CD Projekt Red has finally shared gameplay footage from the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series versions of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, also revealing every upcoming upgrade to the next-gen version of the 2015 RPG.
Revealed during a CD Projekt Red Twitch livestream, a handful of developers outlined the improved visuals, all-new quests, cross-progression, and more that will be coming to The Witcher 3 when the update drops on December 14.
CD Projekt Red has confirmed that graphics settings will be added to the console, allowing players to choose between 30fps with ray tracing or 60fps without. This will be available on all next-gen consoles, including the Xbox Series S.
The DLC based on The Witcher Netflix series has also been expanded with its own quest, which rewards the player with previously announced armor based on Henry Cavill’s version of Geralt. An alternate outfit has also been added for Dandelion, making him look like Jaskier from the Netflix series.
Multiple quality of life improvements
CD Projekt Red also announced that cross-progression is coming to the next-gen version of The Witcher 3, which means players will be able to share their save between PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC.
Haptic feedback has been added to the PS5 version of the game, causing the controller to vibrate in different ways when players clash swords with enemies or cast magic signs.
Speaking of which, there have also been quality of life improvements to magic wielding. Left bumper activation to switch between different signs can now be changed, so that when players hold down the button, the face buttons change to represent each of them. Although slightly more advanced, this addition is intended to allow players to stay immersed in combat without having to enter a menu.
Other quality of life improvements include tweaks to the map, as a new filter setting cleans up all the pesky question marks that fill each of The Witcher 3’s worlds. game as players can encounter different events more naturally instead of treating them like a checklist.
The minimap has also been made more dynamic, and on-screen objectives will now disappear as players explore the world on horseback or fight in combat. However, it can be reactivated with the press of a single button, preventing Geralt from getting lost while he explores the continent.
Some minor accessibility features have also been added, including the ability to change the left stick to auto-sprint (instead of being a face button prompt) and more subtitle settings.
CD Projekt Red also fixed a number of quest bugs and performance issues while improving various foliage models and other background features.
For PC, the next-gen update adds ray tracing along with more extensive customization options and a new photo mode. A new camera angle is also added for more dramatic and cinematic gameplay. The optional camera sits a bit closer to Geralt and to one side, somewhat similar to the original The Witcher 3 trailer.
Witcher 3 Next-Gen Update Release Coming Soon
The next-gen update was originally supposed to be released last year before being delayed twice, with third-party studio Saber Interactive originally developing the new version. CD Projekt Red recovered in April 2022, while insisting that the game was “not in development hell”.
A fourth quarter date was postponed in May, but many were still worried given the previous two delays, not to mention the impending end of the year, but CD Projekt Red will apparently hit their target after announcing the December date more early in November.
In our 9/10 review of the original release, IGN said, “Massively sized and meticulously detailed, The Witcher 3 ends Geralt’s story on a high note,” and it also won our Game of the Year. .
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer and acting editor in the UK. He’ll be talking about The Witcher all day.
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