Witcher 3 Next-Gen PC Issues: Fix Low FPS & Poor Performance

CD Projekt Red has unleashed The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's next-gen update, filled with graphical prowess. Some PC gamers, however, are struggling to enjoy The Witcher 3's next-gen update, running into performance issues such as low frames-per-second (FPS), stuttering, and more.

This article explains what's happening with The Witcher 3 next-gen update on PC, how you can roll back the update, and provides possible fixes to the low FPS issues.

Update on 25 January 2023: We've updated this article with the latest on the Witcher 3's next-gen update PC performance issues and possible fixing, including how you can roll back to a previous version on Steam and GOG.

Witcher 3 Next-Gen PC Performance Issues Low FPS Fix

PC gamers across the globe, no matter their hardware configuration, are running into performance issues such as low FPS, stuttering, lag, and more when trying to play The Witcher 3 following the next-gen update.

Even those with, for example, an RTX 3080 are struggling to run the game properly, experiencing sharp FPS drops. First and foremost, it is important to note that this isn't just a few incidents, as the issue seems to be widespread. Thankfully, developer CDPR has confirmed they are aware of the PC performance issues.

So how do you fix the PC performance issues experienced following the next-gen Witcher 3 update? Well, you can't, not really.

PC gamers will have to wait for CDPR to deliver an update. However, you can check that your gaming rig actually meets the new minimum or recommended system requirements. Further, we suggest updating your graphics card drivers to the latest version and closing any unnecessary programs for now.

There is a way, however, to play The Witcher 3 smoothly on your gaming rig right now, which is what the next section of this guide explains.

How To Roll Back Witcher 3 Next-Gen Update

The only way for many PC gamers to experience smooth FPS in The Witcher 3 right now is to roll back to an older version before the next-gen update. Yes, it is really not ideal at this point, but it might be the only way right now. Below, we've outlined the steps to roll back the Witcher 3 next-gen update on both Steam and GOG.

Roll Back Witcher 3 PC Update on Steam:

• Run Steam.
• Head to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in your Steam Library.
• Right-click on the game and choose the "Properties" option.
• From here, click on the "Beta" option and then choose "Classic" from the menu.
• Restart Steam (it might not be needed).
• Run The Witcher 3 without the next-gen update.

Roll Back Witcher 3 PC Update on GOG:

• Run GOG.
• In your GOG games Library, find The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
• Click on the "Settings" option.
• From here, pick the "Select Installation" option from the menu.
• Click on "Configure" and then choose the "Classic" option.
• Run The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt without the next-gen update installed.

This should roll back The Witcher 3 to version 1.32. For reference, the next-gen update is version 4.0.

So there you have it, possible fixes to The Witcher 3's next-gen update PC performance issues, such as low FPS and stuttering, and how you can roll it back to a previous version on both GOG and Steam.

We will endeavor to update this article once more fixes are found or once CDPR issues a hotfix update to alleviate these performance woes.

In case you've been out there hunting monsters and missed it, check out the next-gen update trailer from CDPR below.