistency. Loading times are drastically reduced, with the outskirts of Novigrad loading in approximately 40 seconds compared to nearly 90 seconds on the original hardware. Additional features include improved level of detail (LOD) for foliage, higher NPC counts with better animations at distance, and new Joy-Con motion and gyro controls.

Tech4K StaffVideo report

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Remastered on Nintendo Switch 2 provides a substantial visual and performance overhaul compared to the original Switch release. This free upgrade increases the game's file size to 55.5 GB, accommodating higher-quality assets, including improved textures, geometry, and physically based materials. Resolution sees a significant boost, with docked mode targeting 1080p via DLSS upscaling from a dynamic 540p base, while portable mode targets 720p from a 360p base. Lighting is enhanced through a form of global illumination and more precise ambient occlusion, replacing the original's heavier SSAO technique. Performance-wise, the Switch 2 introduces a 40 FPS cap for 120Hz displays, though it struggles to maintain this in demanding areas like Novigrad or during complex combat. A stable 30 FPS mode remains the recommended experience for consistency. Loading times are drastically reduced, with the outskirts of Novigrad loading in approximately 40 seconds compared to nearly 90 seconds on the original hardware. Additional features include improved level of detail (LOD) for foliage, higher NPC counts with better animations at distance, and new Joy-Con motion and gyro controls.

The Switch 2 version features a 55.5 GB install size to support higher-resolution textures and assets. Docked resolution uses DLSS to upscale from a dynamic 540p-1080p range to a final 1080p target.

A 40 FPS performance mode is available for 120Hz displays but frequently drops in dense urban environments. Loading times are more than halved, with some areas loading in 40 seconds versus 89 seconds on Switch 1.

Lighting is improved with a light probe-based global illumination system and more accurate ambient occlusion. Level of detail transitions are smoother, significantly reducing visible pop-in for foliage and geometry.

NPC counts are increased to match the PlayStation 4 version, with improved distant animations.

Chapter guide

Introduction to the RemasterOverview of the free upgrade for Switch 2 and the significant file size increase to 55.5 GB.Performance TargetsDiscussion of the new 40 FPS cap and 120Hz display support on the new hardware.Development and TechCredits to CD Projekt Red and Virtuos, and the continued use of RedEngine 3.Lighting and TexturesComparison of ray tracing on other platforms versus the rasterized settings used on Switch 2.Resolution and DLSSDetailed breakdown of docked and portable resolution targets and the use of DLSS upscaling.Asset QualityAnalysis of upgraded textures, geometry, and the boost in anisotropic filtering.Shadow and Lighting DetailsExamination of shadow filtering issues and the addition of dynamic shadow casting for local lights.World and LODImprovements to foliage density and significantly reduced pop-in across various game regions.Performance StabilityTesting frame rate consistency in demanding areas like Novigrad and Crookback Bog.Loading TimesComparison of game load speeds between the original Switch and the new console generation.

Worth noting

  • The 40 FPS performance mode requires a 120Hz compatible display and is noted to be unstable in many scenarios.
  • The comparison uses the original Switch version at Patch 4.04 versus the Remastered version at Patch 5.0.
  • Some visual artifacts, such as over-sharpening and shadow filtering cascades, remain present despite the hardware upgrade.

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