The Witcher 3 is releasing a long-awaited next-gen (new-gen?) update that includes features that will bring a 7-year-old game up to par for the beefier console generation. While it won’t convince anyone that The Witcher 3 is suddenly a brand-new, 2022 release, the updates we’ve seen will undoubtedly become the new default version of the game for new and returning players.
IGN played three hours of The Witcher 3’s next-gen update, which will be released for players who already own the game on a console or PC. You can expect a similar suite of upgrades that typically come with next-gen updates which includes a graphics mode that prioritizes 4K visuals and ray-tracing at 30 fps, or a Performance Mode that prioritizes 60 fps.
CD Projekt also added a series of game-enhancing mods created by the community as well as internally at the studio, a photo mode, and even some new easter eggs related to the Netflix show. While all of these bells and whistles are nice, the highlight from my playthrough was undoubtedly the Performance Mode which offers a super-charged, incredibly smooth version of The Witcher 3.
CD Projekt Red’s RPG was an instant hit in 2015 and has been consistently rated as one of the best modern, open-world RPGs. And while by no means unplayable, its ambitions certainly pushed the limits of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
There were numerous areas where the framerate would dip, or the textures of the models clashed. Never mind some of the funnier glitches (Roach, what are you doing on the roof?).
The next-gen updates will likely make these non-issues going forward, especially when using the Performance Mode on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. The 60fps is blistering, making the game run at a level I’ve never seen on consoles.
While Graphics Mode introduces ray tracing, this cosmetic effect mostly improves the finer margins of The Witcher 3, whereas Performance Mode will make the game feel almost new for returning players, and eliminate any frustrating frame-rate dips for new players.
PlayStation 5 and Xbox players must choose to prioritize performance or graphics, the next-gen update also has several universal changes that should improve the overall experience of The Witcher 3, regardless of which mode you’re playing in.
This includes Quick Sign Casting which lets players cast Geralt’s various Witcher spells without opening the radial window. The camera also received a big change that lets it react dynamically to movement and combat and also sticks closer to Geralt for a more personal feel. Similar to the camera distance to Kratos in God of War.
Character and enemy models have also been reworked with higher-resolution textures while removing imperfections like hair clipping and armor clipping.
These changes won’t convince anyone that The Witcher 3 is a new release in 2022. Instead, it gives CD Projekt an opportunity to revisit their greatest hit and smooth away some of the speed bumps that exist in a seven-year-old game.
What this means is that new players in particular will be able to play The Witcher 3 without any of the issues that plagued players when the game was first released. But considering that even with some of the frame-rate dips and bugs, The Witcher 3 still swept several Game of the Year awards (including IGN’s), it’s not as if these tech issues hampered the quality game underneath.
And for fans of the Netflix series, the next-gen update gave CD Projekt an opportunity to include a few Netflix-inspired easter eggs into the game, including a new questline with a suitable Netflix The Witcher-style reward.
One fun option is being able to change the Nilfgardian armor worn by the NPC in the game into the infamous armor worn by the Nilfgardians in the Netflix show. Don’t worry, this armor can be changed in the settings, but personally, I think it’s a fun option to keep around for the bad guys.
Even if nothing fundamentally changes with The Witcher 3 after its next-gen update, the rough edges are now much, much smoother and the new creative changes offer a fresh enough take that newcomers and veterans alike will at least want to check out the changes in the update. There’s a good chance it might suck you back in for your second, or fifth playthrough.
Matt T.M. Kim is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.
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