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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 25, 2022 Updated Apr 8, 2026 459 words

CD Projekt Red showed the next-gen upgrade in motion

The Witcher 3, CD Projekt Reds biggest hit and one of the greatests RPGs ever made, will receive a next-gen update. The update will drop on all platforms where the game was released and will not only feature visual enhancements, including but not limited to higher resolution textures and Ray Tracing, but it will also receive new content inspired by the Netflixs hit series starring Henry Cavil. There are also rumors that the update will also include content independent creators had released as mods on platforms like nexus mods. Previous generation consoles and the Nintendo Switch will not be able to make use of the enhanced visuals due to hardware limitations. However, players will still be able to enjoy the new Netflix-inspired content on these. This next-gen update for The Witcher 3 will officially go live on December 14, 2022.

The original Jivaro report covered The Witcher 3’s next-gen trailer and side-by-side comparison, showing how CD Projekt Red framed the update as more than a routine rerelease. The game already had a reputation as one of the defining RPGs of its era, so the update had to do more than raise resolution numbers.

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.

The NexusArc read

The Witcher 3’s next-gen trailer mattered because it treated a beloved RPG as something still worth maintaining. The upgrade was not only about prettier screenshots. It was about making one of the most important open-world RPGs of the last decade easier to revisit on modern hardware.