Witcher 3 Switch 2 patch 5.01 is rolling out now, and it brings the Nintendo version up to speed with the fixes PC, PS5, and Xbox got earlier this month. CD Projekt Red also packed in a handful of Switch 2-only changes, starting with sharper image quality. The patch started going out Monday morning and should land in most regions today, with the Japanese version following once it clears certification.
What’s new on Switch 2
When 5.01 hit the other platforms on Oct 8, CDPR said Switch 2 would get its own version with a focus on image clarity. That’s the headline here. The studio adjusted image sharpening and resolution to improve visual clarity and fidelity, and it says the update addresses issues players helped it pinpoint.
The rest of the Switch 2 list is smaller but welcome. A rare crash when moving between regions is fixed, and cache handling for cross-platform mod support is optimized. HD Rumble now works in both Joy-Con 2 controllers when Geralt climbs a ladder instead of only the left one, and you can no longer drop map pins on the black bars around the edge of the map.
The same fixes everyone else got
Switch 2 players also get the new Bloom, Light Shafts, and Depth of Field options in the graphics settings, along with CDPR’s retuned bloom, tone mapping, and character lighting. There are general performance optimizations too, plus a fix for visual artifacts from Dynamic Resolution Scaling.
Combat feels a little cleaner. Sprinting and dodging together no longer drains all of Geralt’s stamina, dodges don’t lag, and you can’t throw a bomb when that option is off. Auto-applied blade oils keep working after a restart, the Synergy skill shows its real bonus, and Exploding Shield now reflects damage. Boats that could start moving on their own and foliage that ignored collisions are fixed, ladder animations are smoother, and the pause-menu bug that made voices way too quiet is gone on consoles.
The one to care about most is the save fix. CDPR fixed an issue that could affect save file data and added measures for saves that were already hit. You’ll also see the policy consent screen again after updating because of a backend issue. My Rewards and Twitch/Bilibili Drops now show up in the Vizima chest even if you opened it before, though some items may be duplicated, and Ukrainian text is now available in every region.
If you’re still on the original Switch version
The remaster is $59.99 on the Nintendo eShop, and it’s a free claim if you already own The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on the original Switch. It installs as a separate download with its own icon on the Home menu, so keep an eye out for that after you claim it.
If you’ve been waiting for a cleaner image before settling in on Switch 2, now’s a good time to grab the update, flip the new graphics toggles to taste, and head back out on the Path.