"After our experience bringing Cyberpunk 2077 to Nintendo Switch 2, bringing The Witcher 3 to the platform felt like a natural next step" - CD Projekt Red's Oleg Shatulo on the remaster, cross save, PS5 Pro ray tracing, Switch 2 DLSS, and much more
Last week, CD Projekt Red launched The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Remastered for all current consoles and PC platforms. It also marked the game's debut on Switch 2, PS5 Pro, Xbox PC, and Battle.net. Ahead of its launch, I had a chance to chat with CD Projekt Red's Senior Publishing Producer Oleg Shatulo about the project as a whole, bringing Witcher 3 to Switch 2, learnings from the Cyberpunk 2077 Switch 2 port, PS5 Pro support, cross save challenges, Xbox Play Anywhere support, the possibility of more ray tracing features on PS5 Pro, 60fps on Switch 2, and much more. Note that this interview was conducted before I played the remaster.
RPG Site: For those unaware, tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do.
Oleg Shatulo: I’m Oleg, a Senior Publishing Producer at CD PROJEKT RED. I work on and drive different initiatives related to our IPs, including bringing Cyberpunk 2077 to Nintendo Switch 2 and Mac, updates for Cyberpunk 2077, and, most recently, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered.
Oleg Shatulo: I’m Oleg, a Senior Publishing Producer at CD PROJEKT RED. I work on and drive different initiatives related to our IPs, including bringing Cyberpunk 2077 to Nintendo Switch 2 and Mac, updates for Cyberpunk 2077, and, most recently, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered.
RPG Site: What made you want to remaster The Witcher 3? It isn't too old.
Oleg Shatulo: It was really a combination of different factors that came together at the right time. We’ve always wanted to keep pushing our games technologically, and with the new expansion for The Witcher 3, Songs of the Past, in development, we saw an opportunity to go further and modernize the game as a whole — both for longtime fans coming back to it and for a new audience experiencing The Witcher 3 for the first time, more than a decade after its original release.
Oleg Shatulo: It was really a combination of different factors that came together at the right time. We’ve always wanted to keep pushing our games technologically, and with the new expansion for The Witcher 3, Songs of the Past, in development, we saw an opportunity to go further and modernize the game as a whole — both for longtime fans coming back to it and for a new audience experiencing The Witcher 3 for the first time, more than a decade after its original release.
RPG Site: When this project was greenlit internally, was the plan to always do both gameplay and visual upgrades?
Oleg Shatulo: From the very beginning, our goal was not simply to touch up the visuals, but to modernize the gameplay as well — making the experience smoother for modern audiences and addressing some of the friction players may have encountered in the original, without changing the game too drastically or losing its original spirit. And to achieve both the visual and gameplay improvements we wanted, we also had to significantly rework the technological foundation of the engine.
Oleg Shatulo: From the very beginning, our goal was not simply to touch up the visuals, but to modernize the gameplay as well — making the experience smoother for modern audiences and addressing some of the friction players may have encountered in the original, without changing the game too drastically or losing its original spirit. And to achieve both the visual and gameplay improvements we wanted, we also had to significantly rework the technological foundation of the engine.
RPG Site: Post Cyberpunk 2077 on Switch 2, I was certain we would see The Witcher 3 get a Switch 2 upgrade last year. I didn't expect it to be a full remaster. Was there any plan to do a basic visual and performance upgrade for Switch 2 or was it always going to be a major upgrade like we are seeing now?
Oleg Shatulo: After our experience bringing Cyberpunk 2077 to Nintendo Switch 2, bringing The Witcher 3 to the platform felt like a natural next step. We now had hardware that gave us significantly more room to improve both the visuals and performance compared to the original Switch version, so we started exploring a more straightforward upgrade quite early.
Then, as the Remastered initiative started taking shape, we quickly realized we had an opportunity to be much more ambitious. Instead of treating Switch 2 as a separate upgrade, we could bring it into the broader Remastered vision and deliver the same core set of improvements across all current-generation platforms.
That made the Switch 2 version much more exciting for us — not just a better-performing version of what was already there, but a native version of The Witcher 3 that benefits from the work we’re doing on the game as a whole.
Oleg Shatulo: After our experience bringing Cyberpunk 2077 to Nintendo Switch 2, bringing The Witcher 3 to the platform felt like a natural next step. We now had hardware that gave us significantly more room to improve both the visuals and performance compared to the original Switch version, so we started exploring a more straightforward upgrade quite early.
Then, as the Remastered initiative started taking shape, we quickly realized we had an opportunity to be much more ambitious. Instead of treating Switch 2 as a separate upgrade, we could bring it into the broader Remastered vision and deliver the same core set of improvements across all current-generation platforms.
