
The Witcher 3's 'next-gen' update is out today on PS5, and it's a free upgrade if you already own the open world RPG on PS4. With that in mind, it's a fairly generous offer, especially since we think Geralt's adventure is still landmark title.
Our The Witcher 3 PS5 review concludes: "Over seven years after its original release, The Witcher 3 is still a masterpiece. In its character writing and dialogue, it's yet to be surpassed, while its knack for telling so many engrossing stories is still seriously impressive. Although aspects of its gameplay haven't aged quite so well, there's no doubt that Complete Edition is the best version of a truly outstanding open world adventure."
The question, then, is whether you're playing The Witcher 3 on Sony's current-gen console. Vote in our polls, and then get ready to walk the path all over again in the comments section below.
Comments 74
Honestly have no idea if I’ll boot it up. I rarely replay games, but I am curious how touched up it is…
I won't play the whole game again but will have a quick look and do the Netflix quest. Would have preferred another expansion to give me a reason to play again.
I have too many new games and this isn't a short game. Looking forward to the Witcher 1 and 2 remakes more.
Yes but had too come out when I'm back at work for four twelve hour shifts but looking forward too a fresh playthrough.
Nothing else to play right now. CDPR picked the best possible release date. The market is dead till February.
It looks stunning on PS5, playing on performance mode and for the most part it sticks to 60fps.
I'm not starting until they fix the expansion issue. I had the original base game then bought the expansions on PS4 however they aren't downloadable from the PS5 store for me and some others. I can play the base game on PS5 but when I try to load a save file it says it can't load as the expansions aren't installed. See...
https://support.cdprojektred.com/en/witcher-3/playstation/sp-technical/issue/2336/cant-find-the-ps5-version-of-the-expansions-on-the-playstation-store
I really want to play it. Last time I replayed was almost 3 years ago and this is a perfect excuse to jump back in. However, I need to finish Midnight Suns first.
@somnambulance The combat is still some of the most clunky I have ever experienced in a AAA title.
Yup, playing just now, ray tracing looks wonderful but got it on performance mode for the 60fps.
Looking forward to sinking another 100 and odd hours in and getting to Toussaint to see how good that looks with all the bells and whistles
Unfortunately I won't be doing witcher contracts or looking for Ciri, I'll be playing Gwent instead.
I plan on getting to it eventually. Right now there are just too many games. I wish it came out around the half way point of this year when I was looking for games to play on my ps5. Poor thing was collecting dust post Elden Ring until Ragnorok saved it.
@ApostateMage I mean that is the whole point of the Witcher 3 😁
I played it for a few hours on the PS4 but got distracted with…life. But with the PS5 upgrade I’ll give it another crack, after I’m done with Tsushima. I needed video game comfort food.
PS should do an article on using a PS4 save on the PS5 version. Many steps including changing settings in the PS4 version, cloud saves, QR codes, registering an account on the web on GOG, etc. PS5 version does not just load in your PS4 save and you’re off.
Time to see what all the fuss was about.
I’m yet to fire this up. Does anyone know if an Xbox save is transferrable to GOG.com, then playable on the PlayStation version?
I played The Witcher 3 back when it first released and beat it though I never did finish either dlc. Downloaded this on PS5 and I'm starting a new save as I'd like to play it again, the RT mode looks nice but I'm so used to playing at least 60fps these days so I'm gonna stick with that
I'll be starting a full replay up this weekend. Looking forward too it. Might even make a PS5 box art for my PS4 disc.
I’d intended to run through Ragnarok so I can dedicate all my time to The Witcher 3 but Ragnarok has me gripped. I’ve already completed The Witcher 33 times already so I think I’ll finish God Of War before I jump back in for a 4th run of the Witcher.
I’m playing the Series X version and the upgrade is pretty impressive.
Sounds like the save transfer process on PS5 is painful.
