The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a role-playing game that was released in 2015 by CD Projekt Red, the developers of the Cyberpunk 2077 and the Gwent card game. The game is based on fantasy novels by Andrzej Sapkowski, and it follows the story of Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter who searches for his missing adopted daughter in a war-torn world.
The game features an open-world environment, dynamic combat, branching storylines, and multiple endings.
The game is available for Windows PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, and it supports cross-save between PC and Switch. The game also received a free next-gen update in 2022, which improved the graphics, performance, and features of the game, such as adding ray tracing and 4K resolution.
However, to run the game smoothly and enjoy its full potential, players need to meet the game’s system requirements, which are not very low. In this article, we will provide you with the minimum, recommended, and optimal PC requirements for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, as well as some tips and tricks to optimize your performance and FPS.
The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt PC Requirements
Minimum PC Requirements
According to the official website, the minimum PC requirements for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt are as follows:
- OS: 64-bit Windows 7, 64-bit Windows 8 (8.1) or 64-bit Windows 10
- Processor: Intel CPU Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz or AMD A10-5800K APU (3.8GHz)
- Memory: 6 GB RAM
- Graphics: Nvidia GPU GeForce GTX 660 or AMD GPU Radeon HD 7870
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 50 GB available space
These are the minimum requirements to run the game at low settings and 1080p resolution, with an average of 30 FPS. However, these requirements may not be enough to handle the game’s high level of detail and action, especially during the boss fights and the cinematic scenes.
Therefore, we recommend upgrading your PC to meet the recommended or optimal requirements, or at least the high-end requirements, which are slightly higher than the minimum.
Recommended PC Requirements
According to the official website, the recommended PC requirements for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt are as follows:
- OS: 64-bit Windows 7, 64-bit Windows 8 (8.1) or 64-bit Windows 10
- Processor: Intel CPU Core i7-3770 3.4GHz or AMD CPU AMD FX-8350 4GHz
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: Nvidia GPU GeForce GTX 770 or AMD GPU Radeon R9 290
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 50 GB available space
These are the recommended requirements to run the game at medium settings and 1440p resolution, with an average of 60 FPS. These requirements will ensure a smooth and stable gameplay experience, with minimal lag, glitches, or crashes.
However, these requirements may not be enough to achieve the highest possible FPS and the best possible graphics, especially if you have a high-end monitor or a competitive preference. Therefore, we suggest upgrading your PC to meet the optimal or high-end requirements, which are the highest possible requirements for the game.
Optimal PC Requirements
The optimal PC requirements for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt are not officially stated by the developers, but we have estimated them based on the game’s features and performance. The optimal PC requirements for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt are as follows:
- OS: 64-bit Windows 10/11
- Processor: Intel Core i7-9700K or AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: Nvidia RTX 3070 or AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT
- DirectX: Version 12
- Storage: 50 GB available space (SSD recommended)
These are the optimal requirements to run the game at high settings and 4K resolution, with an average of 120 FPS. These requirements will ensure the best possible gameplay experience, with stunning graphics, realistic physics, and immersive sound.
However, these requirements are very high and expensive, and they may not be necessary for most players unless they have a very powerful PC and a very demanding preference.
Tips and Tricks to Optimize Your Performance and FPS
If you want to optimize your performance and FPS in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, you can try some of these tips and tricks:
- Update your drivers and software. Make sure that your drivers and software are up to date, especially your graphics card driver, your Windows 10/11 update, and your DirectX version. This will help you avoid compatibility issues and improve your performance and stability.
- Adjust your graphics settings. You can tweak your graphics settings in the game’s menu, to find the best balance between quality and performance. You can lower some of the settings that have a high impact on your FPS, such as shadows, textures, anti-aliasing, and post-processing. You can also use the FPS counter and the benchmark tool in the game, to test your FPS and find the optimal settings for your PC.
- Change your resolution and FOV. You can change your resolution and FOV (field of view) in the game’s menu, to suit your preference and monitor. However, keep in mind that higher resolution and FOV will require more resources and lower your FPS, while lower resolution and FOV will reduce your quality and visibility. You can also use the fullscreen mode, rather than the windowed or borderless mode, to improve your performance and FPS.
- Use an SSD instead of an HDD. If you have an SSD (solid state drive), you can install the game on it, rather than on an HDD (hard disk drive). This will help you reduce your loading times and improve your performance and stability. However, if you don’t have an SSD, you can still defragment your HDD and free up some space, to improve your performance and FPS.
- Close unnecessary programs and background processes. You can close any unnecessary programs and background processes that are running on your PC, to free up some RAM and CPU usage. You can use the Task Manager or the System Configuration tool to check and close any programs and processes that are not essential for your game. This will help you improve your performance and FPS.
This is everything you need to know about The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt PC Requirements. Additionally, you can check our guide on Forza Horizon 5 PC Requirements and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth PC Requirements. Stay connected with GameEmpress.com to get the latest news and guides about the gaming world.