That made the Switch 2 version much more exciting for us — not just a better-performing version of what was already there, but a native version of The Witcher 3 that benefits from the work we’re doing on the game as a whole.
RPG Site: The Witcher 3 already had a ton of quality of life and gameplay improvements since launch in its many updates and also with the DLC releases and new ports. Do you think the remaster delivers a lot more than what players have already experienced in terms of upgrades since launch?
Oleg Shatulo: Absolutely. The Witcher 3 has evolved a lot since its original release, and we’ve continued improving it through updates, expansions, new platforms, and the Next-Gen Update. With Remastered, though, we had an opportunity to look at the game much more holistically.
Rather than focusing on a handful of individual quality-of-life features, we went through the experience as a whole and asked ourselves what we could improve after more than a decade of seeing people play the game and listening to their feedback. That touches everything from combat and character progression to controls, UI, and accessibility, alongside the much more obvious visual and technical improvements.
So even for someone who played the most recent version of The Witcher 3, there should be plenty that feels noticeably different — while still feeling unmistakably like The Witcher 3.
Oleg Shatulo: Absolutely. The Witcher 3 has evolved a lot since its original release, and we’ve continued improving it through updates, expansions, new platforms, and the Next-Gen Update. With Remastered, though, we had an opportunity to look at the game much more holistically.
Rather than focusing on a handful of individual quality-of-life features, we went through the experience as a whole and asked ourselves what we could improve after more than a decade of seeing people play the game and listening to their feedback. That touches everything from combat and character progression to controls, UI, and accessibility, alongside the much more obvious visual and technical improvements.
So even for someone who played the most recent version of The Witcher 3, there should be plenty that feels noticeably different — while still feeling unmistakably like The Witcher 3.
RPG Site: How much work goes into enabling cross save between PS4, PS5, and the new Remaster?
Oleg Shatulo: There’s actually quite a bit of work behind something that can look very simple to the player. We had to make sure the save data remains compatible across different versions of the game, while also accounting for all the new systems and changes introduced in the Remastered version.
At the same time, we wanted the transition to feel as seamless as possible for players — you shouldn’t have to think too much about what version you’re coming from or how the underlying systems work. A lot of the effort went into making sure everything transfers correctly and reliably behind the scenes.
Oleg Shatulo: There’s actually quite a bit of work behind something that can look very simple to the player. We had to make sure the save data remains compatible across different versions of the game, while also accounting for all the new systems and changes introduced in the Remastered version.
At the same time, we wanted the transition to feel as seamless as possible for players — you shouldn’t have to think too much about what version you’re coming from or how the underlying systems work. A lot of the effort went into making sure everything transfers correctly and reliably behind the scenes.
RPG Site: Will cross save be fully supported back and forth? Will I be able to take my PS5 remaster save to Switch 1 (non remaster) and then sync it to GOG's remaster as an example?
Oleg Shatulo: Cross-save compatibility works when moving forward to the Remastered version, but not in the other direction. So you’ll be able to bring a save from the existing version of The Witcher 3 into Remastered, but once you continue playing and save your progress in Remastered, that save won’t be compatible with the older version of the game.
A lot has changed under the hood, and some of the gameplay changes — the revamped Skill Tree being a good example — make maintaining save compatibility in both directions extremely difficult.
So in your example, you wouldn’t be able to take a Remastered PS5 save back to the original Switch version. The Remastered versions across supported platforms, however, can share compatible saves through cross-progression.
Oleg Shatulo: Cross-save compatibility works when moving forward to the Remastered version, but not in the other direction. So you’ll be able to bring a save from the existing version of The Witcher 3 into Remastered, but once you continue playing and save your progress in Remastered, that save won’t be compatible with the older version of the game.
A lot has changed under the hood, and some of the gameplay changes — the revamped Skill Tree being a good example — make maintaining save compatibility in both directions extremely difficult.
So in your example, you wouldn’t be able to take a Remastered PS5 save back to the original Switch version. The Remastered versions across supported platforms, however, can share compatible saves through cross-progression.
RPG Site: I know you are doing a lot with input options on Switch 2. Will you also add gyro support on PS5 and PC? I know PC players can use Steam Input, but it would be great to have official gyro support on PS5 and PC.
Oleg Shatulo: We have nothing to share here.
Oleg Shatulo: We have nothing to share here.
RPG Site: Will The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered have any new music? Are there plans to release all the music from the original game that did not receive an official soundtrack release?
Oleg Shatulo: We have nothing to share here.
