It is no secret that CD Projekt Red is currently preoccupied with the release of Cyberpunk 2077, which has been delayed several times and will finally see the light of day in November. However, the studio recently made a surprising announcement when it revealed that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt would also be released for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
Of course, while CD Projekt Red’s announcement shocked the gaming community, it wasn’t that surprising given the massive popularity of The Witcher 3. However, one thing that CD Projekt Red did not divulge during its announcement is the release date of the game’s next-gen versions. Given that the studio is still in the final stages of developing Cyberpunk 2077, it is unlikely that the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions of The Witcher 3 would launch alongside the new consoles. However, if not this year, then when should fans expect the release of The Witcher 3’s next-generation port?
At the moment, it is unclear just how extensive of an upgrade the next-gen versions of The Witcher 3 will be. However, CD Projekt Red said in its announcement that players should expect a “visually and technically enhanced version of the game.” The Witcher 3 was first launched back in 2015, and given that the hardware upgrades of the next-generation consoles are massive, it would probably take CD Projekt Red some time to upgrade the game to next-gen standards.
One of the likeliest release dates for The Witcher 3 on the PS5 and Xbox Series X, though, is May 18, 2021. To those unfamiliar, this date would mark the game’s sixth anniversary, and what better way to celebrate this milestone by releasing enhanced versions of the game for next-gen consoles. Additionally, CD Projekt Red’s announcement did say that the new versions of the game would come out at some point in 2021, and the date mentioned above is enough time for the studio to upgrade the game to next-generation standards. While The Witcher 3’s next-generation ports releasing on the game’s sixth anniversary is not unlikely, it is worth noting that the studio still hasn’t confirmed this, so it is possible that they may be released earlier or later than the stated date.
Interestingly enough, it now appears that 2021 will be a big year for The Witcher franchise. Of course, one part of that is the release of the next-gen ports of The Witcher 3, but it is also the likeliest release window for the second season of Netflix’s The Witcher, which resumed production last June. Additionally, the launch date of The Witcher 3 for the PS5 and Xbox Series X coinciding with the release of the second season of Netflix’s The Witcher may just boost the sales of the new versions of the game. It is worth remembering that when season one of the Netflix adaptation released last year, CD Projekt Red saw a significant increase in the sales of The Witcher 3, despite the game being out in the market for several years now.
Further, the enhanced version of The Witcher 3 will also be available for PC players, and those who already own the game on the PC, PS4, and Xbox One will be getting the new version as a free upgrade. At the moment, it is still unclear just how drastic the improvements CD Projekt Red will introduce in the new versions. The studio did mention that it would take advantage of the next-gen consoles’ technical enhancements such as ray-tracing and faster loading times.
As for those who do not own The Witcher 3, it is still unknown how much CD Projekt Red will charge for the new versions. However, it is worth noting that several game publishers are considering a $10 increase on the price of next-generation games, but if that’s the case or not here remains to be seen. CD Projekt Red’s typical stance of consumer friendliness would suggest it’s not, but many believe the price increase is long overdue.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is available now for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X versions will release in 2021.
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