A visual next-gen upgrade for The Witcher 3 is on the way, however, it’s currently been delayed. Here’s everything we know so far about the upcoming upgrade for the open-world fantasy title.
Despite launching back in 2015, The Witcher 3 still remains one of the best open-world titles in all of gaming. The popular title is receiving a visual overhaul for next-gen consoles, including PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC which will be a great introduction for newcomers and a perfect incentive for veterans to revisit the story.
Originally, developer CD Projekt Red was busy continuing to work on Cyberpunk 2077 so The Witcher 3 upgrade was being handled by Saber Interactive – the team behind the impressive Nintendo Switch port. However, In April 2022 CDPR announced their plans had changed and the next-gen upgrade was being worked on in-house.
Here’s everything we know so far about The Witcher 3 next-gen upgrade, including the price, new features, and Netflix-inspired DLC.
Contents:
- Is there a release date?
- Upgrade price
- New features
- Delays explained
- Graphics modes
- Netflix show DLC
Is there a Witcher 3 next-gen patch release date?
The Witcher 3’s next-gen patch will release on December 14, 2022, confirmed via a tweet from the official Witcher Twitter account.
The next-gen update for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is coming on December 14th, free for everyone who already owns the game.
For more details and gameplay reveal, tune in to REDstreams next week on https://t.co/IpFERTohi9. pic.twitter.com/fg3yfGeNih
— The Witcher (@witchergame) November 14, 2022
Upgrade price for The Witcher 3 PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC
The Witcher 3’s upgrade will be free for all owners of the Witcher 3, so PS4 owners can play the PS5 version, and Xbox One owners can play the Xbox Series X version.
PC players will also be able to download the update at no cost.
The Witcher 3 PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC upgrade new features
The new version of The Witcher 3 is expected to feature ray-tracing effects and faster loading times. While some rumors have suggested that the game will also bundle in all available DLC, this hasn’t been confirmed by CD Projekt Red yet.
The developer has also been working with community modder, Halk Hogan, to include the popular The Witcher 3 HD Reworked mod in the release – suggesting improved textures are likely.
Originally teased in September of 2020 by one of the developers, the enhanced version of The Witcher 3 will feature all the trappings of current-gen systems when it comes to 60fps and 4K resolution. The remasters are also expected to feature compatibility with the DualSense controller, including haptic feedback.
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Witcher 3 remaster delay explained
The developers apologized for initial the delay, but said the reason is they “want to make it right” and that the delay comes as part of “recommendations supplied by persons supervising development”.
The delays are part of CD Projekt Red’s new strategy when it comes to releasing games. The company does not want a repeat of the Cyberpunk 2077 launch it seems. You can see the developer’s update on Twitter here.
Witcher 3 next-gen graphics modes
As confirmed during a CD Projekt Red Twitch stream on November 23, the new-gen version of Witcher 3 comes with multiple options for fans to either prioritize performance or visual fidelity.
Players can select a 30 FPS mode with ray tracing enabled, or instead opt for a 60FPS mode without ray tracing. Both of these options will be available on PS5 and Xbox Series X, however the Series S is unable to support them.
Netflix-themed Witcher DLC
Along with the free upgrade coming for Witcher 3 players, CDPR has also announced that a brand new set of DLC inspired by Netflix’s Witcher series will also be made available to players at no cost. On top of that, this brand-new content won’t be exclusive to the next-gen version of the game either.
“The DLCs are not exclusive to the next-gen version, they’ll be available for every version of the game (including PS4, Xbox One, and Switch),” CDPR said. As of now, we don’t know much regarding what exactly the DLC will entail, but it’s new Witcher content, which is always something that gets a warm welcome.
So, there you have it – that’s everything we know about the Witcher 3 next-gen patch. Make sure to check back soon, as we’ll update you with any future developments.
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