14 DAY TRIAL // The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt launches next week, on May 19, for PC, PS4, and Xbox One all around the world. It's safe to say that, at least until Batman: Arkham Knight launches, this will be the biggest video game release of the period.
Given the popularity of its previous installments, it's also a safe bet to say that millions of people are eagerly awaiting the new role-playing experience that's currently being made by Polish studio CD Projekt Red.
Unfortunately, while many are quite optimistic about the new RPG, others have gotten seriously pessimistic due to one highly controversial aspect: the graphics. More specifically, many are currently pouring over the videos and screenshots released by CD Projekt Red in recent times, while comparing them with earlier resources. Many have found quite a lot of areas where the visuals of the game have gotten arguably worse, and as expected, they aren't so happy about it.
Given that many games have gone through serious downgrades in recent times, with the most controversial being Ubisoft's Watch Dogs, this accusation has gained traction amidst the fanbase, as you can see in the "comparison" images in the gallery below, via Reddit.
A bit of perspective on the wild ride before The Witcher 3's launch
However, before we get the pitchforks and storm the CD Projekt Red headquarters, let's try to remember a few things, including the fact that the game isn't even released as a final version.
First up, The Witcher 3 was presented to the world way back in spring of 2013. It was a pretty wild time back then, as CD Projekt Red confirmed that it's going to launch the RPG in early 2014 for PC and next-gen consoles, aka the PS4 and Xbox One, which weren't even out on the market.
Some amazing screenshots were showcased at that time, and afterwards plenty of absolutely gorgeous videos also surfaced, at first delivering just cinematic footage designed to get the hype going around the adventures of Geralt of Rivia in the third and final chapter of his trilogy.
Even at that time many fans started having doubts about what the final game will look like, but had confidence in the Polish studio.
However, one after another, the delays started happening. First, the game got pushed back to fall of 2014. Then it reached February of 2015, and finally it got one more delay, to May 19.
After the delays, the downgrade speculation started
In that time, CD Projekt Red started sharing gameplay videos and screenshots depicting more updated versions of the RPG. Unfortunately, some were of a higher quality than others, leading many to start speculating about a downgrade.
Despite constant statements from CD Projekt Red, eagle-eyed fans started seeing differences between these resources, as you can see in the images below.
While I'm not denying that there are fluctuating quality levels, bear in mind that all of them have arrived from different versions of the game as it was going through development. The title was initially revealed back in 2013, two years ago. A huge amount of things can happen during that time that can have an impact on the final quality of the title.
It's also worth mentioning that, until the finished game is in the hands of players, such comparisons are useless. Only when the title is complete and in the wild, can we start judging what CD Projekt Red managed to deliver.
For those who pre-ordered the game based on the pre-release videos and screenshots, I'm sorry to say that pre-ordering is no longer a safe course of action. It's often best to wait for a game's launch, see how it handles for users like you, and then buy it, even if you miss out on discounts or pre-order bonuses.
CD Projekt Red might or might not have deceived fans with the pre-release videos and screenshots of The Witcher 3, but until the game is officially launched, it's too early to tell. Also, and this is my own opinion, don't use old screenshots or footage, as who knows what might have changed during the game's development.