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For The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s 2022 Next-Gen update, choose DX12 if you want its documented ray-tracing and DLSS feature path. If your priority is frame rate or smooth frame pacing, there is no evidence-based universal winner: compare the options available in your own install. This advice is specific to the 2022 release. CD PROJEKT RED announced that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered became available on September 29, 2026, and the official materials cited here do not specify its current PC renderer choices.
First, check which version of The Witcher 3 you are running
The DX11-versus-DX12 question is version-sensitive. The Next-Gen Complete Edition launched on December 14, 2022. CD PROJEKT RED later announced The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered as available on September 29, 2026, with a PC path-tracing feature and other changes. Its release announcement does not enumerate the PC renderer options, so do not assume that the 2022 renderer advice applies unchanged to Remastered. See CD PROJEKT RED’s 2022 release note and its 2026 Remastered announcement.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition - PC | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (PC-DVD) | $18.52 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Namco Bandai The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Game Of The Year Edition | $24.99 | Buy on Amazon |
If you are unsure which release or options your install uses, check the game version and the choices shown by your current launcher or in-game settings before changing anything. CD PROJEKT RED’s PC support index lists current Remastered support material, updated requirements, Patch 5.0 downloads, and guidance for reverting to earlier versions; the index does not confirm which renderer choices appear in-game.
What DX12 adds in the 2022 Next-Gen version
For the 2022 update, DX12 is the documented route to the PC ray-tracing and DLSS features. CD PROJEKT RED’s launch note identifies real-time ray tracing and DLSS support on PC. NVIDIA’s December 14, 2022 feature article says to load the DirectX 12 version to enable its listed RTX effects and DLSS options. The options described include RTX Global Illumination, ray-traced ambient occlusion, shadows and reflections, DLSS 3 for GeForce RTX 40 Series, DLSS 2 Super Resolution on GeForce RTX PCs, and Reflex. These are statements about the 2022 feature path, not a guarantee about every later version or every PC configuration. Read NVIDIA’s feature description.
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- Play as a highly trained monster slayer for hire.
- Built for endless adventure, the massive open world of The Witcher sets new standards in terms of size, depth and complexity.
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Game of the Year edition brings together the base game and all the additional content released to date.
That makes DX12 the sensible choice when your goal is to use those documented features and your setup supports them. Ray tracing is optional; the cited sources do not establish that you need to buy or upgrade a graphics card to play the game.
Which renderer is faster or smoother?
No controlled, matched DX11-versus-DX12 benchmark is established here. That means there is no supported basis for saying DX11 is always faster, DX12 always performs better, or one renderer provides better frame-time consistency across PCs. Results can depend on your hardware, game version, graphics settings, resolution, drivers, and the scene being tested.
If performance matters more than access to the 2022 DX12 feature path, compare the available renderer options on your own PC rather than relying on a blanket rule. Keep the test conditions the same: use the same game version, scene, resolution, graphics settings, driver, and frame cap. Compare both average frame rate and whether frame delivery feels consistent during play.
How to choose
| Your priority | Practical choice |
|---|---|
| Use the 2022 update’s documented ray tracing and DLSS path | Choose DX12, if that option is available in your version and your hardware supports the feature you want. |
| Maximize frame rate or frame-time consistency | Test the available options under identical conditions; the sources cited here do not establish a universal performance winner. |
| Play the 2026 Remastered release | Check the renderer options in your current install and consult the current official PC support materials; do not infer its options from the 2022 update. |
Bottom line on Witcher 3 DX11 or DX12
For the 2022 Next-Gen version, use DX12 for the documented ray-tracing and DLSS feature path. For performance, test your own system; the evidence does not support declaring DX11 or DX12 the universal winner. For the 2026 Remastered version, verify the options in your current install because the official materials cited here do not list its renderer choices.
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