The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered is set to be released as a free update on September 29, 2026, for players who already own the original game. This move by CD Projekt Red, the game's developer, has been widely appreciated by fans, who are happy not to be charged for the upgrade. However, the remastered version has already sparked a range of reactions, particularly around its visual changes. On September 23, the company released a short comparison video on YouTube, showcasing the differences between the original and the remastered version. While the new version boasts improved textures, water effects, and visual details, some fans feel that it has lost part of the original game’s atmospheric charm. In one scene where Geralt, the game's protagonist, uses a fire spell to burn a group of Drowned enemies in a marsh, the remastered version displays sharper visuals and more realistic lighting. However, critics argue that the game now feels colder, less foggy, and less organic. The Drowned’s skin, for instance, appears more metallic than the original’s more natural look. Some players have noted that the warm, gritty tone of the original has been replaced with a cleaner, crisper aesthetic. This includes the loss of certain effects, such as fire reflecting on water and vegetation, and the disappearance of fog, which contributed to the game’s immersive atmosphere. The remaster also introduces new graphical technologies, such as path tracing, which simulates how light behaves in real life to create more realistic lighting. Additionally, it supports Nvidia’s DLSS 4.5, a technology that enhances image quality using artificial intelligence. These upgrades can significantly alter the look of a scene, but without knowing the specific settings used in the comparison video, it's difficult to determine the full impact of these changes. CD Projekt Red has stated that the video is a "work in progress," and the final rendering may differ from what was shown. Beyond the graphics, The Witcher 3 Remastered also includes updates to combat, movement, and the skill tree, while retaining compatibility with existing save files. However, the game still runs on the original REDengine, which CD Projekt Red has moved away from for The Witcher 4. This means the remaster will push the older engine to its limits. The final version of the remaster will be available on September 29, allowing players to experience the changes for themselves using their preferred graphical settings.