Home Gaming This is what your PC will need for The Witcher III: Wild Hunt

This is what your PC will need for The Witcher III: Wild Hunt

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54

The flames of a million melting PCs

The Witcher III is easily my most anticipated title of this year, and I was torn by its delay late last year. While I admire CD Projekt RED for wanting extra time to squash bugs, I really, really wanted to get my hands on the concluding chapter to the trilogy in February. Alas, that’s not happening, but at least now we know what type of PC we’ll need to get it running smoothly.

CD Projekt RED has revealed (via Twitter) the minimum and recommended specifications for The Witcher III on PC, and they’re surprisingly tame for a game that looks to be pushing visual boundaries all over the place.

Minimum:

  • Processor: Intel i5-2500K 3.3GHz or AMD Phenom II X4 940
  • Graphics: GeForce GTX 660 or Radeon HD 7870
  • Memory: RAM 6GB
  • OS: 64-bit Win 7/Win 8(8.1)
  • DirectX: DX11 HDD
  • HDD: 40 GB

Recommended:

  • Processor: Intel i7 3770 3,4 GHz or AMD FX-8350 4 GHz
  • Graphics: GeForce GTX 770 or Radeon R9 290
  • Memory: RAM 8GB
  • OS: 64-bit Win 7/Win 8 (8.1)
  • DirectX: DX11 HDD
  • HDD: 40 GB

Not too bad, right? Of course this doesn’t mean any new and shiny upgrades you may have made will go to waste. The Witcher II still stands as an optimised but visually taxing gem, and I have no doubt CD Projekt RED has some fancy features waiting for those of you with the best of the best in your machines.

The Witcher III: Wild Hunt arrives on PC, Xbox One and PS4 come May 19th. Who else is excited?

Last Updated: January 7, 2015

54 Comments

  1. If they releasing PC requirements now, that means the game is fucking done. Why was this game delayed. I would bet it had to do with some marketing bullshit. Going up against Batman.

    Specs don’t look so bad. But with CD Projekt RED you should know that the PC version will be good and optimized.

    Don’t Support DRM. Did you see how no online activation is required for The Witcher 3. The Witcher 3 is coming.

    Reply

    • Alessandro Barbosa

      January 7, 2015 at 17:52

      Squashing bugs? They can definitely do optimization before tackling that. Plus, the new release date outs it closer to Batman, so doubt they would’ve delayed it just for that 😛

      Reply

      • Ryanza

        January 7, 2015 at 18:07

        Something happened at The Game Awards that coursed the game to get delayed. Better trailers? Battling Batman for that one award?

        The requirements are coming out now and the game is going to be given to Sony and Microsoft this month.

        IDK. The delay might just be marketing.

        Reply

        • Matthew Holliday

          January 7, 2015 at 18:17

          dont think so, batman and witcher have different target markets.
          batman is going to pull the younger crowd, while witcher is going to pull harder on the older.

          the reasons for delay would probably be more technical, unidentified faults, stuff falling through gaps in the system etc.
          as it stands, the witcher has been on the hype train too long, the effect of the marketing has worn off, anything past their original release date is going to ahve a negative effect, the pre-orders are a constant, sure, theyll get that cash in, but their retail sales, post launch, are going to suffer for it.

          Reply

        • Alessandro Barbosa

          January 7, 2015 at 18:42

          ” Sony and Microsoft this month” Don’t think so, hasn’t gone gold yet 🙂 And wont until April/ early May

          Reply

          • Ryanza

            January 7, 2015 at 19:07

            Just something I read Marcin Iwinski (i think) said. I’ll look for it, can’t remember where I read it.

    • geel slang

      January 7, 2015 at 18:00

      “If they releasing PC requirements now, that means the game is fucking done.” – Seriously Ryanza, what do you know about game development besides playing games?

      Reply

      • Ryanza

        January 7, 2015 at 18:02

        Just a feeling I.

        Reply

    • Christopher Hart

      January 7, 2015 at 18:53

      ‘Did you see how no online activation is required for The Witcher 3’ unless you buy it through Steam. But I am going to get this through gog.com.

      Reply

  2. geel slang

    January 7, 2015 at 17:57

    GeForce GTX 660 / Radeon HD 7870 + 2500k for minimum is not that low, its actually quite high.

    Reply

    • Ryanza

      January 7, 2015 at 18:09

      7870 medium to high, 3 years old. 2500k 4 years old.

      Reply

      • Spy Master Tokashi

        January 8, 2015 at 06:35

        The 2500k is a fucking good CPU, the new chipsets are only like 10-15% faster. The minimum requirements are pretty high for a standard gaming PC

        Reply

        • HairyEwok

          January 8, 2015 at 08:31

          Yeah I’ve got a 2500 non k and it’s still running games that supposedly need way higher cpu power (cough watchdogs) on max settings without a hitch. System requirements are merely a guideline these days and should not be taken to heart at all.

