The Witcher 3 isn’t just an awesome game that everyone is looking forward to. It’s not just about pretty footage, it’s about setting a new benchmarks for games in general – specifically RPGs. PAX East hosted a panel for developers during which they explained the extras that were only made possible thanks to the added power of the current generation of gaming platforms. Plus, we find out some things they’re really proud of.
According to Senior Game Designer Damien Monnier, the studio is “real fucking proud” of being able to release 16 DLC for the game completely free. However, as the DLC aren’t even made yet, they definitely won’t be on the disc. As for other questions, players can deeply customize the UI and disable or enable some elements, but there’s no photo mode.
The world sounds extraordinarily dynamic. Beyond the fact that some people might mention things that happened (even if they don’t necessarily know that Geralt was behind it), the entire world can shift and change. For example, monsters can be spawned extremely far from the player. If you kill a deer, it produces a smell and the engine calculates whether there are are monsters around and if they might be drawn to the smell. They might not like each other and end up fighting without the player even doing anything. There can be huge battles between NPC, too. But this quoted example of a situation that occurred during testing is particularly striking:
In a situation during testing, the player was riding on a horse, and got charged by bandits also on horses. He started fighting, but monsters suddenly charged from the forest, making the bandits’ horses panic. After that, the monsters slaughtered the bandits.
So, by making the game on new generation consoles and PC, the studio can include such nuanced elements as horse panic. It’s genius and organic and makes me excited to play the game. Anything could happen at any time, and the world will shift and adapt. It makes for great storytelling of your own unique experience of the game, as well as ensuring that there’s plenty of replayability.
And that is why it will set a new benchmark for games. It goes beyond the pretty pictures or the cool mythology that’s created. It’s in every facet of the game that other studios will only hope that they can bring to their games. Plus, 16 free DLC is pretty cool.
Last Updated: March 9, 2015
Pariah
March 9, 2015 at 11:39
All I read was “bla bla bla free shit”
Pariah
March 9, 2015 at 11:45
Kidding. The dynamic events thing sounds pretty awesome actually. I really need to upgrade my gfx card for this.
Mossel
March 9, 2015 at 11:59
Dude same here…my poor old 560Ti wont do this justice. I’m bargaining on the new R9 300 series to push down the prices of the R9 280x!
Admiral Chief
March 9, 2015 at 12:03
Seems like my 7870OC will still smoke some of the pipe haha
Mossel
March 9, 2015 at 12:05
That card is a beast! Might not hit full gfx, but will surely look good.
Admiral Chief
March 9, 2015 at 12:10
Yeah, plus my 8320 CPU upgrade in December will help the cause!
Rock789
March 9, 2015 at 11:49
**drool some MAWR!!**
Admiral Chief
March 9, 2015 at 11:49
YUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Admiral Chief
March 9, 2015 at 11:50
Sounds a LOT like ALife from STALKER, which is NOT a bad thing!
RinceThis
March 9, 2015 at 11:50
So much Witcher win news today!
Hammersteyn
March 9, 2015 at 11:53
We need two new screenshots to round it off.
Admiral Chief
March 9, 2015 at 11:54
Geralt moneyshot?
Mossel
March 9, 2015 at 12:05
O_o
Admiral Chief
March 9, 2015 at 12:19
Ker-splotch
Mossel
March 9, 2015 at 12:23
O_________________o
Admiral Chief
March 9, 2015 at 12:29
Aaaaaaafaaaaaaahhhhhhh
ALL DAT PLOUGHING
Michael Collin
March 9, 2015 at 14:43
Meanwhile, I’m watching my dog savor cheese. :/
Hammersteyn
March 9, 2015 at 11:52
The free DLC and the lack of any DRM is mind boggling. How is this possible?
Admiral Chief
March 9, 2015 at 11:53
It seems like there are actually good people left out there
Hammersteyn
March 9, 2015 at 11:55
All the other publishers must be scratching their heads.
Admiral Chief
March 9, 2015 at 11:55
WHAT YEAR IS IT???????
Hammersteyn
March 9, 2015 at 11:56
More like which parallel universe is this?
Admiral Chief
March 9, 2015 at 11:58
You are old enough to remember THOSE days
Hammersteyn
March 9, 2015 at 11:59
LOL I said parallel universe
Blood Emperor Trevor
March 9, 2015 at 11:55
…
Ryanza
March 9, 2015 at 12:07
Oh just because you asked.
CD Projekt RED has dealt with DRM before and CD Projekt RED is Polish which makes them think in a very logical way.
1 – The Witcher 2 had a gog.com DRM-free version and a retail DRM version. The pirates didn’t bother uploading the DRM-free version because it’s about cracking the DRM.
2 – DRM caused a big hit to frames. So DRM = performance hit to the witcher 2.
3 – DRM just doesn’t make sense. Games are still being cracked so DRM is not really there to stop pirates cracking games.
4 – Paying customers suffer because of DRM.
CD Projekt RED has taken what they learnt through experience with DRM and told Warner Bro’s to fuck off with wanting DRM in retail.
And free DLC because fuck Microsoft and Sony for using DLC to cut off the consumer from the game content. What did Microsoft want for that marketing deal with CD Projekt RED, exclusive DLC. What did Microsoft get, cards and clothed maps.
Seems I have to say this and I still don’t know why.
Don’t support western propaganda. Polish propaganda is coming.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2014/06/03/obama-poland-video-game-witcher-donald-tusk/9906967/
Wraith
March 9, 2015 at 13:52
I agree with most of your points.
