CD Projekt RED Announces The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (Pictures & Video)

The Witcher 3 art CD Projekt Red 6

Fans of the RPG series The Witcher can get ready to jump up and click their magical heels. Polish developer CD Projekt RED has officially announced The Witcher 3. They’ve revealed quite a few details and a bunch of artwork regarding the upcoming game.

Here are a few highlights that have been revealed publicly…

  • Standalone sequel
  • Fascinating stories and characters
  • Non-linear plotlines
  • Open world 30 times larger than The Witcher 2, larger than Skyrim
  • REDengine 3 technology debuting with the game
  • Coming in 2014 on PC and “all high-end platforms available”

CD Projekt RED interview also discusses some details and feelings regarding The Witcher 3

CD Projekt Red has officially announced this information through Game Informer. Subscribers of the magazine can get all the details through the big cover story in the magazine. Fortunately, reader INDIGO_CYCLOPS on the NeoGaf site has been kind of enough to share some of the details with us…

World supposedly 20% bigger than Skyrim’s, says development team. [Tentative, obviously]
30-40 minutes to cross world on Horseback
New streaming technology (CDRED Engine 3)
Geralt’s Memory is restored
No chapters/acts
Dude is fucking 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.
Clues build up information (like a Bestiary perhaps?)
Books garner information about monsters
Townsfolk provide information
Potions and such are important
Time of day and other conditions affect where monsters appear, and their abilities

Critical strikes in areas that matter depending on how much you learn about said monster
You can disable a vampires poisoning attack by hitting its venom gland (Vampires are poisonous?) or skewer BOTH ITS HEARTS with a thrust attack (instant kill)
Monsters drop loot like unobtainable alchemical and crafting ingredients for unique potion, mutagen and item crafting.
Provides income as well

Enemy AI completely rebuilt, scripted bosses out
Environmental combat ‘contributions’ (a dozen types of interactive objects)
Wasp hive irritated using Aard

Magical signs retooled
Igni = new flamethrower effect
The magic tree advancement allows secondary sign forms = ie. Igni and a 360-degree blast
Yrden = small trap can be modified into a larger field that slows any enemy

Other trees, Swordsmanship and Alchemy
New strikes under Swordsmanship, boosts like improved stamina and parrying
Mutation mechanic under a different development path
Not much information given about Alchemy path, other than it being based on potions

Horse could be used to access long term stash, as well as Inns
Team aware of frustrations of inventory management in The Witcher
Committed to a less tedious process

Crafting critical to maximize Geralts potential, but weapons and armor can be found in many ways
Players can customize their crafted weapons with some components, ie, monster scales for leather in armor

Each armor piece has unique appearance, new cloth simulation tech.
Barber is in from the get go. Dyeing hair is OUT OF QUESTION, White Wolf.

While there are no real The Witcher 3 screenshots yet, there has been quite a bit of artwork revealed for the game. Check out our Witcher 3 gallery below…

Additionally, CD Projekt Red has posted a title reveal video on their own website, showing you the logo for The Witcher 3...

While there is no release date yet, CD Projekt Red is aiming to release The Witcher 3 in 2014. More details will be revealed according to Game Informer, so we’ll keep you posted.

CD Projekt Red Official Site

Sources: Game Informer / Kotaku / NeoGaf

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