Tech

The Witcher 3 Next-Gen: all about the PS5 and Xbox Series X update of the cult game

The Witcher 3 has the right to a major update, more than seven years after its release. This brings the game into a new era, since it adds many visual improvements, but not only. Price, release date, news, we tell you everything about this update.

The Witcher

Seven years after its initial release, The Witcher 3 is getting a huge update. She wants to improve the base game to bring it up to current standards and bring it into the Next Gen era. CD Projekt Red completely overhauls the graphic part, but also takes care to bring some nice additions.

Release date, affected consoles, price, changes, we tell you everything about this update. Whether you are a fan of The Witcher or want to discover the game on this occasion, it should be of great interest to you. Follow the leader !

When is The Witcher 3 Next-Gen coming out?

The Next-Gen update is available from December 14, 2022. An ideal date to enjoy the title during the long winter evenings.

The Witcher

It has been long overdue. Originally announced in 2021, its release has steadily slipped back, with CD Projekt Red having to deal with the Cyberpunk 2077 issue before thinking about what’s next. It’s now done.

What console is The Witcher 3 Next-Gen available on?

This is a “Next-Gen” update… so it’s available on consoles PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, but also on PC.

The Witcher

In case you don’t have than a PS4, an Xbox One or a Switch, don’t panic, you also have the right to the update. If graphically, the game is only improved by small touches on these consoles, it benefits from all the other novelties in terms of gameplay, which we detail below.

How much does The Witcher 3 Next-Gen cost?

The Witcher 3 Next Gen is totally free if you already have the game and its two expansions. Let’s say you bought it boxed on PS4 when it was released, just reinstall it on your PS4 or PS5 to download it. Same thing on PC or Xbox.

The Witcher

However, the update is not cross-platform. If you had the game on Xbox One and now have a PS5, you have to buy The Witcher 3 in its Complete Edition (50 €) on PS4. A physical version of this version for PS5 and Xbox Series will be sold in the coming months.

Is The Witcher 3 Next-Gen a remake or a remaster?

The terms Remake and Remasters are common in the video game world today and there is sometimes a fine line between the two. The Witcher 3 Next-Gen is closer to a remaster than a remake, but in reality, it’s a slightly different project.

This is “only” an update. So we have the base game, as it was released in 2015, but improved. Thereby, there is no need to buy a new version to enjoy it, as is the case for Remasters.

Read also – Diablo 2 Resurrected test: evil is back and it feels good

What changes in this Next Gen version?

The Witcher 3 Next Gen changes a lot of things compared to the base title, but the most visible improvements are obviously in the graphics. First of all, all textures have been reworked in 4K, as well as some animations. On consoles, the title can now run at 60 frames per second. The player has the choice between a Loyalty mode (native 4K) and a Performance mode (60 FPS). A classic work on a “remaster” that we have seen for example on a Mass Effect Legendary Edition. On PC, there is also compatibility with FSR2 and DLSS.

The Witcher
Ray-tracing brings a new dimension to gaming

But The Witcher 3 does not stop there, since it also adds ray-tracing on PS5, Xbox Series and PC, which greatly improves the effects of light, shadows and reflections. Additionally, the studio confirmed in the full update pathnote that community-favorite mods and other tweaks have been incorporated.”to improve environments and cutscenes, get more realistic rendering of cobblestones, and improve many sets”.

Thus, the following mods have been added:

  • The Witcher 3 HD Reworked Project by HalkHogan
  • HD Monsters Reworked by Denroth
  • Immersive Real-Time Cutscenes by Teiji25
  • Chuckcash Nitpicker’s Patch
  • Terg500 World Map Fixes

Regarding the environments, CD Projekt announces improvements to the textures of the sky, vegetation and water, as well as an update to the global lighting. In addition to that, we can now count on online backups, but also on a photo mode to take beautiful shots of our adventures.

