The Witcher 3

First information and picture of The Witcher 3 released

While the news is breaking that Game Informer’s March cover is The Witcher 3, we’ve got the first official details on the game here. And they’re stunning.

The Witcher 3 - full

Check out the beard on our hero’s face. More information and screens as we get them. In the meantime, here’s some information according to NeoGaf:

  • World supposedly 20% bigger than Skyrim’s
  • 30-40 minutes to cross world on Horseback
  • New streaming technology (CDRED Engine 3)
  • Geralt’s Memory is restored
  • No chapters/acts
  • Dude is [freaking] DONE fighting for everyone else
  • Everything from solving MYSTERIES to slaying monsters
  • Coming out on “all top-of-the-line” consoles – I’d say that confirms next-gen is in.
  • So it’s saying that they had to change up their design philosophy when developing TW3, due to the open world structure. So NARRATIVE comes in three forms:
    • Lowest level = free form activities like crafting, monster slaying (seems to be much more extensive this time around) and questing.
    • Next level = Political situation of Nilfgaardian invastion is resolved through a core plotline for each area. These areas? -> Skellige, Novigrad and No Mans Land!
    • Final level = Geralt’s main plot line, his search for his loved ones, and the chase of the Wild Hunt.
    • Sounds like a lot of interwoven plotlines, decision making. You can skip things if you really want, but there will be consequences to your actions if you do so.

Additionally, there’s also some information about the rendering process used in the game:

  • “CD Projekt RED has provided the screenshots you see here from its current in-game assets running on its Internal PC development hardware. However, the renderer – the part of the engine that translates the game files into what you ultimately see on screen – is still in development and will boast significant improvements by the time The Witcher 3 ships. “Right now you see the game in the old renderer, but it’s going to be taken to a truly next level,” says gameplay producer Marek ZSiemak. In particular, the developers tell us that skin shaders and the dynamic lighting model will be markedly more advanced in the final version.”

And finally, the same NeoGaf user mentions a quote from the developers of The Witcher 3, saying that while “they missed the storytelling potential of open world . . they’ve mastered the storytelling of RPG.”

First Witcher picture

If this isn’t exciting news for RPG fans, I don’t know what is.