CD Projekt Red has released Hotfix 5.00c for the PC version of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered. The update fixes save and audio problems, rolls back a troublesome HairWorks change, and makes another round of visual adjustments to Velen, including its Bloom, saturation, vegetation lighting, and Path Tracing lighting.
The hotfix is available through Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, Battle.net, and Xbox Play Anywhere on PC, arriving only days after the Remastered edition launched on September 29.
The hotfix was detailed via the official The Witcher X account.
What Hotfix 5.00c changes
One of the more serious fixes addresses an issue that could prevent players from saving or loading the game when the Windows Documents folder path contained special characters.
The complete list of notable changes includes:
- fixed the save/load issue involving special characters in the Documents folder path
- fixed voiceover audio becoming much quieter after navigating pause-menu tabs
- adjusted Bloom, vegetation lighting, saturation, and Path Tracing lighting in Velen
- reverted a change that caused major visual and performance problems with HairWorks for some players
- fixed marketing telemetry settings not saving correctly
- fixed unlocked achievements failing to appear correctly on GOG
- restored the ability to launch the Classic version 1.32
The lighting changes are particularly notable because Remastered’s new presentation has quickly become one of its most debated features.
A growing number of players have criticized parts of the new lighting for looking too bright, washed out, or flatter than the previous version, although others prefer the remaster’s updated rendering. Bloom has become a particular point of contention, and CD Projekt Red has indicated that further work on that setting is coming.
Lighting fixes are already becoming a recurring theme
Hotfix 5.00c follows Patch 5.00b, which arrived for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox Play Anywhere on PC earlier on October 1.
That update also included lighting adjustments, specifically correcting some interiors that appeared too dark, alongside a fix for DLSS being unavailable through Xbox Play Anywhere.
CD Projekt Red therefore appears to be tuning the Remastered lighting on both ends of the spectrum shortly after release, while continuing to investigate issues reported through its technical support channels.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered launched September 29 as a free upgrade for existing owners on supported platforms. Beyond its new lighting and rendering technology, the update adds redesigned progression, visual upgrades, new animations, quality-of-life changes, and expanded graphics options.
Hotfix 5.00c is available now on PC.