The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is Getting a Free Next-Gen Upgrade

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, one of the most highly-regarded RPGs of the generation, is getting enhanced for the new console hardware releasing later this year.

In a post on the official Witcher website, CD PROJEKT has announced that a next-generation edition of the game is currently in development and will “feature a range of visual and technical improvements — including ray tracing and faster loading times — across the base game, both expansions, and all extra content.” The upgraded version will be provided as a free update for existing owners of the game on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. In addition, a retail version will be offered for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.

CD PROJEKT is considered by many to be one of the most consumer-friendly publishers in the games industry, so the news of a free next-gen upgrade doesn’t come as a huge surprise. When The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt first launched in 2015, players were given 16 free DLC items simply for purchasing the game. It also got two paid post-launch expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, which added tons of new content to an already substantial experience. It was confirmed more recently that Cyberpunk 2077, another CD PROJEKT-published title, will also be given the same DLC treatment and free next-gen upgrade.

The video game industry is approaching next-gen upgrades in a variety of ways. Some publishers, such as Ubisoft and IO Interactive, are offering free upgrades for games that are launching in close proximity to the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Other titles, like Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and NBA 2K21, require users to buy a higher-priced version if they want a native, next-gen version of their purchase.