The Witcher, based on the novel series by Andrzej Sapkowski, didn’t really reach its peak popularity until the release of The Witcher 3 which came out in 2015 and is regarded as one of the best open-world RPG games of the last decade. Inspired by the video game’s popularity, the series has also been adapted into a show by Netflix.
Initially launched for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, the Witcher 3 was visually impressive and still holds up to this date, but it had to be visually downgraded before its release and Adam Badowski, head of CDPR stated that “there are complex technical reasons behind it.” This move was a bit controversial but its narrative and world design more than made up for its shortcomings. Since then, the game has received two full-length expansions that add new areas – No Man’s Land and Toussaint, quests, and gear to the main game along with numerous free DLCs. The game was re-released a year later as a complete package called “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt -Game of The Year Edition.”
Last year, CDPR announced an update for next-gen consoles as well as PC. The upcoming version will take complete advantage of PS5 and Xbox Series X’s storage for faster loading times and also features ray tracing as well as improved textures. The complete Edition not only comes with new cover art but also includes Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions along with free DLCs. Lastly, the game will get additional content inspired by the Netflix show which will be available for players on all platforms and editions (PS4/PS5, Xbox One/Series, Switch, PC).
CDPR hasn’t given a release date yet, but they have stated that it will release “later this year” indicating a Q4, 2021 release. The update is free for PC, PS4, and Xbox One owners.
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