          Reply

      • ToshZA

        January 8, 2015 at 08:48

        That was a mid-range desktop – around R10 – R12k budget 2 years ago. Will cost the same today for similar specs – that CPU is really decent. That’s a lot more than some people’s budgets…

        Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      January 7, 2015 at 18:10

      the 7870 is still a R2000 card, for minimum, i think thats unacceptable.
      the R9 290 is a R4000 card.
      for recommended? overkill, their “recommended” pc is like R14 000 excluding peripherals.

      would you pay R14 000 for a pc, where there is no guarantee will survive the next wave of games?

      Reply

      • Spy Master Tokashi

        January 8, 2015 at 06:38

        R14000 PC will survive the next wave of games for 5 years.. EASY.

        I have spent R7000 on a new PC (2years ago) and it runs games on high. The need to go apeshit premium on a PC is out of the window now…

        i7 for recommended is BS. There is no way that they are using an i7 to its full potential, that is just an intel marketing gimmick thrown in.

        Reply

        • Spaffy

          January 8, 2015 at 08:09

          Fek. I payed more than that just for my GPU.

          These recommended these days are killing my wallet.

          Reply

        • HairyEwok

          January 8, 2015 at 08:36

          i7 has more cache (on-board memory) and with open sandbox games that’s a must for all the processing so yeah i can actually see why they recommend it.

          Reply

        • ToshZA

          January 8, 2015 at 08:49

          I spent R14k 2 years ago. And it doesn’t meet these min graphics requirements. 2 years. Yeah.

          Reply

          • HairyEwok

            January 8, 2015 at 09:15

            Thats weird… I’ve bought my pc in 2012 (3 years ago) for about R13k from Evetech and it still runs games, all i had to upgrade was my gfx from a GTX550ti to a GTX780 Twinfrzr II.

            At the moment the specs are as follows:
            CPU: Intel Core i5-2500 3.3GHz
            GPU: GTX 780 MSI TwinFrozr Gaming OC Edition
            RAM: 8Gb DDR3-1333
            MOBA: Asus P8P67 (REV 3.1)
            PSU: Corsair TX650W

            Did you perhaps build your own PC or did you let a shop build one for you according to your specs?

          • ToshZA

            January 8, 2015 at 09:30

            Yeah, the rest of my PC is fine – it’s the graphics upgrade that I need. But that’s my point – you upgraded, I haven’t yet due to lack of funds.

            My specs:
            CPU: Intel i7 3770k 3.5ghz (can overclock with aftermarket cooling)
            GPU: GTX 560 Ti 1GB
            RAM: 16GB DDR3 1600mhz
            MB: Asus P8Z77-V LX
            PSU: Corsair 650W

            I built my own.

          • HairyEwok

            January 8, 2015 at 09:44

            The specs you have for when you bought it price wise is really impressive considering the power you have against mine and a nearly same margin of cash spent

          • Matthew Holliday

            January 8, 2015 at 09:30

            cpu and ram spec setc havent increased all that much and if you spent the money on a decent i5 2 years ago, you wouldnt need to upgrade now.
            graphics cards however, need to be upgraded like, once a week, to keep ahead of shit.
            same when it comes to building a new rig.

          • ToshZA

            January 8, 2015 at 09:31

            Exactly this yeah. It’s just my graphics that needs an update. Quite seriously, considering the current crop of minimum specs coming out…

          • HairyEwok

            January 8, 2015 at 09:46

            Well if your going green you could squeeze a GTX970 that should hold you for about 2-3 years IF gaming graphics stagnate. If you want to go red then wait and see the prices of the new R9 3XX coming out later this year.

          • ToshZA

            January 8, 2015 at 09:47

            I plan on getting the 970 – but I do need to save up a bit, so it’ll be around April when I get it. 🙂

          • HairyEwok

            January 8, 2015 at 09:50

            970 is a really good buy, it will out-bench even 780 in certain cases. I’m so pissed I wasn’t patient and waited for the 900 series. DAMN YOU PATIENCE!!!!!

        • Matthew Holliday

          January 8, 2015 at 09:47

          it was a joke, mostly, take it easy.

          cpu etc wont need to be upgraded for 5 years.
          i5’s have been solid for years, even the new i3’s are strong enough to last now.
          however, graphics cards feel like they need to be upgraded once a week.

          i know in all likelyhood that this gen will probably calm down around this point when it comes to PC requirements, they can push games as much as they want, they still have to work with the old tech inside the ps4 and xbone.

          although I seriously doubt a 2 year old banger could run farcry, dragon age or the new CoD on high. considering that 2 years ago, the 7870 was still a brand new card and cost R3500, which is now the minimum spec, you wouldnt put a R3500 card into a R3500 banger.

