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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Yes. CD PROJEKT RED says its PC hotfix 5.00c restores the ability to launch The Witcher 3’s Classic (1.32) version. The developer announced the fix on 1 October 2026 for Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, Battle.net and Xbox Play Anywhere (PC). Remastered remains available on current-generation platforms; the Classic fix is not described as a console version switch.
What hotfix 5.00c changes
The key line in CD PROJEKT RED’s 1 October 2026 hotfix 5.00c announcement is: “Fixed an issue where it wasn’t possible to launch the Classic (1.32) version of the game.” The announcement names five PC distribution routes:
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition - PC | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (PC-DVD) | $18.52 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Namco Bandai The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Game Of The Year Edition | $24.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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- Steam
- GOG
- Epic Games Store
- Battle.net
- Xbox Play Anywhere (PC)
The notice establishes that the fix was announced for those PC versions; it does not independently confirm that the update had finished propagating to every storefront. Check your platform’s current update status if the Classic option or launch still does not work.
Other changes in 5.00c include fixes for saving and loading when the Documents folder path contains special characters, audio volume after navigating pause-menu tabs, marketing telemetry settings, and the GOG achievements list. The patch also adjusts Velen visuals—including Bloom, vegetation lighting, saturation and Path Tracing lighting—and reverts a HairWorks change that had caused significant performance and visual issues for some users.
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How to choose Classic on PC
The hotfix notes confirm that Classic 1.32 can be launched again, but they do not give launcher-by-launcher instructions for selecting it. CD PROJEKT RED’s Remastered FAQ says that players can revert to an earlier version depending on their platform and points to separate instructions. Use the official instructions for your store or platform rather than assuming one launcher’s steps apply to another.
If the option is not available after updating, first confirm that hotfix 5.00c is installed for your PC copy, then consult the platform-specific guidance. The announcement does not establish that every rollout issue is resolved on every storefront.
Does the fix apply to consoles?
No console Classic-launch fix is stated in the 5.00c announcement. It is framed as a PC hotfix and names PC storefronts. CD PROJEKT RED’s separate patch 5.00b notice, also dated 1 October 2026, covers PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Play Anywhere (PC), with changes including Xbox Play Anywhere PC DLSS, lighting adjustments and parity updates. It does not say that consoles received the Classic launch fix.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThat distinction matters: availability of Remastered on a console does not mean that console has the PC rollback control. The official announcements do not claim that the hotfix restores a Classic/Next-Gen selector on PS5, Xbox Series X|S or Nintendo Switch 2.
Is Remastered or Next-Gen still available?
Yes. CD PROJEKT RED’s 29 September 2026 launch announcement lists Remastered availability for GOG, Steam, Epic Games Store, Battle.net, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2. The developer describes it as a free upgrade for qualifying owners, and says the update includes the Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions. Its FAQ lists PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2 as Remastered upgrade platforms.
So the hotfix does not replace Remastered: on supported PC storefronts it restores access to the earlier 1.32 build, while the updated edition remains available on its listed platforms. The sources do not promise identical version-switching controls across platforms.
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- Italian edition.
What happens to saves, skills and achievements?
CD PROJEKT RED’s FAQ says existing The Witcher 3 saves are compatible with Remastered. Because of the skill-system overhaul, skills reset when using an existing save in Remastered. Achievements already earned in the base game and expansions carry over. This compatibility statement concerns bringing existing saves into Remastered; it does not establish save compatibility in both directions between Classic and Remastered.
Which version should you use?
Choose based on the version your setup needs, not on an assumed performance advantage. The official announcements identify a PC rollback option and the platforms for Remastered, but provide no benchmark comparison between Classic and Remastered and no compatibility guarantees for individual mods.
- Use Classic 1.32 if your PC setup specifically depends on that version. Confirm the relevant mod or configuration requirements with its creator; the hotfix does not guarantee compatibility for any particular mod.
- Use Remastered if you want the updated edition on a supported platform or need its current feature set. Keep in mind that skills reset when you bring an existing save into it.
- On console, use the Remastered edition available for your platform. The PC hotfix announcement does not document a console route back to Classic.
What the announcements do not establish
The official notices do not provide a single set of launcher steps for selecting Classic, confirm complete rollout to every named store, or report comparative performance results. They also do not say that console players received the Classic-launch fix. For those specifics, rely on current platform instructions and the game’s support pages rather than extrapolating from the PC patch notes.
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