Oleg Shatulo: We have nothing to share here.
RPG Site: Hypothetical situation. Seeing the positive reaction to The Witcher 3's remaster already, what would you like to do for The Witcher 2 if a potential remaster was greenlit? This is purely hypothetical.
Oleg Shatulo: We have nothing to share here.
Oleg Shatulo: We have nothing to share here.
RPG Site: I love that you are adding Play Anywhere support to the new Xbox version. Will this operate completely differently to the Steam and GOG versions? Also will it be at feature parity with the PC release?
Oleg Shatulo: The Play Anywhere version is essentially a standalone PC version of the game available through the Microsoft Store, separate from the versions on Steam, GOG, the Epic Games Store, and Battle.net. It will maintain full feature parity with the other PC versions, while also supporting the Play Anywhere ecosystem and allowing players to move seamlessly between Xbox and PC.
Oleg Shatulo: The Play Anywhere version is essentially a standalone PC version of the game available through the Microsoft Store, separate from the versions on Steam, GOG, the Epic Games Store, and Battle.net. It will maintain full feature parity with the other PC versions, while also supporting the Play Anywhere ecosystem and allowing players to move seamlessly between Xbox and PC.
RPG Site: How much support did you receive from Sony and Nintendo with the PS5 Pro and Switch 2 versions?
Oleg Shatulo: Both versions were developed by us without direct involvement from Sony or Nintendo developers. That said, both partners provided valuable input and support throughout the process, particularly when it came to platform-specific questions and guidance.
Oleg Shatulo: Both versions were developed by us without direct involvement from Sony or Nintendo developers. That said, both partners provided valuable input and support throughout the process, particularly when it came to platform-specific questions and guidance.
RPG Site: Should we expect more ray tracing features on PS5 Pro post launch?
Oleg Shatulo: We have nothing to share here.
Oleg Shatulo: We have nothing to share here.
RPG Site: Will the Switch 2 get a 60fps mode later on or are there no plans for it?
Oleg Shatulo: We have nothing to share here.
Oleg Shatulo: We have nothing to share here.
RPG Site: Can you comment on working with DLSS in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered on Switch 2 compared to Cyberpunk 2077?
Oleg Shatulo: Our experience with Cyberpunk 2077 definitely gave us a strong foundation for working with DLSS on Nintendo Switch 2. We learned a lot about how to get the most out of the technology on the hardware, and we were able to carry that experience into The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered.
At the same time, the two games are quite different technically, so it wasn’t simply a matter of taking what we had done for Cyberpunk and applying it directly. The Witcher 3 has its own rendering pipeline, content, and performance characteristics, and we had to tune the implementation specifically around those.
Having already gone through that process with Cyberpunk meant we could start from a much stronger position and focus on finding the right balance between image quality and performance for The Witcher 3.
Oleg Shatulo: Our experience with Cyberpunk 2077 definitely gave us a strong foundation for working with DLSS on Nintendo Switch 2. We learned a lot about how to get the most out of the technology on the hardware, and we were able to carry that experience into The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered.
At the same time, the two games are quite different technically, so it wasn’t simply a matter of taking what we had done for Cyberpunk and applying it directly. The Witcher 3 has its own rendering pipeline, content, and performance characteristics, and we had to tune the implementation specifically around those.
Having already gone through that process with Cyberpunk meant we could start from a much stronger position and focus on finding the right balance between image quality and performance for The Witcher 3.
RPG Site: Will we need to link our GOG account for save transfer from Switch 1 to 2 or will it happen automatically if it detects a Switch 1 save on the console?
Oleg Shatulo: To bring your save from the original Nintendo Switch version to the Nintendo Switch 2 version, you’ll need to use the CD PROJEKT RED Account cross-progression system. The save won’t be transferred automatically simply by having your original Switch save present on the console.
Once cross-progression is enabled, you’ll be able to upload your save from the original Switch version and continue your playthrough in Remastered on Nintendo Switch 2.
Oleg Shatulo: To bring your save from the original Nintendo Switch version to the Nintendo Switch 2 version, you’ll need to use the CD PROJEKT RED Account cross-progression system. The save won’t be transferred automatically simply by having your original Switch save present on the console.
Once cross-progression is enabled, you’ll be able to upload your save from the original Switch version and continue your playthrough in Remastered on Nintendo Switch 2.
RPG Site: With the visual upgrade, will performance on PC handhelds like the Steam Deck suffer?
