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New Game + is the final slice of free downloadable content for The Witcher 3, but as some of you may already know, the game doesn't do a great job of telling you how to use it. Indeed, in order to start a new game while carrying over your skills, equipment, and non-quest items, you need to follow a few specific steps. These steps make sense when you stop and think about it, but if you're raring to get going on a new adventure, we can see why you may get a tad confused. Fortunately we've detailed the necessary steps below, and hopefully, you'll be hunting monsters all over again in no time.

How to start New Game + in The Witcher 3

Note: The first two steps of this guide do not apply to The Witcher 3 on PS5. New Game + is part of the game right from the start.

Step 1: Make sure that you've got the newest update for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt installed on your PlayStation 4. You'll need it in order to use the New Game + DLC.

If you're unsure if you actually have it installed, simply press the options button on the PS4 dashboard icon for The Witcher 3, and press X on 'check for update', which will commence downloading of the latest update if it's not already installed.

Step 2: Visit the PlayStation Store and download the New Game + DLC. You can easily find this by visiting The Witcher 3's game page and clicking on 'add-ons'. This should bring up a list of all available DLC, then it's simply a case of clicking on 'New Game +' and hitting 'download'. Fortunately, it's a pretty small download, so it shouldn't take long to finish and automatically install.

Step 3: Start up The Witcher 3 and load your last saved game. This save needs to be from after the main story's ending. Once you've loaded it up, enter the options menu and save your game. This save file can now be used for your New Game +.

Step 4: Quit back to the game's main menu and select 'new game'. From here, select your difficulty level and Witcher 2 save simulation as normal, and then a third option will present itself. When asked if you wish to begin New Game +, select 'ON' and then choose the save file that you wish to use.

The Witcher 3 New Game Plus - What carries over?

When you start New Game Plus in The Witcher 3, the following things carry over from your completed save file:

  • Geralt's level
  • All unlocked skills
  • All non-quest items, including all potions, food, materials, ingredients, and recipes
  • All weapons and armour in your inventory and in your stash

The Witcher 3 New Game Plus - Are enemies stronger?

Yes, enemies are stronger in The Witcher 3's new game plus. All enemies in the game will receive a level boost based on Geralt's level. The same is true of recommended levels for quests.

The Witcher 3 New Game Plus - Do you find better equipment?

Yes, the equipment that you find in new game plus will be of a higher level, so the gear from your old save will soon become obsolete. The same is true of witcher weapons and armour, which you can craft at much higher levels in new game plus — but you'll need to hunt down the plans all over again.

Have you started New Game + in The Witcher 3? Check out our other The Witcher 3 guides, and then carry over all of your progress to the comments section below.