          Reply

    • Christopher Hart

      January 7, 2015 at 18:49

      Good thing I upped my cpu earlier last week to a i5-3470 (marginally behind recommended cpu according to http://www.game-debate.com) from a Pentium G645. I just need to up my ram by another 4gb at least then I should be ‘a for away’.

      Reply

  3. Blood Emperor Trevor

    January 7, 2015 at 18:06

    I AM EXCITED!

    Good thing I’m upgrading though, I’d scrape through by having a X4 965 & 6950.

    Reply

    • geel slang

      January 7, 2015 at 18:24

      Hope your going green

      Reply

      • Blood Emperor Trevor

        January 7, 2015 at 19:33

        Maybe blue for the cpu, probably still red for gpu – waiting to see what the 3xx series has to offer.

        Reply

  4. Admiral Chief

    January 7, 2015 at 18:22

    MOER!

    Reply

  5. Christopher Hart

    January 7, 2015 at 18:54

    I actually wonder if they are going to release a linux port of the game on the same day. That would be frikken awesome!

    Reply

    • Ryanza

      January 7, 2015 at 19:09

      No Linux is planned for release day. No Linux word from them yet concerning Linux. But there is still hope for a Linux version.

      Reply

  6. Lardus-Resident Perve

    January 7, 2015 at 20:38

    You, not even meeting the minimum with my PC.

    Reply

  7. Spy Master Tokashi

    January 8, 2015 at 06:39

    My body is ready…

    Reply

  8. Ghost In The Rift

    January 8, 2015 at 08:06

    Fuck Yeah,i just might scrape by on minimum,i just need more ram then im in,have some leave lined up for may month, hibernating with the witcher!!!

    Reply

  9. Spaffy

    January 8, 2015 at 08:12

    I expected worse. Glad I upgraded.

    Reply

  10. Tiaan Pat

    January 8, 2015 at 08:35

    I so need a new pc now 🙁

    Reply

    • HairyEwok

      January 8, 2015 at 08:39

      Better get the vaseline out and rub it all over your wallet.

      Reply

      • Tiaan Pat

        January 8, 2015 at 09:00

        That’s the thing, i don’t have the monies to upgrade 🙁

        Reply

        • HairyEwok

          January 8, 2015 at 09:08

          Nobody has the monies in January, that’s why they give the specs now so you have 4 months to save the crap out to be able to upgrade.

          Reply

  11. ToshZA

    January 8, 2015 at 08:46

    So my graphics cards doesn’t even meet the minimum. 🙁

    Reply

  12. Ryanza

    January 8, 2015 at 09:14

    Minimum spec = 7870. Now the PS4 gpu is similar to the 7870. There’s your minimum spec.

    The Xbox one gpu is similar to the 7750, I think. So if your pc doesn’t quite meet the minimum specs, don’t worry. The game should still play.

    Instead of trying to meet specs, I will be using the game to see what i need to upgrade in my PC.

    Don’t support DRM. The Witcher 3 is coming.

    Reply

  13. Quo Vadis?

    January 8, 2015 at 09:17

    With all this hype, wonder what will happen if this game bombs?

    Reply

    • Ryanza

      January 8, 2015 at 09:24

      The hype mainly comes from us because of how good the other Witcher games has been. The hype is not coming from the industry, like Watch Dogs, Destiny, Call of Duty.
      From what I’ve seen so far, the game ain’t going to bomb.

      CD Projekt RED has been busting their ass to promote this game. Going to all those gaming expo’s around the world. Might have been all of them. There’s no GTA marketing budget. The Witcher 3 is beating out Batman for the Most Anticipated Game of 2015 from gamers.

      Don’t support DRM. The Witcher 3 is coming.

      Reply

      • Quo Vadis?

        January 8, 2015 at 09:38

        Judging from the screenshots and some trailers, it has every right to be most anticipated.
        And I don’t support DRM 🙂

        Reply

  14. Remi St Clair Abrahams

    January 8, 2015 at 09:40

    Looks like i need to get better RAM…and another/better GPU…oh and CPU…Sigh. Looking forward to it tho

    Reply

  15. Ryanza

    January 8, 2015 at 09:50

  16. Ryanza

    January 8, 2015 at 10:03

    If the 7870 compares the PS4 gpu. Is this the minimum spec?
    http://i.imgur.com/tTed1qE.jpg

    Reply

  17. Bryan Musso

    January 9, 2015 at 08:05

    Specs… Check!!

    I… Cannot… Wait!!

    Reply

  18. Fat-Patate

    May 24, 2015 at 23:53

    Help! I just bought the game and it doesn’t want to launch.like it is because i don’t have the requirements or do I really NEED to buy a new processor and a new graphic card to play the game, because I don’t want to. Like if I can run the game on low graphics fine, but do I need those things to Launch the game?

    Reply

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