The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered Patch Introduces Bloom Toggle on Consoles and Enhanced Lighting Adjustments

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered has received a substantial patch that refines the visual presentation of CD Projekt's acclaimed RPG.

While the remaster brought numerous visual and mechanical enhancements over the original, not all fans were pleased with the outcome. Many took to Reddit and social media to criticize the excessive bloom effects, which gave the game a washed-out appearance and diminished the stark shadows that defined the original's atmosphere. The overbearing bloom not only altered the game's tone but also overshadowed other graphical improvements.

One Reddit user commented: "I started the training section at the beginning and noticed the bloom was cranked up, making everything look washed out and too bright. At first, I thought it was my game or TV settings, but after fiddling for an hour, I realized it was the game's ridiculous bloom. PC players can disable it, but console players had no option."

The latest patch resolves this by allowing console players to toggle off bloom, light shafts, and depth of field. Additionally, the developer has refined bloom, tone mapping, character lighting, and advanced ray tracing and path tracing technologies.

CD Projekt stated in a blog post: "We are also preparing an update for the Nintendo Switch 2 version of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered, aiming to bring all versions closer in parity, including the same global changes as other platforms. It will also enhance Switch 2-specific aspects like image clarity and sharpness. More details will follow in the coming days."

Before this patch, fans had been creating Steam Forum threads urging others to disable bloom entirely. A comparison shot illustrated how bloom affected the overall image prior to the improvements.

Patch 5.01 is approximately 5.5 GB on consoles and 8.5 GB on PC. There's no confirmation yet on whether The Witcher 3's remaster will support QSSR, Sony's new upscaling method for the base PS5. CD Projekt has historically been a tech pioneer, with Cyberpunk 2077 still serving as a benchmark for high-end gaming PCs.

CD Projekt's next major project is The Witcher 4, a part-continuation, part-reboot where players take on the role of Geralt's adopted daughter, Ciri, as she learns to bear the burden of a Witcher. It's still a ways off, with a planned release in 2028.

Before that, in 2027, a new expansion for The Witcher 3 titled Songs of the Past will launch. This expansion is set to be as large and ambitious as Blood & Wine, bridging the events between The Witcher 3 and its sequel.

To help you get immersed in Geralt's life on the road, check out our guides: Things The Witcher 3 Doesn't Tell You, IGN's The Witcher 3 Walkthrough, and The Witcher 3 Endings guide, which covers all major quests and choices in the base game and expansions (now included in the Remastered edition). When you're ready for tough decisions, our The Witcher 3 Sex and Romance guide shows who Geralt can romance and how. And to make Geralt the strongest monster hunter possible, explore all Witcher Gear Locations, Places of Power Locations, and even Gwent Card Locations.