CD Projekt Red has released a second hotfix for The Witcher 3 Remastered edition on PC, and this one directly addresses the lighting changes that have divided players since the update arrived earlier this week. The patch, numbered hotfix 5.00c, makes “various visual adjustments in Velen, including tweaks to Bloom, vegetation lighting, saturation, and Path Tracing lighting.”
The Lighting Problem Players Complained About
The Remastered update changed how The Witcher 3 looks, and not everyone liked the results. Brightness levels, bloom effects, and the way plants glow all shifted, and players took notice. The hotfix notes describe the adjustments as corrections to those very elements.
“Made various visual adjustments in Velen, including tweaks to Bloom, vegetation lighting, saturation, and Path Tracing lighting.”
The note suggests these were changes that caused concern since the update’s release.
What Else Is In The Patch
The lighting fix is not the only thing in hotfix 5.00c. The patch also includes several smaller bug fixes and one notable revert:
- A fix for the game failing to save or load if the Documents folder path contained special characters.
- A fix for voiceover audio becoming “significantly quieter” than other in-game audio after navigating pause menu tabs.
- A revert of a change that caused “significant performance and visual issues with HairWorks enabled for some users.”
- A fix for marketing telemetry settings not saving properly.
- A fix for GOG achievements not appearing in the unlocked list after being earned.
- A fix for the Classic (1.32) version of the game not launching.
The patch closes with a familiar line from CD Projekt Red: “Once again, thank you for your patience as we continue investigating the issues you report.”
The Console Hotfix From Yesterday
The PC patch follows a console-focused hotfix released yesterday, which also made “various lighting adjustments.” That patch covered other issues as well, though the full notes for it were not detailed in the report.
Why The Remastered Update Matters
The Witcher 3 Remastered update was released at the beginning of the week. It reworks the game’s visuals, improves animations, alters enemy behavior, and changes the skill tree. It is an extraordinary gesture from CD Projekt Red, especially considering the game was released so long ago.
The update is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Blood and Wine, Hearts of Stone, and Songs of the Past are also supported across those platforms.
What Players Should Expect Next
The hotfix notes promise ongoing investigation of reported issues. That means more patches are likely on the way.
For now, the immediate takeaway is simple: CD Projekt Red heard the complaints about the lighting, and it put a fix in the hands of players quickly.
The Quiet Voiceover Fix
The voiceover volume issue is worth noting on its own. Players who had been struggling with dialogue that suddenly dropped in volume while navigating pause menus now have a solution.
The telemetry and achievement fixes are smaller but useful. The telemetry setting problem meant marketing data was not being saved correctly. The achievement fix ensures earned rewards show up properly on GOG.
The HairWorks Revert
The revert of the HairWorks performance and visual issues is a relief for players who saw problems with that feature. The patch notes describe the revert as addressing “significant performance and visual issues,” which suggests the previous change was causing real trouble for a subset of users.
The Bottom Line On The Lighting Fixes
The lighting changes drew attention from players who noticed the shift in brightness, bloom, and plant lighting. CD Projekt Red has now addressed them directly, and the patch notes make clear which areas received the visual adjustments.
The hotfix 5.00c is a targeted response to the concerns that emerged immediately after the update launched. It is a sign that the studio is paying attention to what players are saying.
The patch is out now for PC players. Whether the fixes resolve the complaints remains to be seen, but the company has shown it is willing to act on feedback quickly.
For anyone still holding off on jumping back into The Witcher 3, this patch reduces one of the biggest reasons to wait. The lighting that bothered some players has been adjusted, and the other issues have been fixed alongside it.
See the video the story is built around at Eurogamer.
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