Blog/Witcher 3/📰Events & Updates

The Witcher 3 Remastered: Frame Rates, Saves and Mods

CD PROJEKT RED's free-upgrade announcement covered who pays for what on 29 September. It could not say how the game runs, because the studio had not said. Three weeks and a gamescom broadcast later, PS5 Pro and Switch 2 have real frame rate numbers, a support article spells out what happens to your save and skill points, and six mods are confirmed for console launch day.

Published September 21, 2026·9 min read·By Mythras
CD PROJEKT RED key art for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered, released with the August 25, 2026 gamescom announcement.

What has changed since the eligibility post

Our Remastered upgrade guide covered who pays for what on 29 September. It could not tell you how the game runs, because CD PROJEKT RED had not said. That gap has closed some in the three weeks since: PS5 Pro and Nintendo Switch 2 both have real frame rate targets now, a written support article spells out what happens to your save file and your skill points, and six mods are confirmed for console launch day — one of them built by a modder CD PROJEKT RED hired directly. Base PS5 and Xbox Series X|S are still waiting on numbers of their own.

PS5 Pro gets its own frame rate modes

The numbers came from a broadcast, not a press release. "REDstreams: On the Go!" is CD PROJEKT RED's own daily gamescom 2026 show, and its Day 3 episode is where Remastered on PS5 Pro got demonstrated.

Key art for CD PROJEKT RED's REDstreams: On the Go! gamescom 2026 broadcast, August 26 to 30, where the studio showed The Witcher 3 Remastered's PS5 Pro and Nintendo Switch 2 performance targets.

Two modes, the same ray tracing feature set as base PS5, running at two different speeds:

PS5 Pro modeFrame rateWhat changes
Ray Tracing60 fpsDoubles the 30fps cap Ray Tracing mode has carried on base PS5 since the 2022 next-gen update
PerformanceUnlocked, settling near 90 fpsNeeds a display with VRR and a high enough refresh rate to reach that ceiling

Both modes lean on the Pro's PSSR upscaler, which is how CD PROJEKT RED says it is paying for the extra frame rate without cutting the ray tracing effects. The ray tracing itself is not new — it is the same feature set as base PS5, just running faster.

That is a Pro number, not a base PS5 number. Ray Tracing mode has been capped at 30fps on the standard PS5 since the last next-gen update, and CD PROJEKT RED has not said whether Remastered changes that.

Switch 2 gets real numbers too

The same Day 3 broadcast gave Nintendo Switch 2 owners their first confirmed resolution and frame rate targets:

Switch 2 modeResolutionFrame rate
Handheld720p30-40 fps, with VRR
Docked1080p30-40 fps, with the higher end more reachable on a TV that supports 120Hz

CD PROJEKT RED also showed off the control options that ship with the port: handheld, docked, dual grip, and a mouse mode that can run always-on or switch on automatically when a Joy-Con is set down on a flat surface. Asked directly about a physical Switch 2 release, the studio did not say yes or no: "the news will come when the time is right."

Base PS5 and Xbox still have no frame rate targets

Read the two tables above again and notice what is missing. CD PROJEKT RED has given specific numbers for the enhanced PS5 Pro and for the brand-new Switch 2 port. It has not given any for base PS5 or Xbox Series X|S — the two platforms most console owners are actually running the game on today. The 30fps Ray Tracing cap on base PS5 is a carryover fact from the 2022 next-gen update, not a Remastered confirmation, and Xbox Series X|S has no published number in either mode.

Your save carries over, your skill points do not

This is the one piece of Remastered news CD PROJEKT RED put in writing rather than said on a stream. Its support article, titled "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered: saves and achievements," is direct: "your current The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt saves should work with no issues."

The catch is the skill tree. Remastered rebuilds it, so a save carrying spent skill points cannot simply drop them into a tree that no longer matches: "Your skills and settings will be reset due to the changes introduced with the upgrade, though you'll be able to reallocate them immediately." That is a full respec on your next login, not a corrupted save — worth knowing before you assume something broke. Our general skills guide and build guide describe the tree Patch 4.0 left behind, which is what you will actually be redistributing points into until the revamp ships.

Achievements and trophies are unaffected: "Remastered will share achievements and trophies with the current versions of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt." CD PROJEKT RED treats the upgrade as a patch to the existing game rather than a separate release, so there is no second list to unlock from zero.

Six mods ship on console at launch

Cross Platform Mod Support was already on Remastered's feature list. The Day 3 broadcast is where CD PROJEKT RED actually showed what runs on a controller.

CD PROJEKT RED key art for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Cross-Platform Mod Support, showing Geralt of Rivia in silhouette against a misty forest.

ModWhat it does
Boat RacesRestores four boat races cut during the game's original development, built from CD PROJEKT RED's own leftover dialogue, journal entries and voice work
Glowing Witcher EyesMakes Geralt's (and other Witchers') eyes actually emit light in the dark, instead of just using a brighter texture
Gwent ModsNew cards, altered decks and rule reworks; CD PROJEKT RED says the exact console selection still depends on what clears certification
HoodsAdds hoods, cloaks, scarves and masks that layer over existing armor
New HairstylesMore hairstyles and beards at the barber
Unlimited Inventory CapacityRemoves the carry-weight ceiling entirely

Read the Gwent row again: that one is not locked yet. Everything else on this list was shown actually running. Gwent mods are shown as a category CD PROJEKT RED intends to bring over, with the final console selection still subject to approval.

The modder CD Projekt Red hired

One name on this list is not a CD PROJEKT RED creation. HalkHogan built the HD Reworked Project, a texture and model overhaul that has been the standard PC visual upgrade for The Witcher 3 for years — CD PROJEKT RED already folded an earlier version of it into the 2022 next-gen update, where it now ships as the "OldGen Edition." For Remastered, the studio worked with him directly: his reworked characters, monsters, environments and equipment go into the base game itself on 29 September, on PC and console alike, rather than staying a separate download.

What still has not been said

  • No frame rate or resolution target for base PS5.
  • No frame rate or resolution target for Xbox Series X|S, in either mode.
  • No total count for console mods beyond the six shown, and no word on whether more arrive after launch.
  • No price or release month for Songs of the Past — unchanged since the original announcement.
  • No updated recommended PC specification, only the minimum published alongside our upgrade eligibility guide.

Quick Action Checklist

  • On PS5 Pro, expect 60fps in Ray Tracing mode and an unlocked mode that settles near 90fps if your display supports VRR and a high refresh rate.
  • On base PS5, do not assume the Pro numbers apply to you — CD PROJEKT RED has not published a frame rate target for the standard console.
  • On Switch 2, plan around 30-40fps at 720p handheld and 1080p docked, and try the mouse mode before writing it off.
  • Do not manually back up your save out of fear of losing it to the upgrade — CD PROJEKT RED's support article says current saves carry over with no issues.
  • Expect a full skill respec on your first login after the update, not a bug. Have a plan for where the points go before you start playing.
  • If you run HD Reworked Project on PC today, you do not need to reinstall it after 29 September — HalkHogan's work ships inside the base Remastered install.
  • If a specific console mod matters to you, check whether it is one of the six confirmed (Boat Races, Glowing Witcher Eyes, Gwent Mods, Hoods, New Hairstyles, Unlimited Inventory Capacity) rather than assuming your PC favorite made the cut.

Frequently Asked Questions

What frame rate does The Witcher 3 Remastered run at on PS5 Pro?
On PS5 Pro, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered's Ray Tracing mode runs at 60 frames per second, twice the 30fps cap Ray Tracing mode has held on base PS5 since the 2022 next-gen update. Its Performance mode runs uncapped and CD PROJEKT RED says it should settle around 90 frames per second on a display with VRR and a high enough refresh rate. Both modes use the PS5 Pro's PSSR upscaler, and the ray tracing effects themselves are unchanged from base PS5 — only the frame rate is higher.
Does The Witcher 3 Remastered have a confirmed frame rate on base PS5 or Xbox Series X|S?
No. As of just over a week before launch, CD PROJEKT RED has not published a frame rate or resolution target for The Witcher 3 Remastered on base PS5 or on Xbox Series X|S, in either mode. The only console-specific numbers given so far are for PS5 Pro and Nintendo Switch 2.
What resolution and frame rate does The Witcher 3 Remastered target on Nintendo Switch 2?
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered targets 720p at 30-40 frames per second in handheld mode with VRR enabled, and 1080p at 30-40 frames per second docked, with the higher end more reachable on a TV that supports 120Hz. CD PROJEKT RED confirmed these numbers during its gamescom 2026 "REDstreams: On the Go!" Day 3 broadcast, alongside handheld, docked, dual-grip and mouse control options.
Will my Witcher 3 save carry over to Remastered?
Yes. CD PROJEKT RED's support article on the topic states that current The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt saves should work with no issues in Remastered. Achievements and trophies also carry over, since the studio treats the upgrade as a patch to the existing game rather than a separate release with its own list to unlock.
Does my Witcher 3 save keep my skill points in Remastered?
No. CD PROJEKT RED's support article says skills and settings will be reset because Remastered rebuilds the skill tree, though points can be reallocated immediately on the next login. It is a full respec, not data loss.
What mods does The Witcher 3 Remastered ship with on console?
CD PROJEKT RED has shown six mods running on console for The Witcher 3 Remastered: Boat Races (four development-era races restored with original dialogue and voice work), Glowing Witcher Eyes, Gwent Mods (new cards and deck changes, with the exact console selection still subject to certification), Hoods, New Hairstyles, and Unlimited Inventory Capacity.
Is the HD Reworked Project mod built into The Witcher 3 Remastered?
Yes. Modder HalkHogan, creator of the HD Reworked Project texture and model overhaul, worked directly with CD PROJEKT RED on Remastered. His reworked characters, monsters, environments and equipment ship inside the base game on both PC and console starting 29 September, rather than as a separate mod to install.

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Sources & Further Reading
Last updated September 21, 2026.

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