We at CD Projekt Red have long said that the next-gen update for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will harness the full capabilities of next-gen hardware. But what does this mean for the PlayStation 5? Let’s break down some of the features players can expect to see when the update drops on December 14th.
There’s nothing better to start than with the unique haptics available on the PlayStation 5! Director of Engineering for Management and Audio, Colin Walder, wanted to ensure that the capabilities of the DualSense controller were used to their full potential. According to Walder, “One way we’ve been able to do this is to transform specific elements of our audio into detailed vibrational shapes and textures that are perfectly in sync with the in-game action.” In practice, that meant scouring the game for relevant actions – not just those from Geralt, but also from around the world to ensure players received tactile feedback on their next journey across the continent. Now going underwater, gathering herbs, winning (or losing!) a game of cards, and riding a horse (to name a few) will feel more realistic than ever.
“The developers approached this task in a way that would give the player a visceral connection not just to Geralt, but also to the wider Witcher world using fantastic DualSense 5 technology,” Walder said. “Feeling every swing and strike, every sign thrown and the dirt under your boots is a real joy and coupling that with the new immersive 3D audio creates those extra layers of immersion in a way we’ve never been able to incorporate before. “
For those new to the game, we have something for you! Or, well – if it’s been a while since you’ve started The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, you might also find this useful. Players can now use the PlayStation 5 in-game help to display quest hints! Publishing director Artur Kepen, who worked closely with Sony to create the system, promised: “PlayStation Game Help will provide useful tips and tricks to new and existing players! If you get lost in your adventure, you’ll often find a video showing what to do to complete a quest or a screenshot of the area to correctly mark your quest objective. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt features a sprawling open world, and it’s one more way to figure out where to go next.
Don’t forget the activity cards! Tracking your game progress has never been easier with this handy PlayStation 5 feature. Jump straight back into the game with minimal load times and follow your journey as you and Geralt travel the continent in search of Ciri.
Of course, bringing the game up to the standards of contemporary gamers also involves the introduction of two new modes: Performance and Ray Tracing. Performance mode prioritizes frame rate at 60fps, while ray-tracing aims for 30fps and includes ray-tracing global illumination, allowing for more realistic lighting, as well as the ray-traced ambient occlusion, enabling more precise and efficient surface illumination. To further bolster these graphical improvements, you can expect a slew of fully integrated community-created mods, including 4K textures and models, immersion improvements, and visual bug fixes. On top of that, we’ve added our own gameplay and graphical improvements. And of course, Photo Mode is now available to show off the beauty of the Continent. (Pro tip: Ray Tracing mode is great for really stunning shots!)
We even added something for fans of Netflix’s The Witcher series. Players can choose to switch to an alternate outfit for the Dandelion and Nilgaardian army NPCs, and gain access to two sets of armor and swords for Geralt after completing a new quest called “In the Shadow of Eternal Fire”. Other features include a new camera mode, map filter toggles, and cross-progression, which means you can use cloud saves to switch between platforms. With only one day until the update, we’re excited for everyone to be back (or starting their very first journey) tomorrow!
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is available through the PlayStation Store on PlayStation 4 and 5. On December 14, all existing players will receive a free next-gen update.
