The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
News, coverage and analysis tracking The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt across the outlets.
Latest coverage
"For a few weeks, women were just dropping their babies": The Witcher 3 lead on designing NPCs that react appropriately
CD Projekt Red quest designer Philipp Weber discussed the challenges of creating realistic NPC behavior in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. He highlighted how the focus on detailed NPC reactions, such as mothers dropping babies when Geralt caused a disturbance, was a complex aspect of the game's design due to the team's inexperience at the time.
Witcher 3 designer says it wasn't easy to convince players its NPC simulation wasn't 'just fakery': 'People nowadays are interested in those kinds of details, and it really came to haunt us'
CD Projekt Red's Philipp Weber discussed the challenges of creating believable NPC behavior in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, noting that players' interest in intricate details could be a double-edged sword. He explained how the team programmed NPCs to react realistically to player actions, even if it led to humorous or unintended consequences like mothers dropping babies. The article also contrasts this with Cyberpunk 2077's approach to NPC simulation.
The Witcher 3 lead says designing for player curiosity "really came to haunt us" when making sure it felt like…
CD Projekt Red quest designer Philipp Weber discussed how early design choices for NPC schedules in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, focused on realism, created unexpected challenges. The team prioritized simulating believable daily routines over immediate player reactions, leading to humorous situations like NPCs dropping babies. Weber noted that creating such detailed NPC behaviors was more difficult in earlier development stages compared to current practices.
How I’m dealing with my video game backlog of 48 titles - Reader's Feature
A reader details their strategy for tackling a personal backlog of 48 video games, categorizing titles and discussing their purchasing habits. They highlight challenges with game length, difficulty, and digital ownership, while also reflecting on completed games and those they've abandoned.
Blood of Dawnwalker takes notes from Guitar Hero for the vampire RPG's parrying: "It's so cool that we believe most people will play this way"
Rebel Wolves director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz has revealed that Blood of Dawnwalker's optional parry system draws inspiration from Guitar Hero. The system involves matching on-screen prompts with thumbstick movements to block and parry attacks. Tomaszkiewicz believes this mechanic will be widely adopted by players due to its engaging nature, despite its optional status.
Blood of Dawnwalker dev says you can beat the final boss right after the prologue, but it "will be a feat worthy of…
Rebel Wolves has stated that players can defeat the final boss of Blood of Dawnwalker immediately after the prologue, though it will be an extremely difficult challenge. The developers highlighted the game's non-linear narrative and optional quests, emphasizing that players can forge their own path through the open world.
PC Gamer magazine's new issue is on sale now: Onimusha: Way of the Sword, with a huge A1 poster and Top 100 games…
PC Gamer magazine's latest issue features an exclusive preview of Capcom's upcoming action sword-fighting game, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, including hands-on gameplay and interviews with developers. The issue also includes a supplement detailing the top 100 PC games, a poster for Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and features on co-op games and other previews and reviews.
Redditor turns Android phone into a desktop PC in a stroke of genius, sandwiching it between two huge CPU coolers so it…
A Redditor has successfully transformed an Android phone, the Nubia Z70 Ultra, into a functional desktop PC by integrating it with two large CPU coolers for enhanced thermal management. This impressive hardware modification allows the phone to run a Linux desktop environment with GPU acceleration and even play Windows games at playable frame rates using Wine and Box64, with The Witcher 3 achieving 20-30 fps at 1080p Ultra settings.
Project Sirius Faces Further Layoffs to “Reflect the Project’s Needs,” Says CD Projekt RED
CD Projekt RED has confirmed further layoffs for its Project Sirius team, affecting employees in both Warsaw and Boston. The company stated the team size was adjusted to reflect the project's current development needs. This marks another setback for the multiplayer Witcher spin-off, which has undergone significant changes.
The Witcher 3's Geralt actor wishes he could "sue every single AI platform" for stealing his voice
Doug Cockle, the voice actor for Geralt in The Witcher series, expressed strong opposition to generative AI platforms using his voice without permission. He stated that if he had the means, he would sue every AI platform that has stolen his voice. Cockle is concerned about the potential for AI to create harmful or offensive content attributed to his character and emphasizes the human element behind voice performances.
