The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is Getting a Free Next-Gen Upgrade
Fans of CD Projekt Red’s games don’t just have Cyberpunk 2077 to look forward to on the upcoming next-gen consoles. The studio has announced plans for a new release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition, featuring upgraded graphics and technical improvements, and designed for next-gen platforms. Best of all, it will be available as a free upgrade for existing owners of the game!
The Upcoming Witcher 3 Next-Gen Re-Release
“The Witcher 3 is coming to the next generation!” writes CD Projekt Red on social media; “A visually and technically enhanced version of the game will be available for purchase for PC and next-gen consoles & as a free update for owners of the game on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.”
In the years since its release, CD Projekt Red has brought The Witcher 3 to every gaming platform – even the Nintendo Switch! As such, it’s not totally surprising that the game would get a next-gen upgrade. What is a bit surprising, however, is how quickly it is being released. Cyberpunk 2077’s launch is just a few months away, and that game won’t be getting its own free next-gen upgrade until early 2021. (Although the current-gen version will be fully compatible with next-gen consoles at launch.)
The decision to make The Witcher 3’s next-gen upgrade free for all existing owners is likely to prove extremely popular. Additionally, it could increase calls for other “next-gen upgrades” to be delivered in a similar fashion. At present, the gaming industry is largely split into two camps; studios like CD Projekt Red, ZeniMax, and Bungie are all offering next-gen upgrades of their current or upcoming games for free (and the Xbox Smart Delivery program is another example of this school of thought). Meanwhile, Activision, EA, and others are charging for their next-gen upgrade, with an average fee of around $10.
The latter approach has, understandably, proven unpopular with gamers, especially with so many studios opting for the former approach. It remains unclear which will become the norm as the next-gen consoles launch. After all, it’s likely that many current-gen titles will get next-gen upgrades in the next couple of years. (Certainly, next-gen upgrades for PS4 exclusives like God of War, Marvel’s Spider-Man, etc. are practically a certainty.) Hopefully, The Witcher 3 will set a positive precedent in this matter.