Start by checking which version of The Witcher 3 you are running, then test the current official performance fix: disable NVIDIA HairWorks. If frame rates remain low, compare performance after lowering resolution or using an available upscaling option. The game has moved beyond its 2022 next-gen release: CD PROJEKT RED released The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered on September 29, 2026, so settings and rollback instructions can depend on your installed build.
First, identify the version and the kind of performance problem
Before changing settings, note the game version or build, the graphics API or options shown by your installed version, your output resolution and graphics settings, and where the problem occurs. A low average frame rate is different from brief stutters or uneven frame pacing; the distinction helps you compare changes rather than guessing at a single cause.
CD PROJEKT RED says The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered, released September 29, 2026, is a free upgrade for eligible owners and includes changes to visuals and performance. Check the publisher’s current PC support information and confirm your storefront and build before following instructions written for the 2022 next-gen release. Older advice about choosing DirectX 11 instead of DirectX 12 should not be assumed to apply to every current build.
Disable NVIDIA HairWorks
CD PROJEKT RED Technical Support currently says NVIDIA HairWorks may significantly affect performance and recommends disabling it until a future patch addresses the issue. In the game’s graphics settings, turn HairWorks off, then revisit the same scene and compare performance. The recommendation is from a support notice that may change as patches are released, so check the HairWorks performance notice for its latest status.
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Test resolution and scaling
Rendering fewer pixels can reduce the graphics workload. CD PROJEKT RED illustrates the difference with 5120 × 2880 resolution (14,745,600 pixels) and 2560 × 1440 (3,686,400 pixels): the first resolution has four times as many pixels. That does not mean performance will be exactly four times worse, because frame rate also depends on other factors.
Lower the output resolution or enable an upscaling or resolution-scaling option if your build offers one. Change one setting at a time and compare in the same location; a lower resolution can reduce image sharpness, while scaling renders at a lower resolution and enlarges the image to help preserve perceived quality. CD PROJEKT RED explains these trade-offs in its resolution guidance. Neither that guidance nor the pixel example promises a fixed FPS gain.
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Compare your PC with the current requirements
Check your hardware against CD PROJEKT RED’s current PC requirements for the version you play. The publisher says its FPS targets are based on QA testing and that actual frame rates vary with scene, gameplay, hardware, settings and output resolution.
For its 2026 minimum configuration, the publisher lists a GTX 1660 as the minimum NVIDIA GPU and targets 60 FPS or higher at Minimum settings. Treat that as a publisher target, not a guarantee that every PC with a GTX 1660 will maintain 60 FPS in every scene. If your system falls below the relevant requirements or you are aiming for higher settings or resolution, hardware may be a limitation—but a graphics-card upgrade alone is not an established cure for every stutter.
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Use a rollback only if your storefront offers it
If performance began after an update, a previous version may be worth considering only where the publisher provides a rollback route. CD PROJEKT RED says only the latest version is fully supported. Its version-specific instructions allow Steam and GOG players to select the Classic branch; the Epic Games Store provides only the latest version. The Remastered FAQ and rollback information directs players to the relevant instructions.
Rollback changes the installed game version and can affect compatibility with current updates or modifications. Follow the instructions for your storefront and build rather than assuming a branch or option exists in every launcher.
Adjust demanding graphics features with a clear comparison
The 2022 next-gen Complete Edition announcement listed real-time ray tracing and DLSS on PC. These features can involve meaningful performance trade-offs, but the announcement does not establish a universal settings recipe or a guaranteed FPS increase. Check which options your installed version actually provides, change one at a time, and compare the same scene at the same resolution. The 2022 next-gen announcement describes those PC features.
Quick Recap
Make changes in a controlled order
- Record your starting point: note version/build, storefront, resolution, graphics options, and a location where the issue is easy to reproduce.
- Turn off NVIDIA HairWorks: compare the same scene with the setting disabled.
- Test resolution or scaling: lower the output resolution or enable available upscaling, then compare before and after.
- Check the current requirements: interpret the publisher’s FPS target in light of your hardware, settings, resolution and the scene being tested.
- Consider rollback only if supported: verify that your storefront offers the relevant branch and follow the current version-specific directions.
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