I forgot to download it earlier, I'll catch up with it when I get back home 😅😅
@somnambulance If you rarely replay games of today then you'd have seen like 30% of the entire game and sorta haven't gotten your money's worth. This ain't the 90s where games were straightforward with 1 ending, and you know, games aren't movies.😉
Never finished it on PS4, not sure if I'll start over because I don't remember it well or if I'll pick up on my save.
But not now - stuck on a fight in Ragnarock, and want to finish that, first.
I will get around to it, still going through a TLOU part 1, and then I have a few more games to play, once I've cleared those I'll boot it up until the next big release (probably jedi for me)
Starting in an hour for the first time
Hey everyone,
make sure to do the "My Rewards" link you get some cool items and even a special Gwent card.
Cheers and Merry Christmas everyone!!!
@Eleventy8 The patch notes mention cross save, so I think you should be good!
"Added a cross-progression feature between platforms. Your latest saves will be automatically uploaded to the cloud so you can easily pick up where you left off on other platforms. Cross-progression provides the latest save for every save type. This feature becomes available after you log into your account."
@Savage_Joe It ended up only being 40.6GB for me.
@Uncharted2007 is that minus the dlc?
I usually pay zero attention to fps, but I think the RT mode for this makes everything so choppy that it's nearly unplayable.
@brazzios_84 @TheArt Lol. Ain’t that the truth about the combat!? I picked up the game and dropped it several times because I hated the combat early on. I was prodded pretty heavily in 2020 to go back to it and complete it… because it was 2020 and we all had free time that year. The combat definitely was an acquired taste, but I liked it in the end. I think the game’s a genuine 10/10, despite its faults. I don’t know if I can jump back into it because of the combat though. I’ve got some time between games though. Until Sports Story drops, I’m a gaming free agent ‘til Fire Emblem, Forspoken, and Hogwarts all touch down at roughly the same time.
With Witcher 3, I’ve definitely gotten my money’s worth! I bought it for $7! What intense value for 100-ish hours of gameplay! Lol. But, yeah, for me, if I do a post-completion run on any game, I’m just playing around in the game. I rarely finish anything a second time, except retro games. I’ll do a full OG Megaman playthrough every once in a while or blast through Donkey Kong Country or Mario or whatever like that, but, as much as I love The Witcher or RDR2 or any of those huge games, I just play them for fun when I return. They may not be movies, but I already know the story beats. It’s been about a decade since I’ve fully replayed a title. Maybe beating Skyrim five times in a row took that oomph out of me? I dunno, but that’s the last time I’ve done that. Could be the wife and kids thing too. Lol.
@carlos82 ... is it not just one big file now? If not, I may have more to download. I had already bought the DLC a while ago so I just assumed.
Yeah... downloading DLCs now.
@Slippship Nice try? I was just basing it off of another comment that mentioned it. Had nothing to do with an imaginary “console war” you seem to think I have in my head.
The upgrade process for PS5 if you just had the base game and no DLC was a pain in the a$$. And now I'm seeing all this nonsense about cross save trouble and people buying the DLC separately and having problems.
Get your s*** together Sony. No one else has these problems.
I am not into this kind of game in general. But my brother likes it on pc.
I bought PS4 version with discount when I read about free upgrade to PS5.
I spent 8 hours on PS4 version and to be honest, I spent that much hours only because of the dialogue videos. I enjoy how the story builds up with those videos.
And I start to understand why players liking it.
@Olskeezy Cross save looks convoluted to be sure.
1. Have Witcher 3 (PS4) updated to version 4.
2. Click L2 over save you want and register on GOG.
3. Start save file and cause auto save like fast travel
4. Load Witcher 3 (PS5) and log into GOG. Save file should be there.
Luckily, I'm only planning to transfer my New Game+.
Just downloading the PS5 version now.
So, yes I shall definitely be replaying it.
Want to finish Horizon FW again though. So the Witcher is now the second game in my backlog queue, after Ragnarok.
I mean after playing God Of War, Ragnarok.
