We finally have a date for the upcoming The Witcher 3 next-gen update. It’ll be free for everyone who already owns the game and will introduce a host of new features to Geralt’s journey on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, including ray tracing, faster load times, and more.
The next-gen update for The Witcher 3 was originally announced back in 2020, prior to the release of the PS5 and Xbox Series consoles. It was subsequently pushed back to 2021 before being delayed once again to 2022, then pushed back yet again earlier this year to an indeterminate point.
Now, however, it seems CD Projekt Red is finally finishing up work on the long-awaited Witcher 3 next-gen update. A tweet on the official Witcher Twitter account reveals that the update has been scheduled for December 14th, which is just a month away. It’s almost time to revisit the Continent and its denizens.
When it does arrive, The Witcher 3 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S will boast technical improvements including the addition of ray tracing, faster loading times that take advantage of the new consoles’ SSDs, and HDR support. Even if you only own the base game, you’ll get the next-gen upgrade that will give you both major DLC expansions, as well as new DLC based on the Netflix Witcher series.
Even if you don’t have a PS5 or Xbox Series X|S, you’ll still get a host of improvements and boosts on PS4, Xbox One, and Switch, and you’ll also get access to the Netflix DLC. Still, it’s clear that PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, as well as PC, are where the real improvements are at, so if you want the best Witcher 3 console experience, you’re better off playing it on the newer machines.
For more information about the upcoming Witcher 3 next-gen upgrade, be sure to tune into CD Projekt Red’s stream on Twitch next week, where the developer will show off Witcher 3 next-gen gameplay. The game will be available for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on December 14th, either as a digital download or an upgrade for owners of the game. A physical version is also due to arrive sometime after the digital edition.
