News / NexusArc

Watch The Witcher 3 Next-Gen Trailer and Side-by-Side Comparison

The Witcher 3, CD Projekt Reds biggest hit and one of the greatests RPGs ever made, will receive a next-gen update.

By NexusArc Staff Published Dec 23, 2022 344 words

Image: CD PROJEKT RED.

CD Projekt Red showed the next-gen upgrade in motion

CD Projekt Red announced The Witcher 3’s next-generation update for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on December 14, 2022. It included visual improvements, integrated community mods, and Netflix-inspired content. Separate updates for PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch were planned, with their timing to be announced later.

The Witcher 3's next-gen trailer and side-by-side comparison showed how CD Projekt Red positioned the update as a substantial rerelease. The game was already one of the defining RPGs of its era, so higher resolution alone would not have justified another release.

Players were watching for improved lighting, better textures, performance options, camera changes, quality-of-life updates, and platform-specific upgrades that made returning to the Continent feel worthwhile.

Why the comparison mattered

A side-by-side trailer is useful because nostalgia can hide rough edges. The Witcher 3’s writing, quest design, and world-building aged well, but visual presentation and interface expectations changed quickly after 2015. Showing the old and new versions together let players see where the update changed the feel of the game.

The most effective next-gen updates do not erase the original. They make it easier to re-enter. Cleaner foliage, sharper textures, improved lighting, and smoother performance can make a familiar world feel less dated without damaging its atmosphere.

A free upgrade with strategic value

The next-gen update also worked as a long-tail strategy. It brought existing owners back, gave new players another reason to buy, and kept The Witcher brand visible while CD Projekt Red planned future projects. For a large RPG, a technical refresh can be a marketing beat, a preservation step, and a player goodwill move at the same time.

It also gave console players a better version without forcing a separate premium purchase. That matters in a market where remasters, upgrades, and paid rereleases often blur together.

What the upgrade changed

The Witcher 3's next-gen trailer showed that CD Projekt Red still considered the RPG worth maintaining. The upgrade improved more than screenshots; it made the game easier to revisit on modern hardware.