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Yes—based on Digital Foundry’s post-Patch 5.01 testing, as summarized by Push Square, the PlayStation 5 Pro is the strongest console for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered. Its performance mode typically reaches about 80–90 frames per second on a 120Hz display, while its ray-tracing mode targets 60fps. A base PS5 remains a solid option after the patch, but the Pro offers the clearest combination of frame rate, lighting quality and consistency.
Why PS5 Pro leads
The Pro gives players two credible ways to play. Performance mode prioritizes high frame rates and commonly operates in the 80–90fps range when connected to a 120Hz screen. Ray-tracing mode enables the remaster’s more advanced lighting effects while maintaining 60fps, making it substantially more practical than a usual 30fps ray-tracing presentation.
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Digital Foundry’s conclusion, reproduced by Push Square, is that the game “establishes a visually impressive benchmark with advanced lighting, shader updates and robust console optimisation in patch 5.01.” The Pro’s advantage is most obvious during movement: its higher refresh-rate output makes camera turns, combat and riding feel smoother, while ray-tracing mode preserves the upgraded lighting at a playable frame rate.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThe Pro uses PSSR reconstruction. In static scenes, that reconstruction can look slightly softer than the image on a base PS5, but the reported difference is nearly imperceptible during moving gameplay. That is an important trade-off: the Pro does not win every still-image comparison, yet its overall presentation and responsiveness are stronger.
#1 Best Overall
- Ray Tracing - Immerse yourself in worlds with a new level of realism as rays of light are individually simulated, creating true-to-life shadows and reflections in supported PS5 games.
- Faster Loading - Fast-travel across the map and get back into the game almost instantly with the PlayStation 5 console’s ultra-high-speed SSD and fast load times.
- Stunning Visuals - Experience the vast world in stunning 4K and HDR at 120 FPS (with a 4K and HDR compatible TV or display)
- Breathtaking Immersion - Discover a deeper gaming experience with support for haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and 3D Audio technology.
- Backwards Compatibility - Play over 4,000 PS4 games on PS5. Enjoy faster and smoother frame rates in some of the PS4 console's greatest games.
PS5 Pro modes compared
| Mode | Reported output | Best for | Display requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | Typically 80–90fps, according to Digital Foundry’s testing as reported by Push Square | Fast camera movement, combat and maximum responsiveness | 120Hz display recommended; VRR helps manage fluctuations |
| Ray tracing | 60fps | Enhanced lighting and visual effects without dropping to a 30fps target | 60Hz or faster display; VRR remains useful |
The 80–90fps figure is a typical range rather than a lock. Busy areas and technically demanding cutscenes can still produce dips, so a variable-refresh-rate display is preferable to a fixed-refresh screen.
What Patch 5.01 changes
Patch 5.01 improves frame rates across the console versions. The reported benefits include smoother performance in crowded areas and in demanding cutscenes, addressing the situations where the remaster previously felt least stable.
Remaining issues
- Screen tearing: Without VRR, fluctuations can appear as horizontal breaks in the image.
- Occasional dips: The patch improves performance but does not eliminate every drop.
- Bloom: An overblown bloom effect can obscure environmental detail. Patch 5.01 adds a console setting to reduce bloom.
To reduce the most obvious haze, open the game’s display or graphics settings and lower the bloom option. The exact menu wording can vary with the installed build, but the new setting is specifically intended to address this visual complaint.
Do you need a 120Hz VRR TV?
No, but the right display makes the Pro’s advantage easier to see. A 120Hz panel is needed to benefit fully from the performance mode’s 80–90fps range; a 60Hz screen cannot show every frame the console produces. VRR is not mandatory, but it smooths the experience when frame rate varies and reduces the risk of visible tearing.
- 60Hz, no VRR: Both modes remain playable, but performance mode’s extra frames are limited by the display and tearing is more likely.
- 120Hz, no VRR: You can see the higher frame rate, although fluctuations may still be visible.
- 120Hz with VRR: The best match for performance mode and the safest setup for variable output.
Is ray tracing worth using on PS5 Pro?
For players who value lighting quality, yes. The Pro’s ray-tracing mode reportedly maintains 60fps, so enabling the effects does not impose the customary 30fps compromise. Choose performance mode if responsiveness and the highest possible frame rate matter more than lighting; choose ray tracing if the remaster’s visual upgrades are your priority.
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How the base PS5 compares
The base PS5 is described as solid after Patch 5.01. It benefits from the same broad performance improvements, including smoother busy-area and cutscene behavior, but it does not match the Pro’s combination of high-frame-rate output and 60fps ray tracing.
There is not enough published information in the accessible report to provide a reliable mode-by-mode resolution table for Xbox Series X|S or Nintendo Switch 2. Those exact figures should not be inferred from the PS5 results. Digital Foundry’s December 2022 PS5-versus-Xbox Series X video remains useful historical context for the earlier-generation release, but it does not replace the 2026 post-Patch 5.01 assessment.
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Push Square’s game profile lists The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered as a single-player action RPG developed and published by CD Projekt Red. The profile gives the PlayStation 5 release date as 29 September 2026 in North America and Europe.
Recommended setup
- Install Patch 5.01 and confirm the game has restarted with the updated build.
- Use a 120Hz display if you want the performance mode’s reported 80–90fps range.
- Enable VRR on both the display and the PS5 Pro to reduce tearing and smooth fluctuations.
- Select performance mode for maximum responsiveness or ray-tracing mode for enhanced lighting at 60fps.
- Reduce bloom in the console graphics options if bright effects are hiding environmental detail.
Bottom line for console buyers
PS5 Pro is the best-supported choice for this remaster. Performance mode makes the most of a 120Hz VRR display, while ray-tracing mode delivers upgraded lighting at 60fps. Patch 5.01 makes the base PS5 more dependable, but the remaining dips, tearing risk without VRR and bloom issue mean it does not erase the Pro’s lead.
Quick Recap
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