‘The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’ Gets ‘Next Gen’ Update

On December 14, the game that made CD Project Red a revolutionary studio received a free new update.

Much like past free upgrades, players who already own the product can pick this one up on either the PSN store or the Microsoft store on Xbox from the product page. The third entry in The Witcher series has been loved by critics and fans alike since it came out, and though the new update is far from a remake and more like a remaster, quality-of-life improvements really help the game feel fresh to old players and more so similar to current games for new players.

The biggest change may be the inclusion of both performance mode and graphics mode. These features are two ways to play the game. Performance mode gets Geralt, and the world around him, to run smoothly at 60fps while graphics mode tends to be a little choppier though brings ray tracing to the game and an entire slew of other graphical upgrades.

Other updates to The Witcher 3 include a photo mode, HUD changes, and a new optional camera angle. Photo mode is jam-packed with goodies so the player can take a great snap. The HUD has been minimized, leaving few things to distract you from the game’s beauty. New camera angles provide a closer third-person perspective of Geralt. There are benefits to both camera angles, as the more intimate one allows the game to feel much like most recent additions to the genre and combat feels more grounded.

Aside from the technical side, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is receiving a few new quest lines, new armor sets and more. Players can expect to run into gear that looks suspiciously similar to the outfit Geralt wears in The Witcher TV series.

Earlier this year, it was confirmed that CD Project Red is remaking the first Witcher game though a release date has yet to be announced.

If you’re thinking about picking up The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for the first time or the fiftieth, now is definitely the time to explore one of the best RPGs of our times.