I bought this dirt cheap on the ps4 ages ago..played around 5 hours then heard about the ps5 version coming so i stopped playing it. Just finished ragnarok and my plan was to finish of gotham knights then play cyberpunk but i'll be playing this instead..the ray tracing mode is very nice but i'm all over the performance mode. I dont understand why the hate towards the combat as i have no problems with it at all..i've played games with a much worse system..
Jesus it crashes almost as bad as during the cyberpunk release. It really ***** ***** up if it crashes during a situation in which you lose a bunch of progression, items, etc... Because of a distant auto save or not saving because you don't assume the damn game is going to crash buying and selling at a merchant.
This is starting to feel like another half assed CDPR product.
***lol right after the above rant it crashed again, then said my saved file was corrupted and had to delete it.... upon rebooting the game it acted like it was the first time I'm booting up the game and I had to reset all of my settings the gamma the HUD screen size but it still had a previous save like an auto save before that. This is so much like cyberpunk it's hilarious it's the same type of errors.
Make Multiple saves!
@Matthewnh thanks for clarifying that you mean the game GOW Ragnarok, not actual Ragnarok. Although saving up games to play for Ragnarok isn't a half bad idea - I get the impression it'll be worse than COVID, so I can't imagine anyone will be allowed outside
I bought the complete edition about a year ago for $8.99 in the Microsoft store and I have waited for this update to come out. $8.99 is a steal!! I started playing it last night after the update came out on the Xbox. The only problem is I am in the middle of Forbidden West so I guess I will have to go back and forth between the two if I can. Looks like I am going to be tied up for awhile.
The witches of crook back bog. Best side quest of all time.
@AhmadSumadi read that and thought you had completed it 33 times 🤣. Thought you musnt have played anything else haha.
@Daleaf ha! Voice text messed it up. I completed The Witcher 3 three times.
Backlog too big, 500+ hours with 2 full playthroughs. Maybe at some point in the future but I doubt it. Amazing game nonetheless.
Thought I'd check it out. Some weird Ray Tracing stuff at Kaer Morhen, but beyond that it seems okay in low intensity areas at least.
Death March! Already died to Ghouls and lvl 4 drowners, oh yes! as I try to relearn combat 🤣 I might try to do new game plus if I can import an old end game, as I think I want my mutations and armour collection for Death March and I don't want to have to wear bad looking armour to advance in the vanilla game, that's the most important thing for me. Got to look good while getting wrecked 🐺⚔️
I absolutely loved playing this and all dlc on the ps4. However I don’t think I could be bothered to load it up & try it, perhaps in a few years or so I’ll start up a new data and start from scratch. Regardless it’s a bloody phenomenal game.
I'll play it sometime in the future. I spent around 140 hours on the original and the expansions all those years ago so I want to wait a bit lol
I absolutely love the look of the Ray Tracing mode, however on playing it feels like it's seriously struggling on the PS5. I am experiencing controller lag and stuttering.
Also for anyone that has not played this yet - Death March is the best way to play it, it makes you actually require the use of food and healing, and think about your foes and strategize before you enter blindly into combat.
About to start it right now! 🤘⚔️
The combat was so off-putting for me on the PS4 that I don't plan to repurchase on the PS5. With that said...the visuals do seem to look better.
I might fire it up to finally give the expansion passes a go, a I think I have them already, or at least the first one.
Crucify me, but I could only play for a few hours as it felt off. Clunky isn’t the right word but i really didn’t like the feel of it
Played it on PS4, got burnt by the amount of side-quests, framerate was a bit janky, I don't know why but the controls and combat feels weird, decided to stop playing for a while until it became part of the backlog of games that I may or may not finish. Downloaded the free upgrade and will give it a shot. So far, the 60fps makes the game a whole lot better
I still haven't finished the trophies for the PS4 version, so I won't be starting the PS5 one.
@Slippship Was it as easy as starting up your system, booting up the game (because Smart Delivery already downloaded it overnight), and selecting Continue Game?
I am platform agnostic; but Sony's approach to cross-gen has been extremely shaky at best - that's not "console war" fodder, just pure fact.
