# Is The Witcher 3 next\-gen upgrade worth it? A deep dive analysis

- Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/is-witcher-3-next-gen-worth-it-reddit/
- Published: 2023-11-06
- Author: Nelson Ayers
- Categories: [Business & Worth](https://33rdsquare.com/category/games/worth/)

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The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt‘s next-gen update for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC has finally arrived, delivering a range of enhancements to visuals, performance and gameplay for one of the most acclaimed open world RPGs of all time. But is it enough to justify replaying such an enormous game? As a hardcore Witcher fan with over 200 hours across multiple playthroughs, I‘ve extensively analyzed what this next-gen edition offers to determine if it‘s worth revisiting. For new players, the answer is a definitive yes. However, for seasoned veterans of the Continent, the improvements may seem subtle at first glance but their impact is profound and enhances the experience in almost every way imaginable.

## Stunning visual overhaul built for 4K displays

The most immediate and noticeable upgrade is The Witcher 3 now harnessing the power of current-gen hardware for visual enhancements on every front:

- Native 4K resolution on Xbox Series X/PS5 with dynamic scaling for locked 60 FPS
- Ray tracing support for lifelike lighting and shadows
- Higher quality textures and assets across characters, environments and effects
- Greatly increased draw distances to render distant objects clearly
- Elimination of pop-in for foliage, monsters and geometry
- Enhanced particle effects, water physics and tessellation

Digital Foundry‘s [meticulous technical analysis](https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundry-2022-the-witcher-3-next-gen-patch-analysis) reveals just how substantial the graphical improvements are, calling it "the most visually advanced version of the game released so far." Nighttime scenes with ray tracing showcase the biggest leap, bathing environments in natural illumination while shadows dynamically shift realistically as you move. For a game that already looked gorgeous in 2015, the next-gen upgrade takes it to new levels of immersion and fidelity worthy of being a showcase title for 4K displays.

![Witcher 3 next\-gen graphics comparison](https://images.wccftech.com/2022/Wccftech-witcher-3-next-gen-comparison.jpeg)

_A side-by-side comparison showing the graphical improvements of lighting, textures and assets (Image credit: WCCFTech)_

## Gameplay and control refinements for a modern experience

Under the hood, CD Projekt Red has made subtle but impactful gameplay and mechanic improvements to modernize the experience:

- The new camera system expands field of view during combat and brings the camera closer during cutscenes for added dynamism
- Geralt‘s movement animations have been updated to be more responsive and fluid to take advantage of the buttery-smooth 60FPS
- Inventory management is easier than ever with larger text, new sorting options, and quick access wheel for consumables
- Oils and potions apply automatically before combat eliminating tedious preparation
- Sign-casting is faster and can be chained with new animations for more seamless combos
- Roach controls much better with improved pathfinding and reactions to player input

These changes may seem small individually, but together they bring significant quality-of-life improvements that smooth out roughness from the original release. Menu navigation, looting, prep work and combat all feel modernized to match more recent open world games. It‘s clear CDPR took notes on complaints regarding clunky controls and inventory tedium to refine the gameplay in smart ways. Combined with the faster loading of the PS5 and Xbox Series X SSDs, the entire experience feels streamlined.

## New quests, gear and content to discover

While there‘s no new story expansions, several new quests and equipment provide fresh reasons for veterans to dive back in:

- "In the Eternal Fire‘s Shadow" – New side quest in Velen
- New Manticore School Gear treasure hunt
- New Wolf School alternate appearances
- Henry Cavill‘s Netflix series Geralt outfit
- New armor inspired by Nilfgaardian soldiers in the show
- New Bounty Hunt for a Grave Hag near Crow‘s Perch

These additions are cool nods to the wider Witcher franchise expanding outside games, like the show and WitcherCon. While light on story content, they offer longtime fans new loot to hunt down and quests to complete for 100% completion.

## Objective data proves next-gen editions are superior

Looking beyond impressions, here are some key performance statistics that showcase tangible improvements:

| Version | Avg FPS | Resolution | Loading Time |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| PS4 Pro | 30-45 | 1440-1656p | 55 seconds |
| Xbox One X | 30-60 | 1728-3840p | 49 seconds |
| PS5 Quality | 30 | Native 4K | 27 seconds |
| PS5 Performance | 60 | Dynamic 4K | 27 seconds |

_Frame rate, resolution and loading time comparisons (Data compiled from [Digital Foundry](https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundry-2022-the-witcher-3-next-gen-patch-analysis) analysis)_

The data highlights major leaps in frame rate consistency, image quality, and loading times – key areas affecting gameplay experience. Reviewers unanimously agree next-gen feels like the definitive edition:

| Outlet | Verdict |
| --- | --- |
| IGN | "A beautiful return to The Witcher 3" [9/10] |
| Game Informer | "The best way to play one of the best games ever" [9.5/10] |
| GameSpot | "A masterpiece made even better" [9/10] |
| Polygon | "Subtle improvements make a real difference [Unscored] |

_Sample of major publication reviews on the PS5/Xbox Series X versions_

With nearly perfect review scores, it‘s clear that the next-gen experience stands head and shoulders above previous console versions.

## Why this hardcore Witcher fan is absolutely replaying again

As someone who has sunk hundreds of hours into multiple playthroughs, New Game+ runs and DLC expansions of The Witcher 3, I wasn‘t sure if I needed to play again after so recently beating the Switch version in 2020. However, after extensive hands-on time with the PS5 upgrade, I‘m absolutely doing another playthrough and here‘s why:

- Ray tracing and 4K resolution make night scenes jaw-droppingly gorgeous and immerse you in CDPR‘s art direction
- Smoother framerates and tighter controlsmodernize combat and exploration mechanics
- Quality of life improvements solve nagging annoyances that used to frustrate me
- Discovering new secrets and hunting down quests/loot satisfies my completionist itch
- Opportunity to try different story choices and experiment with new build paths
- Desire to replay my favorite game of all time in its definitive form

Even though I‘ve beaten the main story twice already, I‘m hungry to experience the visual splendor in 60FPS, try different gameplay approaches and choices, and most importantly spend more time in my favorite gaming world. The sum total of enhancements may seem subtle, but dramatically improve the gameplay experience. For new players, The Witcher 3 next-gen is absolutely the best way to experience this acclaimed RPG. For returning veterans, the update is a masterclass in remastering right – carefully elevating visuals and mechanics without losing the game‘s unique spirit. I cannot recommend revisiting the Continent enough. The Witcher 3 next-gen gets my highest recommendation and makes one of the best RPGs of all-time even better.

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Source: [Is The Witcher 3 next\-gen upgrade worth it? A deep dive analysis](https://33rdsquare.com/is-witcher-3-next-gen-worth-it-reddit/)