The Witcher

Of course, the PC version will be able to take advantage of a large number of modifications exclusive to the support, starting with the addition of the Ultra graphics settings, which allow to significantly increase the visual fidelity of the game. In this graphics profile, players will be able to edit :

  • the number of people in the background
  • shade quality
  • grass density
  • texture quality
  • foliage visibility distance
  • the quality of the ground
  • water quality
  • the level of detail

Note that DLSS 3.0, the latest version of Nvidia’s super-sampling technology, is also available on compatible graphics cards, i.e. the latest RTX 4000.

the witcher 3 maj
Credits: CD Projekt

The improvements are not limited to the graphic part. Many gameplay tweaks have been made. For example new camera modes have been added. The fights have also been made more dynamic with an overhaul of the spell system (Signs), filters enrich the map, in order to avoid too much information and it is now possible to customize the HUD. PS5 players are spoiled, since the haptic feedback of the DualSense is used to reinforce immersion.

The Witcher

Finally, additional content spice up the adventure. A new side quest, dubbed In the Shadow of Eternal Fire, will yield rewards inspired by the Netflix series The Witcher starring Henry Cavill. Dandelion, the bard and friend of the witcher, also has an alternate appearance from the series, as do the armors of Nilfgaard soldiers. Nothing crazy, but it’s still good to take.

The Witcher
Armors from the Netflix series are available in the Update

CD Projekt Red has produced a video (in English) detailing all these new features at length:

Are The Witcher 3 expansions included in this Next-Gen Edition?

The Next-Gen update concerns the Complete Edition, which includes all content released from The Witcher 3. It ranges from bonus armor to major expansion. Therefore, Heart of Stone and Blood and Wine are logically included. As a reminder, these are adventures taking place after the main story, adding around twenty hours of play each. If you purchased the base game when it was released in 2015, then the expansions afterwards, the update is also available for all content.

The Witcher

But by the way, what is The Witcher?

If you’ve made it this far, you most certainly know what The Witcher 3 is. For the others (there must be some), here’s a quick summary: The Witcher 3 is the conclusion of a trilogy of action/RPG video games. The title marked by its richness and the accuracy of its gameplay. But to understand where the phenomenon comes from, a step back is necessary.

Basically, The Witcher (Wiedźmin in VO) is a literary universe created by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski in the 1980s. Through several independent short stories, we follow the wanderings of Geralt de Riv, a witcher (monster hunter) who evolves in a dark and violent fantasy world.

The Witcher

In the 1990s, the author wrote a five-volume saga that followed the short stories. A breathless tale that enjoys a huge success in Poland, so popular that it was even adapted into a series in 2001. But beyond the country’s borders, the license remains very confidential, despite an English translation (some short stories had also been translated into French).

The WitcherIn 2001, The Witcher was adapted into a series by Polish TV

Everything changed in 2007. CD Projekt, a small Polish studio, releases The Witcher game all over the world. Acting as a sequel to the literary saga, it is available only on PC and is causing a stir among cRPG fans. This allows the license to make itself known a little, but it remains reserved for a niche.

The Witcher
The Witcher (2007)

In 2011, The Witcher 2 continues to democratize the saga. This time, the title is also released on consoles and the license is essential in the video game industry. Consecration comes in 2015 with The Witcher 3considered one of the best RPGs in the history of the medium and sold more than 40 million copies.

The Witcher
The Witcher 2 (2011)

Because of this, the popularity of the witcher is now worldwide. Netflix jumped at the chance to produce a series (soberly named The Witcher) broadcast on the platform since 2019. This does not include the games, but the books of Sapkowski.

The Witcher season 2
The Witcher on Netflix

The latter have also been successful all over the world since. In France, the publisher Bragelonne regularly releases new editions and derivative books. The Witcher is the perfect proof that a video game can popularize a hitherto confidential license.

Will there be more The Witcher games in the future?

The Witcher 3 was to sign the end of the adventures of Geralt de Riv. However, CD Projekt Red could not decently give up such a juicy license whose popularity does not weaken over time. So new projects are underway in the premises of the Polish studio.

A fourth part has already been announced. At the moment we have very little information. Only certainties: it will use the Unreal Engine 5 and will start a new trilogy. It could also be that he introduces a whole new character, leaving Geralt to enjoy his retirement serenely.

The Witcher

A remake of the first part of 2007 is also in the pipes. It is scheduled to come out after The Witcher 4 and will use its assets. It will allow players to (re)discover the founding title with new eyes. It must be said that the 2007 game has aged quite badly, both in terms of graphics and gameplay.

The Witcher Remake

In addition to all this, CD Projekt Red is also working on a new part of its other flagship license: Cyberpunk 2077.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *