As an avid gamer and fan of dark medieval fantasy, I couldn‘t have been more enthralled than when The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt first unleashed its massive open world adventure in 2015. Across years and multiple playthroughs, it remains an all-time favorite thanks to its memorable characters, impactful quests, terrifying beasts, and addictive gameplay set in the rich Northern Kingdoms.
So when developer CD Projekt Red unveiled their incoming next-generation update for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles, I knew this epic roleplaying saga had cast its spell on me once again. Read on for why The Witcher 3 still shines over 7 years later and how new technical wizardry will make its grisly return even more immersive.
Why The Witcher 3 Continues to Be a Masterpiece
For those new to the Continent, the Witcher games adapt Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski‘s fantasy book series of the same name. You play as Geralt of Rivia, a monster-hunter trained since childhood in supernatural combat and tracking. With the Northern Kingdoms fractured by war, you travel the countryside as a roving problem-solver, using swords, spells and investigative skills to take on threats human and otherworldly.
Beyond its macabre monsters and mature themes, The Witcher 3 enthralled with sprawling geography and stories boasting serious moral complexity. Tiny side quests delivered compelling self-contained adventures while political machinations,war chaos, fairy court conspiracies and father-daughter drama blended into an epic overlapping narrative. Throw in addictive combat, rewarding progression and truly living open world and it‘s easy to see why this dark fantasy adventure is often considered one of gaming‘s great achievements.
| The Witcher 3 Key Info | Details |
|---|---|
| Release Date | May 19, 2015 |
| Developer | CD Projekt Red |
| Consoles | PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC |
| Genre | Action RPG, Open World |
| Game Length | 51 Hours (Main Story), 173 Hours (Completionist) |
Next-Gen Means An Even More Vivid Return to the Northern Kingdoms
From recent hands-on previews, it‘s clear The Witcher 3 will benefit tremendously from new console hardware advancements. Faster loading, smoother performance and enhanced immersion should make monster hunts, investigation and exploration even more engaging.
Specific next-gen improvements include:
- Ray tracing – Complex lighting and reflection effects make for far more realistic environments and weather
- Faster loading – Near instant transitional load times mean uninterrupted delving into deep dungeons and buildings
- 4K support – Higher-resolution textures and assets better match the powerful GPUs in new consoles
- Haptic feedback – PS5‘s specialized controllers heighten physical in-game sensations
For myself and surely most fans, the technical overhaul is almost secondary to the game itself. But experiencing The Witcher 3 with these new features undoubtedly takes its living, breathing world to even greater heights. I for one cannot wait to gallop across open fields and get lost among coastal cliffs, forest brush and crumbling ruins with improved visuals making the journey all the more believable.
Existing Fans Get Next-Gen Upgrade Free
In welcome news from CD Projekt Red, current console owners won‘t need to shell out more coin to experience these next-gen enhancements. Instead, the developer is providing full access to returning Witcher 3 players on both PlayStation and Xbox at no extra cost.
The upgraded edition launches as a native port on PS5 and Xbox Series hardware. So as long as you already own the base game digitally from last generation consoles, updating your existing copy triggers the improved version download automatically. Expect the update to appear on the PlayStation Store or Microsoft Store once officially released.
Potential December Release Date – A Holiday Treat for Witcher Fans
While CDPR promised the revamp would launch sometime in Fall 2022, they have yet to announce an official street date. However credible industry insider Tom Henderson leaked via Try Hard Guides that December 9th is the targeted release. Henderson has proven correct on previous reports, so this speculated early-December timeframe seems plausible.
Frankly, anytime in the midst of the dark cold winter feels appropriate for returning to the witcher‘s world of war, oil lamps and stone castles brushed with snow. As a holiday treat for fans, I‘ll absolutely be clearing room on my PlayStation 5‘s precious SSD storage space whenever Geralt comes a-calling!
More Witcher Tales Still Unfolding
Beyond revisiting the vast Northern Kingdoms, CD Projekt Red thrilled fans earlier this year by confirming a new mainline Witcher game is also in development. Though no details yet on plot or characters, the continuation of Geralt‘s monster hunting crusades or perhaps new heroes venturing into that beloved fantasy realm gets me excited for the franchise‘s future.
In more immediate news, the developer also announced new DLC content for Witcher 3 tied to characters from the globally popular Netflix show. With breakout fan-favorite Jaskier the bard or headstrong princess Ciri herself to choose from, I‘m intrigued by how their cameo Witcher 3 appearances manifest. More content always equals more excuses to rejoin one gaming‘s most engaging fantasy realms!
For existing admirers or even those who somehow missed this colossal dark fantasy adventure the first time, The Witcher 3‘s incoming technologically-revamped version is absolutely essential. Smoother visuals and loading alone are reason enough to replay this masterpiece. Yet it‘s the unforgettable quests, nuanced characters and uniquely alluring world that make rediscovering Geralt of Rivia‘s journey an absolute must. I for one eagerly await saddling Roach once more!
