The Witcher 3 Remastered fixes: save problems, HairWorks and current patches
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered has received fixes for several launch problems. The current official notes identify Hotfix 5.00c for PC and Patch 5.00b for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Play Anywhere on PC.
Start with the update available for your own platform and storefront. A PC hotfix is not evidence that the same change has reached every console. These are CD Projekt Red’s reported fixes; Pixalrig has not independently tested their effectiveness.
Current fixes by platform
- PC: the 5.00c announcement covers Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, Battle.net and Xbox Play Anywhere.
- PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S: the relevant announcement is 5.00b.
- Xbox Play Anywhere on PC: both announcements matter, with the earlier notes identifying the DLSS fix.
This summary reflects the official announcements checked on 1 October 2026. Use your platform’s normal updater rather than seeking an older patch manually.
PC saves, HairWorks and other 5.00c fixes
According to CD Projekt Red’s 5.00c notes, the update addresses:
- Save/load failure when the Documents-folder path contains special characters.
- Dialogue becoming too quiet after moving between pause-menu tabs.
- A change behind serious HairWorks performance and visual regressions for some players.
- Earned GOG achievements missing from the unlocked list.
- Failure to start the Classic 1.32 version.
- Marketing telemetry preferences not being retained.
The notes also describe visual adjustments in Velen, including bloom, vegetation, saturation and path-traced lighting.
The saving fix has a specific condition. It does not establish that every save problem is repaired, or that damaged saves can be recovered. Preserve existing saves before attempting recovery work; do not rename Windows profile folders or move Documents as a first response to this patch note.
DLSS and console lighting: what 5.00b changes
The earlier 5.00b notes identify a fix for missing DLSS in the Xbox Play Anywhere PC version. They also describe lighting corrections, including overly dark interiors, and other changes intended to align the affected versions with PC.
That announcement covers PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Play Anywhere on PC. It does not say DLSS has been added to consoles, or establish that every version is visually identical.
Its statement that a PC saving hotfix was being prepared is now historical: the later 5.00c announcement addresses the conditional save/load fault above.
What if the problem remains?
CD Projekt Red says it is continuing to investigate reported issues. These notes do not establish that all crashes, performance problems or mod incompatibilities are resolved.
There is also a timing mismatch in the official HairWorks information. An older support notice still advises turning HairWorks off while a fix is prepared, whereas the newer 5.00c notes report a reversal of the problematic change. Update first, then compare the same scene with HairWorks on and off if the symptom persists. Do not assume a particular FPS gain or that HairWorks must stay disabled permanently.
Record your platform, storefront, installed version, exact symptom and whether you use mods. If updating does not help, consult CD Projekt Red’s technical support and provide those details. For intermittent frame-time hitches on PC, follow Pixalrig’s PC stuttering guide before considering new hardware or system-wide changes.
One game’s patch problem is not sufficient evidence that your CPU or graphics card needs replacing.
Sources and further help
- CD Projekt Red: Hotfix 5.00c notes
- CD Projekt Red: Patch 5.00b notes
- CD Projekt Red: older HairWorks support notice
- CD Projekt Red: PC technical support
- Pixalrig: PC stuttering guide