Developer CD Projekt Red announced a surprising amount of new content and improvements coming to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's free current-gen update, which releases next month. The action RPG was released in 2015 and won several game of the year awards. It's also been re-released and ported to almost every gaming console since its initial launch.
Next month's free new-gen update for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is upgrading the game by adding ray tracing, performance modes, cross-progression, photo mode, and many other improvements on December 14. In a recent Twitch livestream, CDPR (via IGN) shared details about the update, which will be available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, and even include new features for the game's PC version. It will be free to download for anyone who owns the game.
The Witcher 3's Renowned Open World Is About To Get Even Bigger
As previously teased, The Witcher 3 update will add items from the Netflix series. After completing a brand-new quest, players can unlock the same armor Geralt wore in the show. CDPR is also adding an alternate version of Dandelion's outfit that resembles Jaskier from Netflix's Witcher series. There was a significant increase in Witcher 3 players after the Netflix show debuted, so it makes sense for CDPR to pay homage to the program. After the update releases, fans of the show will be able to more closely resemble Henry Cavill's interpretation of the stoic Witcher Geralt.
More new quests, upgraded visuals, and several quality-of-life improvements will also be included in The Witcher 3 update. The extra content is enough that one might consider the release a remaster of the beloved game rather than a free update. Several game companies have put out similar updates for last-gen games that have added extra features and improved performance on newer hardware like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. However, most new-gen upgrades don't feature quite as much content as CDPR is promising for The Witcher 3's arrival on current-gen systems.
The free update will provide plenty of reasons for fans to want to play The Witcher 3 again. With the upcoming upgrade, a new Witcher trilogy in development, and the Netflix series' third season on the way, it's a great time to be a fan of The Witcher franchise. In addition to this Witcher content, fans wanting to play the series from the beginning can look forward to CDPR's recently announced remake of the first Witcher game, and after the update releases on December 14, many players will likely be happy to revisit the hundreds of hours worth of quests found in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and its expansions.
Source: CD Projekt Red/Twitch (via IGN)