The Witcher 3 Next Gen Details Revealed
In a recent developer live stream, CD Projekt RED have highlighted their plans for the upcoming Witcher 3 Next Gen update for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series consoles. Details included new content, a 60fps mode, and plenty of quality of life features. Overall, this aims to be the definitive version of one of the best games of the past decade. On top of this, the update is free to all owners of the original game on any platform- and is set to release in two weeks- on December 14. See below for more details on this update:
Graphical and Technical Enhancements
Starting with the most impactful changes, the graphics and performance of The Witcher 3 are set to be enhanced massively by this update. The biggest draw for most will be the 60fps ‘performance’ mode, which will finally allow fans to play in a crisp 60 frames while traversing the continent. A 4K resolution has also been promised, as well as improvements to draw distance, character models, and lighting effects that will bring Geralt’s best game into the modern generation of consoles. Also expect a litany of bug fixes and more minor tweaks that will allow players to immerse themselves in the world of the Witcher with as little interruption as possible.
Additional Content
Finally, of course, there is the promise of extra content available for free based on the Netflix Witcher television show. From what we’ve seen so far, this includes new armour, quests and weapons that fans of the show will enjoy. There are also alternative looks for fan favourite characters such as Dandelion- although this look has drawn a lot of scrutiny. To be honest, the new design looks quite horrific (see below). However, fans will be pleased to know that this (as well as all of the other additional TV show content) is completely optional and may be turned on or off depending on player preference. On top of this, the two huge expansions to The Witcher 3 (Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine) will be completely free for those upgrading- even if they didn’t own the DLC on last generation consoles.
Gameplay Enhancements
On top of the additional base content, there are also a number of combat and quality of life improvements- as well as some additions. The most substantial of these is the new camera perspective. You can now zoom the camera in to a over the shoulder view reminiscent of God of War (2018) to bring the player closer to the action. Given the updated graphics and performance, this may be the new best way to experience the Witcher 3. There is also a ‘quickcast’ feature, allowing you to quickly cast any sign without having to open the weapon wheel. To add to immersion, HUD elements will fade away when not being actively used, which will be a boon for taking screenshots in the beautifully rendered environments. There are also cross save options, sizeable subtitles as well as PS5 Dualsense support to make the most of the new controller.
So, with all of these upgrades and enhancements free for anyone who owns the base game (which is currently on sale for under £5), this is the best time for new and returning fans to dive into the Witcher universe again. Players can download the upgrade next month, on December 14.
