What’s new in The Witcher 3 PS5? The ‘next-gen update’ for CD Projekt Red’s open world RPG boasts a range of improvements and additions, over five whole years after the original game’s release. The developer has brought some highly requested features to the upgrade, which boasts graphical boosts, gameplay modifications, and more.
In this guide, we’ve listed everything new and all of the improvements that we currently know about when it comes to The Witcher 3 PS5.
This guide is currently a work in progress. We’ll continue to update it as we receive new information from CD Projekt Red, leading up to the game’s release on the 14th December.
The Witcher 3 PS5: Everything New and All Improvements
Below is a list of everything new and all improvements in The Witcher 3 PS5. We’ve broken this list down into categories for better readability.
New Content
This is entirely new content that has been added in The Witcher 3 PS5.
- A new quest based on The Witcher Netflix shows
- A new (optional) appearance for Dandelion, based on The Witcher Netflix shows
- A new armor set for Geralt based on The Witcher Netflix shows
- New (optional) armor design for Nilfgaardian soliders based on The Witcher Netflix shows
- New weapons, armor, and items
- A fully integrated photo mode, complete with editing tools and filters
Graphics
These are the ways in which The Witcher 3 PS5 has improved the game’s visuals.
- Higher resolution textures throughout the game
- Improved character models
- Improved environmental assets
- More varied NPC (non-playable character) models, especially in cutscenes
- 30fps ‘Quality’ mode which has ray tracing support (resolution currently unconfirmed, 4K is expected)
- 60fps ‘Performance’ mode (resolution currently unconfirmed, although The Witcher 3 on PS4 Pro ran at a checkerboard 4K, so we’re expecting similar here)
- Better draw distance
- More foliage, denser grasses
- Improved lighting effects and illumination
- Additional and more varied weather conditions, like fog
Technical
These are the ways in which The Witcher 3 PS5 is improved on a technical level.
- Much improved load times, both when traveling fast and loading / reloading a save
Gameplay Additions
These are the gameplay additions featured in The Witcher PS5.
- New ‘Quickcast’ system allows players to cast signs without having to open the radial menu — instead, you simply hold down a trigger and press the corresponding face button
- New (optional) camera setting places the camera much closer to Geralt, over his right shoulder, which applies both in and out of combat
- New (optional) movement settings for Geralt, where slow walking / sprinting is mapped to how far you’re pushing the left stick
- A ‘hybrid’ minimap option has been added, making the minimap and user interface fade away during gameplay until you press the focus button
- Map filters let you customize how much information you can see on the map screen
- You can now pause the game during cutscenes
Gameplay Adjustments
These are the adjustments to gameplay in The Witcher 3 PS5.
- Numerous gameplay adjustments (to be detailed in full patch notes ahead of the game’s release)
- Rebalanced enemy scaling (when enemy scaling is turned on in the options)
- Fall damage has been reduced
- Rats are no longer ridiculously deadly when level scaling is enabled
Other
These are other additions and enhancements that don’t necessarily fit into previous categories.
- Full cross-save and cross-progression support for all platforms
- Full DualSense controller support, with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers
- Subtitles can now be scaled
- Simplified Chinese voice acting and localization added
- Korean voice acting added
- Improved localization for other languages
The Witcher 3 PS5 FAQ
Below, we’ve gathered together the most frequently asked questions about The Witcher 3 PS5.
Does The Witcher 3 PS5 include all DLC and expansions?
Yes, The Witcher 3 PS5 features all of the original game’s free DLC packs, along with its two expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. The expansions are included even if you didn’t own them on PS4.
Is The Witcher 3 PS5 a free upgrade?
Yes, The Witcher 3 PS5 is a free upgrade if you already own the game on PS4. This counts for both the original release and the Game of the Year Edition.
Will The Witcher 3 PS5 get a physical release?
Yes, CD Projekt Red has confirmed that The Witcher 3 PS5 will receive a physical release. However, the release date for the physical edition is currently unknown. It’s expected to release after the upgrade launches digitally, on the 14th December, 2022. We’ll update this part of the guide once we know more.
What do you think of everything new and all improvements in The Witcher 3 PS5? Relive your monster-slaying adventure in the comments section below, and check out our other guides for The Witcher 3:
.