CD Projekt Red announces that Witcher 3 will have a free next-gen update. The studio is developing for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X, free for current owners.
Witcher 3 is among the modern classics, coming out as a AAA title in 2015. This year marks its fifth year out, and the title made CDPR the household name it is today. The Polish studio is updating their game for upcoming RTX technology now.
CDPR will update Witcher 3 for free
According to CDPR, anyone who owns the game on PC, PS4, or Xbox One can get the update for free. Even then, gamers won’t see the benefits if they don’t have the proper hardware to run it.
Gamers will get a next-gen equivalent update for their title. If players have it on PS4, they can get a free PS5 copy. Players would need, however, to still buy the respective next-gen consoles.
For PC gamers they can enjoy the update only with a new RTX graphics card. With the recent release of the RTX 3000 series, there will be more gamers who can avail of this.
The RTX 3000 series graphics card is not only at a lower cost. They’re bound to push the value of RTX 20xx down, which means more gamers can afford them. The next-gen consoles are also coming out this holiday.
2021 ⚔️ More info: https://t.co/vakxP8unKA pic.twitter.com/fYGHWrAznd
— Radek (@gamebowski) September 4, 2020
The announcement itself does not have a full date of release. Even then, lead PR Manager Radek Grabowski confirms it will on come 2021.
CD Projekt Red creates goodwill with pro-consumer attitudes
The pro-consumer attitudes of CD Projekt Red are always at the forefront of their policies. The community is more willing to interact with them, and the free upgrade is the icing on the cake. The Witcher 3 is also a game that stands the test of time.
This is not the first time that a AAA development studio recreated their games for next-gen. For example, Bethesda has recreated Skyrim for virtually every console since its release in 2011.
The primary difference between CDPR and Bethesda, however, are upgrades. While CD Projekt Red improve the game for the next-gen, Bethesda left their game almost as-is. Bethesda’s Skyrim has an obvious outdated look to it, even with the Special Edition version.
CDPR’s release will be a great update. Ray tracing and faster loading times can make the Witcher a much more seamless experience. This move will help entice players to play the title, even if it’s a legacy game by 2021.
Witcher 3 is available on PC and all consoles at the moment. CD Projekt Red is still busy working on their upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 too.
Featured image courtesy of The Witcher/YouTube Screenshot