Just a little confused as to how DRM would affect frames. I suppose if done incorrectly and it constantly is pinging some external server with authentication checks. But that would just be rather insane and a terrible design decision.
Otherwise I salute CD Projekt Red for being the last bastion of old-school, consumer-first gaming!
Ryanza
March 9, 2015 at 15:47
When I say something then there was most likely news about. I don’t just bring shit up from no-where. And i’m also not going to explain shit. Google it.
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2011/05/the-witcher-2-patch-removes-drm-improves-framerate/
and a youtube video
I know the patch included other things other than just the DRM removal. But it was reported as the DRM is what caused performance issues.
And to the troll. Don’t support western propaganda. Polish propaganda is coming.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2014/06/03/obama-poland-video-game-witcher-donald-tusk/9906967/
Timmy_1988
March 9, 2015 at 15:53
Western propoganda. Relevance it helps!
Ryanza
March 9, 2015 at 16:36
If only you were relevant. If only you were not a child. If only you could express yourself like a normal fucking human being. But instead…
http://media.giphy.com/media/JN2wVsQA13mBW/giphy.gif
Spy Master Tokashi
March 10, 2015 at 09:50
I want to go work for them for free! 🙂
Hammersteyn
March 10, 2015 at 09:52
Same here! Even if I have to live like one of those interns from Dilbert.
Spy Master Tokashi
March 10, 2015 at 09:59
haha yeah.
It is just amazing that there are companies out there that will do the right thing and not just want to cash in.
Sad part is, there are fucking assholes out there that will pirate this game.
Hammersteyn
March 10, 2015 at 10:04
Piracy will prevail. It’s just one of those things. Only now it’s easier with this game than other AAA, scratch that AA games. Publishers need to step up if they want the extra A back.
Free Advertising
March 10, 2015 at 10:15
The Witcher games has built up a nice fan base and hype, which should lead to decent returns on day 1 of release. The 16 free DLC will keep The Witcher 3 relevant for 2 months after release. So the Witcher 3 should sell really well for 2 months. Then the Witcher 3 starts to fade from gaming news. Then it’s up to all the Witcher 3 fans to keep on spreading the love.
Piracy is free advertising. Will piracy help will sales in the first 2 months of Witcher 3 release. Yes. Will piracy help with sales long after the Witcher 3 has been released. Yes.
We might know a lot about the Witcher 3. But there are still so many people who has never heard of The Witcher 3 before. Through word of mouth and piracy, the Witcher 3 should still be selling years from now. Well until Cyberpunk 2077 is released.
Don’t Support DRM.
Loftus
March 9, 2015 at 11:53
I must say i wasn’t that interested in this game ( every time there is news about this it’s another delay) but i have found myself getting more and more interested in it.
Blood Emperor Trevor
March 9, 2015 at 11:57
That’s nice, but how big is the day one patch going to be? 😉
Marcus
March 9, 2015 at 15:53
HAHAHAHA! That was funny and somehow pissed me off…
Spy Master Tokashi
March 10, 2015 at 09:53
to be honest, who cares. Just download it 😉
Umar
March 9, 2015 at 11:58
Above all else, with most rpgs, I really don’t care much for Dynamic worlds and all this, it’s awesome, but an RPG needs a good and engaging battle system. Dragon Age’s battle system was so streamlined, hopefully Witcher 3 has more depth to the battle system.
Viking Of Science
March 9, 2015 at 12:14
Trust me, it will…. the preperation alone before the battle adds tons of depth….
Kromas Votes LAG WCMovie Event
March 9, 2015 at 12:18
The only thing that annoyed me with regards to Witcher 1 and 2 was the horrendous combat mechanics. Felt more like work than fun. Then again I play games for story not combat so it will still be awesome.
Admiral Chief
March 9, 2015 at 12:19
Install the combat re-balance mod
Kromas Votes LAG WCMovie Event
March 9, 2015 at 12:20
I just can’t. Games have been replayed. Saves have been …. saved. Ready for Witcher 3. While I wait I am playing DA:I.
Admiral Chief
March 9, 2015 at 12:48
Which reminds me, I need to check up on my W3 saves!
Viking Of Science
March 9, 2015 at 12:24
Witcher 1’s mechanics can be blamed on the Aurora Engine (you know, the NWN2 engine) Witcher 2 was much smoother. I didn’t really have problems with it…
Kromas Votes LAG WCMovie Event
March 9, 2015 at 12:28
I will admit that 2 was a slight improvement but I personally disliked combat in Witcher. It however is a very small subtraction from an awesome game as a whole.
Spy Master Tokashi
March 10, 2015 at 09:55
slight improvement? LOL It was a major improvement from 1. It was not perfect but it was a lot better.
Umar
March 9, 2015 at 12:18
i love that aspect of rpgs. That pre-battle prep gets me excited. I love planning 😀
Viking Of Science
March 9, 2015 at 12:09
I love the fact that in 9 Short years we’ve progressed from paying $4.99 for horse armour, to getting it for free.
Kromas Votes LAG WCMovie Event
March 9, 2015 at 12:19
Nice subtle elder scrolls reference there. 😛
Kromas Votes LAG WCMovie Event
March 9, 2015 at 12:15
“Horse Panic” … sounds like a really freaky version of Gal Panic. 😛
konfab aka derp
March 9, 2015 at 17:23
Lets hope they deliver on the hype.
Iron Maiden
March 10, 2015 at 10:26
And this is why I’ll buy the game on launch day, thereby paying the full price for the game. These guys are amongst the only developers that really do deserve it. Major props to them for not being greedy cünts!