Oleg Shatulo: Maintaining performance parity with the DX12 version of the Next-Gen release was one of our key priorities throughout the project, and that absolutely includes devices like Steam Deck. While Remastered introduces significant visual improvements, we’ve been very conscious of making sure those improvements don’t come at the expense of the experience on lower-powered PC hardware.
Oleg Shatulo: Maintaining performance parity with the DX12 version of the Next-Gen release was one of our key priorities throughout the project, and that absolutely includes devices like Steam Deck. While Remastered introduces significant visual improvements, we’ve been very conscious of making sure those improvements don’t come at the expense of the experience on lower-powered PC hardware.
RPG Site: After Cyberpunk 2077 on macOS, should we expect The Witcher 3 in the future?
Oleg Shatulo: We have nothing to share here.
Oleg Shatulo: We have nothing to share here.
RPG Site: Was the game content changed in any region like say Japan?
Oleg Shatulo: As with previous releases, the game complies with the applicable laws and requirements in each region. We haven’t introduced any new region-specific content changes as part of the Remastered update beyond what was already required for previous versions of the game.
Oleg Shatulo: As with previous releases, the game complies with the applicable laws and requirements in each region. We haven’t introduced any new region-specific content changes as part of the Remastered update beyond what was already required for previous versions of the game.
RPG Site: Are you doing anything interesting with the DualSense controller (adaptive triggers/haptic feedback/speaker) or HD rumble 2 on Switch 2?
Oleg Shatulo: The Witcher 3 already made pretty extensive use of the DualSense controller with the Next-Gen update, including adaptive triggers and detailed haptic feedback across combat, Signs, exploration and other interactions. We’re carrying that support forward into Remastered.
On Nintendo Switch 2, we wanted to take full advantage of the additional controller capabilities available on the platform. Alongside HD Rumble 2, Remastered supports mouse controls, gyro aiming, and motion controls.
Ultimately, the goal on both platforms is to use these features where they genuinely enhance the experience and give players more ways to interact with the game.
Oleg Shatulo: The Witcher 3 already made pretty extensive use of the DualSense controller with the Next-Gen update, including adaptive triggers and detailed haptic feedback across combat, Signs, exploration and other interactions. We’re carrying that support forward into Remastered.
On Nintendo Switch 2, we wanted to take full advantage of the additional controller capabilities available on the platform. Alongside HD Rumble 2, Remastered supports mouse controls, gyro aiming, and motion controls.
Ultimately, the goal on both platforms is to use these features where they genuinely enhance the experience and give players more ways to interact with the game.
RPG Site: Can you give us a tease for what to expect in the physical release for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered?
Oleg Shatulo: We have nothing to share here.
Oleg Shatulo: We have nothing to share here.
RPG Site: Are there plans to do a new artbook for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered?
Oleg Shatulo: We have nothing to share here.
Oleg Shatulo: We have nothing to share here.
RPG Site: Will trophies/achievements auto pop / unlock when I sync my main save file to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered? This is usually an issue in games with cross save where they don't automatically trigger.
Oleg Shatulo: If you’re upgrading and continuing to play on the same platform, your saves and achievement or trophy progress will carry over. Remastered is delivered as an update to the existing game rather than as a separate product, with Nintendo Switch 2 being the exception.
When using cross-progression to bring a save over from a different platform, however, achievements and trophies won’t automatically unlock based on progress in that imported save. They’re tracked separately by each platform, so you’ll need to meet the relevant requirements on that platform for them to unlock.
Oleg Shatulo: If you’re upgrading and continuing to play on the same platform, your saves and achievement or trophy progress will carry over. Remastered is delivered as an update to the existing game rather than as a separate product, with Nintendo Switch 2 being the exception.
When using cross-progression to bring a save over from a different platform, however, achievements and trophies won’t automatically unlock based on progress in that imported save. They’re tracked separately by each platform, so you’ll need to meet the relevant requirements on that platform for them to unlock.
RPG Site: If someone is new to The Witcher 3, would you say the remaster is the only version to consider playing now?
Oleg Shatulo: I would definitely recommend the remaster. It preserves everything that made The Witcher 3 special while modernizing it with improved visuals and gameplay enhancements. There are many quality-of-life improvements in Remastered, too, that make for a more intuitive, immersive experience. If you’ve never played The Witcher 3 before, or played it for hundreds of hours, the remaster is certainly worth diving into.
Oleg Shatulo: I would definitely recommend the remaster. It preserves everything that made The Witcher 3 special while modernizing it with improved visuals and gameplay enhancements. There are many quality-of-life improvements in Remastered, too, that make for a more intuitive, immersive experience. If you’ve never played The Witcher 3 before, or played it for hundreds of hours, the remaster is certainly worth diving into.