Summary
As the world waits forThe Witcher 4, there’s a certain preoccupation with how this next chapter will compare to its predecessors. After all,CD Projekt Red has changed quite a bitsinceThe Witcher 3: Wild Huntreleased back in 2015, with the developer’s legacy now being defined by other, messier endeavors.
WhenThe Witcher 3came out, CD Projekt Red was virtually untouchable. The Polish studio had released two greatThe Witchergames before this point, slowly building their worldwide reputation so thatThe Witcher 3landed with a triumphant flourish, a stunning expansion of what preceded it. Beyond the well-crafted world of the game itself, CD Projekt Red was growing into more of a beloved developer with each passing month, serving as something of a model company during the age of aggressive AAA expansion into the likes of live-services and microtransactions. A lot of this came down to how CD Projekt Red handled theCyberpunk 2077marketing, but also the impeccable support given toThe Witcher 3post-launch, and this is something that should be repeated forThe Witcher 4.
The Witcher 4 Should Release Complimentary Post-Launch Content
The Witcher 3 Got Small Much-Welcomed Free Content Following Its Release
The Witcher 3is renowned for its premium DLCs, which offer significant expansions to its already-sprawling world, but CD Projekt Red went a bit further when it came to post-launch support. Free, substantial updates added new content toThe Witcher 3, including but not limited to:
Tacking these bits of unessential content ontoThe Witcher 3was not only a nice surprise for fans at the time, but yet more evidence of CD Projekt Red’s sterling reputation. As a single-player game,The Witcher 3didn’t need free post-launch content; no one was expecting new cosmetics and narrative content to come to the game free-of-charge. By offering these free updates anyway, CD Projekt Red engendered a lot of good will from consumers, while creating a more expansive and impressive game in the process.
This practice offree post-launch content would continue withCyberpunk 2077, although with a considerably more conciliatory tone, for obvious reasons.
CD Projekt Red Should Double-Down On Free Content for The Witcher 4
Free content forThe Witcher 3helped to cement CD Projekt Red’s good standing in the gaming community, which is something that the company could undoubtedly benefit from in the modern age.Cyberpunk 2077has come a long way since its release, shaping up to be what many consider an incredible video game, but the once-spotless developer now has a number of stains on its legacy thanks to false promises and deceptive marketing. These stains will hang over the head of CD Projekt Red’s future projects, includingThe Witcher 4.
Thus, CD Projekt Red will need to go above and beyond to ensure product quality and regain consumer trust; the redemption ofCyberpunk 2077won’t be enough to make audiences forget previous transgressions.The Witcher 4, however, could be something of a return to the golden age of the studio, serving as a celebration of both its history and of the players that supported its games over the years. Certainly, the quality of the base game will come first and foremost, and one can only hope thatThe Witcher 4won’t fall victim to anything resembling live-service conventions, but a healthy dose of generosity could go a long way toward making it a return to form for CDPR. IfThe Witcher 4can outdo its predecessor in the free content department, then CDPR could enjoy its glory days once again.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
WHERE TO PLAY
You are Geralt of Rivia, mercenary monster slayer. Before you stands a war-torn, monster-infested continent you can explore at will. Your current contract? Tracking down Ciri — the Child of Prophecy, a living weapon that can alter the shape of the world.PLAY AS A HIGHLY TRAINED MONSTER SLAYER FOR HIRETrained from early childhood and mutated to gain superhuman skills, strength, and reflexes, witchers are a counterbalance to the monster-infested world in which they live.Gruesomely destroy foes as a professional monster hunter armed with a range of upgradeable weapons, mutating potions, and combat magic. Hunt down a wide variety of exotic monsters, from savage beasts prowling mountain passes to cunning supernatural predators lurking in the shadowy back alleys of densely populated cities. Invest your rewards to upgrade your weaponry and buy custom armor, or spend them on horse races, card games, fist fighting, and other pleasures life brings.EXPLORE A MORALLY AMBIGUOUS FANTASY OPEN WORLDBuilt for endless adventure, the massive open world of The Witcher sets new standards in terms of size, depth, and complexity. Traverse a fantastical open world: explore forgotten ruins, caves, and shipwrecks, trade with merchants and dwarven smiths in cities, and hunt across the open plains, mountains, and seas. Deal with treasonous generals, devious witches, and corrupt royalty to provide dark and dangerous services. Make choices that go beyond good & evil, and face their far-reaching consequences.
