Those tech wizards at Digital Foundry are back, and this time, they've had a chance to go hands on with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition on PS5. Developer CD Projekt Red has already told us what to expect from the soon-to-release upgrade, which will boast two graphical modes and enhanced assets across the board, as well as a range of gameplay additions and improvements.
But how's the 'next-gen' version actually holding up? Well, Digital Foundry reckon it's all come together brilliantly. The publication writes: "The Witcher 3 on PS5 and Series X impressed hugely in the four hours we played it — and not just in the visual upgrades, which include reworked foliage, 4K textures and higher-quality models throughout. There are also significant quality of live improvements, like a revised camera and faster controls for using signs, the magic spells of the Witcher universe. All told, the game truly looks and plays better than ever before."
The report goes into a bit more detail, stating that the upgrade's 30 frames-per-second quality mode, which makes use of ray tracing, has a "transformative effect" on certain scenes thanks to greatly improved lighting effects.
Meanwhile, the 60fps performance mode is described as an "excellent alternative". Besides the frame rate, the only difference between the two graphics settings is the inclusion of ray tracing, which isn't available when playing at 60fps. Both modes offer all of the upgrade's enhanced textures and assets, at a 4K resolution (with dynamic scaling). Sounds good to us.
The only slight sticking point is that the performance option apparently dips below 60fps on occasion. Hopefully these drops aren't too prevalent.
Will you be going back to The Witcher 3 on PS5, when it launches on the 14th December? Sharpen your swords and then your senses in the comments section below.
[source eurogamer.net]
Comments 34
Is this going to be a PS4 disc free update? I just bough the PS4 game and was hopeful
@nyXhc420 Nevermind
Yes, The Witcher 3 PS5 is a free upgrade if you already own the game on PS4. This counts for both the original release and the Game of the Year Edition.
Is the witcher 3 ps5 getting a physical release does anyone know as I don't have ps4 version?,or is it just digital version?
...I feel like I was expecting too much. It looks pretty good, and may still get a third full playthrough out of me, but it's not as transformative as what I hoped for. My bad.
Be watching this a little later tonight. Love what those guys over at Digital Foundry do every week, genuinely unbiased too
"...the visual upgrades, which include reworked foliage, 4K textures and higher-quality models throughout."
Free.
Cannot wait, been looking forward to this for ages, glad it's shaping up well.
@lets_do-this_1999 I've heared nothing official about a retail version yet. But in germany it's already listed at a shop with a physical Release on 23th January. Hoping it's not a mistake of the Shop. Greets from germany
https://www.saturn.de/de/product/_ps5-the-witcher-3-complete-edition-playstation-5-2846488.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=seo-product%20feed
@Dudditz09 same here! Was hoping this was a PS5 launch title. Probably be the only game I play in 2023.
@lets_do-this_1999 CDPR says it is getting a physical release, but it's going to come later. We don't have a date for it yet.
Considering I loved the game on PS4 in 2014 at ~30fps, I'll love it at a stable 30fps with far more bells and whistles.
Highly recommended game, especially for those that didn't play it until now... but also for those that want to give it another go.
I won't be getting the PS5 version however, because I've already played it for ~530 hours on PC (4 times the main story-line, 2 times the big DLC's). It's an awesome game, one of the best ever made and all that, but that's quite enough time spent on it : )
I'm excited to play this again and will probably opt for the RT mode as I'm already used to playing it at 30fps and it does look a fsor bit better here. This is one of my all time favourite RPG's, so I'm going to have a great time with it
Really wanted to play the DLCs on PS5, but I lost my PS4 save and don’t like it enough to replay like 75-100 hours.
Would love a 40fps RT mode! I have watched the video but you never get a real sense of the improvements until you experience it for yourself. There were times in the video where I really did struggle to see the differences to the original but I am going to wait until I see it for myself. The game is a masterpiece and any improvement is going to be far superior to the Switch version I played!
@Deadhunter same here, it is very similar and not all that impressive in my opinion but it is free so I will not complain
Never understood the draw of W3, it's one of the most overrated games ever made in my humble opinion.
@lets_do-this_1999 just buy the ps4 version for cheap and get the free upgrade
Once was enough for me but my kid has been waiting awhile so good news for them. Will also make me feel better about my PS5 purchase as they've gone all in on Steam since I bought it and they finished Elden Ring. 😢
Giesi86 shogun rok and daleaf thanks for info relating to witchery 3 ps5 and yes of course just buy ps4 version and get ps5 upgrade free why didn't I think of that lol ,I'll do that
Never played it, been sitting on my digital game shelf for years. IT IS TIME.
@doctommaso The GOTY Edition is on sale every few weeks for 10 bucks. You can also play the DLCs each without a main game save. Similar to the AC Odyssey Atlantis DLCs.
@Greifchen @doctommaso yessss, you can just launch the DLCs as if they are a new game from the home menu 😄😄 No reason to miss out on them! Just play Hearts of Stone, and then move on to Blood and Wine, and enjoy 😄
Does Roach handle better and is Geralt less grumpy?
@Greifchen @Ravix What?!!!! MIND BLOWN. lol Thanks, that's huge!
The faster controls for some of the signs in combat is much needed and wanted. Smoother combat was my biggest desire and it seems that might come to fruition.
Might not be able to play it right away when it releases since the momma bear’s going in for BC treatment on the 16th and she comes first, but I’m pumped to give it a go after Christmas. Knowing myself I’ll probably sneak some playing time in if possible. It’ll be awesome returning to this game world after so long whenever I do 😎😎😎
@CWill97 Hope and pray her treatment goes well! I agree on the combat signs, definitely a good move.
It always seems to me that faces and shadows are better on the original versions in these comparison vids.
@CWill97 best of luck for her treatment friend x
I'll give it one more shot...
I've actually been replaying it on PC, but I don't know how much of a leap there'll be between the current version on PC, and the future version on PS5. I don't know if I can stomach another (fifth, after this one) playthrough of the game.
I'm also quite conscious of Elden Ring and how much that game may have spoiled pretty much every other fantasy open world out there, for me at least.
Looked like a fun game but with a lot of games that are long I can't bring myself to start it up.
Looking forward to your guys review, whenever it's published!
Can't wait to revisit this masterpiece
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