The Witcher 3 Next-Gen Update
The big day has finally arrived. The Witcher 3’s massive next-gen update, which brings the 2015 fantasy RPG into the modern console and PC generation, goes live on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC today.
The update goes live at different times depending on where you live and what version you’re playing on. It’s free for anyone who already owns a copy of the game on that platform.
The big update goes live on Tuesday, December 13th at 4pm PT / 7pm ET if you’re on PC or Xbox Series X|S. If you’re on PlayStation 5 the update goes live at midnight local time on December 14th.
The upgraded graphics don’t come through quite as much as I’d hoped in the below video, but there’s a definite improvement and for owners of the game it’s a major free improvement (unlike Rockstar or Bethesda endlessly nickel-and-diming gamers for slight enhancements to GTAV and Skyrim!) so I’m happy with that. Some areas in this video show off the graphical upgrade more than others. We won’t have a real sense of how much of a difference it all makes until we can play it ourselves.
The next-gen update improves the game’s graphics in truly impressive ways, but the update isn’t limited to graphics. It also adds new side-quests and a host of other options to CD Projekt RED’s masterpiece.
There are also tie-ins to the Netflix series—you can change Dandelion’s appearance to match Jaskier’s from the show, for instance, or make the Nilfgaardian armor look like the series’ version (though I’m not sure why you’d want to). The In The Eternal Fire’s Shadow quest, which takes place in Velen, is also inspired by the TV show.
Quality of Life improvements include a Quick Sign Casting option, an improved map filter that allows you to hide stuff like the ubiquitous question marks and an adjustment to fall damage that makes it blessedly less lethal. Thank the gods.
Many of the changes are actually plucked from popular mods, including the Full Combat Rebalance 3 mod by Flash_in_the_flesh that makes combat much more satisfying. Upgraded 4K textures, high-resolution character models, better cut-scenes and much more—including secret upgrades and changes that the community will have to find out on their own—all come in the massive update. Read the full patch notes below for more.
The Witcher 3
PC and Next-Gen Exclusives
• The Witcher 3 HD Reworked Project by HalkHogan
• HD Monsters Reworked by Denroth
• Immersive Real-time Cutscenes by teiji25
• Nitpicker’s Patch by chuckcash
• World Map Fixes by Terg500
• Added a new weather type – “Gray Sky”
• Updated sky textures
• Vegetation and water improvements
• Various mesh improvements
• Improved some select VFX
• Updated global environmental lighting
PC-Specific
• Number of background characters
• Shadow quality
• Grass density
• Texture quality
• Foliage visibility range
• Terrain quality
• Water quality
• Detail level
Next-Gen Console-Specific
Online Features
• Swords of the Nine-Tailed Vixen
• White Tiger of the West Armor
• Dol Blathanna Armor Set
• Roach Card
Detailed information on how to redeem the rewards will be available from Dec 14th, 1 AM CET at thewitcher.com/my-rewards.
Additional Content
Quality of Life Changes
Gameplay
Remember – these are just the highlights! There are lots of changes in this update, so check them out for yourself in the game!
As always, I’d love it if you’d follow me here on this blog and subscribe to my YouTube channel so you can stay up-to-date on all my TV, movie and video game reviews and coverage. Thanks!