Multiplayer Witcher spin-off Project Sirius reportedly hit by layoffs again, in "broader shift in development strategy" at CD Projekt Red
CD Projekt Red has reportedly laid off nine employees working on the multiplayer Witcher spin-off Project Sirius, with another nine being reassigned. This move is attributed to a broader shift in development strategy, though a substantial team remains on the project. The company's priorities are currently The Witcher 4, a Witcher 3 expansion, and a Cyberpunk sequel.
Think The Blood of Dawnwalker Is Just The Witcher 3? Here Are 15 Major Differences
The Blood of Dawnwalker, developed by former The Witcher 3 creators at Rebel Wolves, aims to establish its own identity rather than merely imitating its predecessor. Key differences include a protagonist with a human/vampire duality affecting gameplay, dynamic day/night cycles that significantly impact combat and mechanics, and a directional swordplay system distinct from The Witcher 3's traditional approach. The game also features a narrative urgency with a 30-day time limit and a unique approach to progression and questing.
The Witcher 3 devs wanted Geralt to have "no emotion," but his voice actor pushed back against CD Projekt Red:…
Voice actor Doug Cockle discusses his interpretation of Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, pushing back against CD Projekt Red's initial direction for a completely emotionless protagonist. Cockle argued that an emotional core was necessary for player connection and for Geralt's character development, particularly in his relationship with Ciri. The developers eventually embraced this more nuanced portrayal as the series progressed.
The last season of Netflix's Witcher show has reportedly been delayed
The final season of Netflix's "The Witcher" show has reportedly been delayed to 2027, despite wrapping filming last year. While Netflix has not officially confirmed the delay or a specific release window, speculation suggests it is to allow for further visual effects work and to avoid competing with other major releases. The article also briefly mentions other Witcher media, including the novels and video games.
Ghost Recon Wildlands is the closest I'll get to more Metal Gear Solid 5, and its free update proves old games…
The free 'Last Rites' update for Ghost Recon Wildlands offers a compelling stealth experience reminiscent of Metal Gear Solid 5, highlighting the enduring appeal of tactical open-world gameplay. Despite some dated elements and AI quirks, the update, alongside 4K/60fps support on current-gen consoles, revitalizes the 2017 title. This trend of adding new content to older games is seen as a positive development in the current industry climate.
Just in time for pre-Songs of the Past DLC refreshers, Witcher 3 modders have restored a cut menu which lets you watch story recaps at any time
Modders have successfully restored a cut 'Events' menu in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, allowing players to watch story recaps at any time. This feature, originally developed by CD Projekt Red but left unfinished, was restored by modder Glassfish777, who fixed bugs and updated the user interface. The restored menu provides a way to refresh players' memories of the game's narrative, especially with upcoming DLC.
The Blood of Dawnwalker Could Make RPG Choices Matter Again
The Blood of Dawnwalker aims to revitalize choice and consequence in open-world action RPGs, a feature many recent titles have lacked. Developed by Rebel Wolves, featuring veterans from CD Projekt RED, the game emphasizes meaningful player decisions that impact the narrative, drawing comparisons to classics like Fallout and The Witcher 3. The game is set to launch on September 3rd and promises a 50-hour playthrough with a focus on replayability and player agency.
We won't get "the next FromSoftware" or "another Remedy or Larian" at this rate, warns veteran…
Veteran game developer Xalavier Nelson Jr. warns that industry consolidation and financial uncertainty are preventing new studios like Larian or Remedy from emerging. He argues that the current environment, exacerbated by issues like rising console prices due to AI-driven RAM shortages, stunts the growth of developers and limits their ability to practice and refine their craft over decades. Nelson Jr. emphasizes the need for audiences to actively support and evangelize the games and creators they love to foster a healthier development ecosystem.
Vilka är det som jobbar med FZ?
This article introduces the staff behind the Swedish gaming website FZ, describing them as passionate gamers with diverse tastes and strong opinions. It highlights their backgrounds, favorite games, music, films, and books, aiming to connect them with the FZ community.
The Witcher 3 director says solely aiming for high sales is a great way to make a game "fail," and he wants to measure his new RPG The Blood of Dawnwalker by the "opinions of fans"
Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, director of the upcoming RPG The Blood of Dawnwalker and a veteran of The Witcher 3, believes that solely focusing on high sales figures is a detrimental approach to game development. He stated that he prefers to measure the success of his games by fan reception and artistic achievement, asserting that if a game is good, sales will follow. The Blood of Dawnwalker is described as a 14th-century horror RPG where a half-human, half-vampire protagonist has 30 days to save their family.