I know it's just a "few clicks" to upgrade on PS5, but for others it's Wednesday and I am booting up my game (with new features) as if nothing happened. I really wish Sony had made similar choices for convenience's sake.
As far as the topic at hand, I may dabble in it for a little while until Christmas comes and I get a new game stash.
I’ll probably jump into it after I platinum Soul Hackers 2. I’m on my NG+ run.
For Witcher 3, I’m actually debating transferring my platinum save on the PS4 to play it on NG+ or starting fresh on a NG. Anyone here play Witcher 3 NG+ on the original (preferably on Death March)?? Was NG+ fun? Did it add anything to the game??
Okay, so this game looks absolutely phenomenal on an OLED in ray tracing mode. Once you get past Kaer Morhen's flashing mountains. The fps in white orchard is totally fine too. Some stutters when it saves, maybe? It looks so good, maybe have to add a touch of sharpness via the TV settings. I'd recommend it at this moment to try ray tracing mode and see how it goes 😄
Like is a classic I'm already replaying!
I wanted to reload it to play the expansions I never touched. But apparently that’s quite complicated to get the upgraded version working on a pre-existing ps4 save…?
@Totheteeth I got it done in a few minutes. It's convoluted but not difficult.
Oh yeah, already started yesterday, and got all those good feelings again. Meeting a old friend. Doing a fresh save. In the PS4 I did 1 run and 1 NG+ run, so there are things I even remember anymore. Let's go.
@uncharted2007 Is there a quick guide for idiots like me you can point me to?
The combat is so bad in this game that I cannot justify playing it. I could never get into it after trying it for 3 hours.
Playing ME trilogy first. Glad we got that as a monthly game.
@Totheteeth Here's one:
https://mp1st.com/news/the-witcher-3-how-to-transfer-ps4-to-ps5-save-files#:~:text=Load%20up%20the%20PS4%20version,4.0%20version%20of%20the%20save.
@uncharted2007 That’s very helpful. Thank you! Maybe I’m finally gonna play the expansions after all this time!
@Slippship See, that's another thing. Cloud saves should be free and automatic in 2022 (almost 2023).
"Your save is on another system" is just plain stupid (looking at you, too, Nintendo).
After 2 hours still didn't find out how to transfer saves between Switch and ps5.
@optic_efun11 saw that a little while after I posted. Thanks for responding.
Looks like I need to fire up the series x later.
@Slippship Sorry, not directed at you specifically. Nothing wrong with having PlayStation as your primary; but some of Sony's decisions are getting a little archaic. Not trying to change your mind or anything.
Not everyone keeps both systems. So, for things like this Witcher upgrade, you have to jump through hoops to get the upgrade and transfer saves.
Or the fact that Sony charged you $10 to upgrade to the exact same game just with some shinier graphics and Dual Sense.
Or the fact that if you have a disc version it wants to install the PS4 versions of a game when all you want is the PS5 version.
Sony's whole approach to cross-gen felt like last minute reaction to Microsoft's Smart Delivery initiative. I mean, eventually it won't matter. And I am sure none of those plans even predicted Covid and chip shortage as I am sure Sony would have ditched PS4 a lot quicker than it did.
The Cloud save things is just an inconvenience. It would be very nice to just have that as part of your base PSN account rather than pushing it behind a pay wall. So many other companies just have cloud storage for pretty much everything.
NG+, wtf for? Took me 400+ hours the first time, and couldn't even get maxed out on skills....So wtf would I boot it up again? Once was enough...
Played it through at launch, and then again with all of the DLC. Put about 350 hours into it already. It looks really good in the videos I've seen, but I'll just have to see if I hit a lull in the games I already have lined up, many through PS+.
I started playing Witcher 3 on PS4 but stopped after only an hour in. I got lost with all the various icons in the screen and forgetting how to control my character etc.
I'll give the series another chance withe the Witcher 1 remake, whenever that releases.
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