The free next-gen update for The Witcher 3 is here and it is extremely delicious. This new version of the game will mostly be a nice graphical overhaul, but it actually has a lot more to offer than that.
Over seven years after its initial release, The Witcher 3 is getting a big next-gen update on December 14. This new version will bring the beloved RPG masterpiece to next-gen consoles Xbox Series and PlayStation 5 and will be available as a free update for all owners of the game – this includes PC players as well.
Hearing "next-gen update" immediately makes you think of updated, beautiful graphics. And of course that is what we're getting here. But this new version of the game has so much more to offer beyond that, which could make this classic even better,
The Witcher 3 Next-Gen Update Makes A Masterpiece Even Better
Like we said, there are lots of shiny new graphics all over this thing, including ray tracing for PS5 and performance modes. The ray tracing seems to currently be busted though, so maybe wait for a patch before you use that mode.
Any teething issues aside, the difference is immediately noticeable: the game looks significantly better now. Effects are more detailed, foliage is much thicker and livelier, textures are a lot sharper, and so on and so on.
This is obviously one of the biggest advantages of this update, especially if you've only experienced The Witcher 3 on PS4 or Xbox One, where the game never ran that well. But it is not the only reason, why this is now the ultimate version of the game and an update, which every one has to check out.
CD Projekt RED have included tons of quality of life improvements and other changes to the game. The most important one is probably the new third-person camera, which makes the game feel more akin to action games like God of War or Ghost of Tsushima.
This is an awesome addition, which makes the game look way sexier and more cinematic than before. We're absolutely loving it!
The UI has also been massively overhauled, thank God. Finally, the infamously cluttered map is not so hideous anymore. Other QOL additions like quick menus for signs and instant pick-ups for herbs make the game noticeably smoother as well.
What is particularly awesome, is how CDPR has considered the huge mode community of The Witcher 3. Of course, this mainly concerns PC players, for which the developers have provided a list of working mods. A number of mods are also included in this update, for PC as well as consoles.
Overall, CD Projekt RED have done a really great job in giving The Witcher 3 not just a beautiful new paint job, but managing to make the game even better. A lot of kinks have been ironed out, making the classic even more enjoyable and easily playable.
If you were thinking of jumping back into the game and start a new save, this is the perfect time. And the same applies if you've never played the game before. This is the best version of The Witcher 3, easily.