So, I’m sitting in front of the TV one evening, anticipating Geralt’s bare feet in Full HD on my Switch 2, downloading the update, and… Everything seems to be working, but it looks like a potato. “Something’s wrong!” I thought, and went searching for a solution online, because the remaster didn’t feel like anything special at all. 

It turns out there are some issues with updating The Witcher 3 on Switch 2! I’m sharing them below so you can update the game for free.

What to do

First, download the first update. Launch The Witcher and get a warning about data downloading. Then wait for the console to download all the necessary files, and then launch the game. Yes, it will look like a web app, don’t worry.

In the main menu, scroll down to “Game available on Nintendo Switch 2” and tap it. The console will then open the eShop, where you can download the updated version for free. Tap “Free Download” and confirm your purchase.

Now, there will be two versions of The Witcher in the console menu. The first is your original game, either from cartridge or digital download. The second is the updated edition, also known as the remaster, which is what we’re looking for. 

You’ll have to download another couple dozen gigabytes here. And if you’re worried about your console’s memory, don’t worry: the update you downloaded before will automatically merge with the remaster. Just be patient. 

Oh, and most importantly, the cartridge and console regions must match! If you have a Polish Nintendo account, the game must also be in the European version. Otherwise, you’ll get a launch error. There are two ways to fix this:

• Create a new account with the desired region, which can be done in a couple of minutes using a free email address.
• Transfer your main account to the desired region via the Nintendo website .

Just keep in mind that for the second option, you’ll need to have a balance close to zero. You can drop a few cents or zlotys, but you’ll have to spend a larger amount first. 

What does the remaster look like?

The Switch version is updated to patch 4.04—the Next-Gen patch that CD Projekt RED released back in 2022. The updated version is numbered 5.00, which is listed right in the game’s main menu

And it looks very respectable. I’ll remind you that I was running the game on a tablet connected to the TV, but it runs so smoothly and reliably that it feels like I’m playing on at least a PS4 or a decent laptop. The only downside is that someone nerfed the graphics during the update, but all platforms are guilty of that.

What am I saying? You can clearly compare the graphics between the Switch 1 and 2 versions in the screenshots below. And video hosting sites are full of comparisons of the remaster between platforms.

The graphics are clear, now I’ll talk about the technical improvements. First of all, CD Projekt RED understood why people play The Witcher 3 and created a photo mode! They also understood the value of the Nintendo Switch 2 and created special controls for it. In fact, we’re treated to them at launch. There’s a gyro mode, motion controls, and mouse and touchscreen support.

The last two are all clear, but what about the rest? Well, the movement controls are essentially turning the camera using the Joy-Cons. You can also cast signs by turning the left Joy-Con sideways. But it works a bit awkwardly for my taste.

But the standard gyro mode is a different matter. It controls aiming for shooting and throwing bombs, sign casting, the camera, and much more. And the gyro mode can be completely customized, which is convenient. For example, you can leave it only for sign casting. But I liked the horse control better: you can “slap” the air with both Joy-Cons like reins, and Roach will break into a gallop. 

The “Hearts of Stone” and “Blood and Wine” expansions are included free of charge, along with their accompanying quests and cosmetics, so you won’t need the Deluxe Edition cartridge. However, you will need to link your Nintendo account to your CD Projekt RED profile to receive free perks and a new hairstyle for Geralt.

How to set the Russian language

It’s simple. Go to the eShop and search for “Witcher 3.” You’ll be presented with a whole bunch of different language packs. Just download the one labeled “RU.” After that, both text subtitles and voiceover will appear in the game. The pack, by the way, is about 11 GB in size.

Schrödinger’s Game

There’s another interesting thing about the remaster, which can’t yet be classified as either a bug or a feature. Since updating creates a new game file, it can exist separately from the original version.

Let me explain with my own example: I have the base game for the original Switch on a cartridge. The remaster should logically be tied to that and not launch unless I have the cartridge. But it does. Pretty cool, right?

I don’t know if or when they’ll fix it, but the fact itself is amusing. And if you’re already rushing to post an ad on Avito to sell the cartridge, I advise you to hold off, because if CD Projekt RED or Nintendo themselves catch on and fix it, you’ll be left without both the cartridge and the remaster.