The Witcher 3 Remastered PC System Requirements: RTX 5080 Needed for Path Tracing - News Directory 3

The Witcher 3 Remastered PC System Requirements: RTX 5080 Needed for Path Tracing

September 29, 2026 Ahmed Hassan News
News Context
At a glance
  • CD Projekt Red has released updated system requirements for the remastered version of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, detailing the hardware necessary to run the game across four...
  • The Path Tracing preset represents the highest tier of graphical fidelity in the update.
  • For players not utilizing the full Path Tracing mode, CD Projekt Red provides three other tiers that adjust hardware expectations based on resolution and frame rate targets.
Original source: tweaktown.com

CD Projekt Red has released updated system requirements for the remastered version of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, detailing the hardware necessary to run the game across four distinct graphical presets. The most demanding configuration, Path Tracing, requires an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 graphics card to reach the developer’s target of 4K resolution at 60 frames per second with upscaling and frame generation enabled.

Hardware Requirements for Path Tracing

The Path Tracing preset represents the highest tier of graphical fidelity in the update. To meet the 4K at 60 FPS target, CD Projekt Red specifies that players will need a high-end CPU, specifically an Intel Core i9-13900K or an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D. While the developer has identified the RTX 5080 as the required GPU for this mode, no specific VRAM requirement has been disclosed. The implementation relies on upscaling and frame generation to achieve the target performance, though the studio has not specified which individual technologies are utilized for this specific preset.

Standard and Ray-Tracing Preset Demands

For players not utilizing the full Path Tracing mode, CD Projekt Red provides three other tiers that adjust hardware expectations based on resolution and frame rate targets. The Ultra preset, which aims for 1440p at 60 FPS, requires a Core i7-13700K or Ryzen 7 7700X processor. On the graphics side, this tier necessitates an RTX 3070 Ti, RX 6800 XT, or an Intel Arc B580. Notably, the Arc B580 is the only GPU in this category that requires the use of XeSS upscaling to reach the 1440p target. The ray-tracing options are split into two tiers:

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered – GAMEPLAY PC, 4K/60 FPS, Path Tracing Ultra, NVIDIA RTX 5080
  • RT Minimum: Targets 1080p at 30 FPS. This requires a Core i7-11700K or Ryzen 7 5800X, paired with an RTX 2060, RX 6600 XT, or Arc B580, along with 16GB of RAM.
  • RT Recommended: Targets 1440p at 60 FPS with upscaling. This requires a Core i7-13700K or Ryzen 7 7700X, and an RTX 4080 or RX 9070 XT, with 24GB of RAM.

Performance and Industry Expectations

The updated requirements follow the integration of DLSS 4.5, FSR 4, and XeSS 2 support for the PC version of the game. While the Path Tracing mode is designed to provide full path-traced lighting, the hardware barrier for entry remains high. Conversely, the requirements for rasterized graphics remain lower, potentially allowing for broader compatibility with older hardware configurations. Market analysts expect the release of the remaster to maintain the series’ commercial momentum. Projections suggest the title could reach 75 million copies sold before the release of the “Songs of the Past” expansion, which is currently slated for 2027. The game is set to become available to players following its scheduled release.

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