14 DAY TRIAL // The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is now live, likely causing a temporary blackout for all those immersed in its fantasy world.
While many were ready to burn developer CD Projekt RED at the stake for downgrading the level of visual detail in the final version of the game, when compared to the 2013 reveal, the third installment in The Witcher saga is still a compelling video game, and one of the best-looking titles of the new generation.
While some decry the loss of something they never actually had, others are content to enjoy one of the most engrossing action role-playing games ever made. It turns out, there's a silver lining.
CD Projekt RED is known for being a more consumer-friendly company than many others, no matter where you stand on the downgrade debate. Some online sources cited a developer stating that the downgrade was due to the game not being able to run on consoles in its 2013 incarnation. We might never know the truth.
What we do know is that the company fully supports modding, and has already pledged to deliver even better tools than the ones it had offered for The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. Now, even if the RedKit isn't out yet, PC gamers are busily combing the game files for anything they might be able to modify, and are already talking about modding on the game's forums.
Quest Designer Phillip Weber offered some information regarding some of the things that modders will be able to toy with in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
Skyrim was greatly enhanced by mods, The Witcher can be too
Among the most important pieces of information in the thread is the fact that we'll be able to edit the game's XML and .ini files in order to influence a lot of the in-game systems, including the weather system, making it rain more often or otherwise tweaking its settings.
In addition to this, those who complained that the preliminary PC version had ghost towns compared to the rich environments shown in early gameplay videos will be pleased to know that the game's day-one update will address this.
Furthermore, gamers will also be able to easily increase the number of non-playable characters going around their business in the game world, should they desire their experience to seem more alive and believable.
Finally, the developer also pointed out that, while he was not sure whether modders would be able to make the game's environments look exactly like the ones featured in the 2013 reveal, there are many things that can still be activated.
Speaking about the sharpening filter used in the E3 2013 trailer, he added that it only looked good in screenshots and short videos, and that actually playing the game with the setting on can cause strain on the eyes, especially when there's a lot of movement on the screen.
We're currently working on our comprehensive review of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, so stay tuned.