CDPR has released the Next-Gen update for The Witcher 3. The graphics engine has been changed, transitioning from physically based rendering to global illumination, and performance improvements were targeted. The mobile version was also optimized to run better on smartphones. Updates like this help games have a longer lifespan. How much do you think these kinds of improvements change the gaming experience? Are they just small touches, or are they revolutionary?
What do you think about CDPR's The Witcher 3 Next-Gen Update?
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Wow, I was really looking forward to this Next-Gen update too. I know how it feels to wait while playing Half Life Alyx on Quest 3, so even though I played The Witcher 3 on PC, I can imagine how amazing it’ll be on mobile. When they switched to global illumination, I couldn’t help but say “wow” when I was wandering the streets of Novigrad near dawn and saw the lighting effects. Instead of just a few stones lit by a beam of light, now the ground actually reflects light here and there, and the shadows shift with the ambient lighting.
From what I saw in the screen-sharing video, it runs way smoother on mobile too—almost no drops in FPS. I don’t think it’s just a small touch-up. Especially on a beast like the Quest 3, I’m running the graphics at max settings, and the performance stays solid. Scenes I used to hesitate over whether to pause are now flowing without any stuttering. I think CDPR really pulled off a revolutionary update this time—The Witcher 3 isn’t just visually refreshed, it feels like a whole new experience in terms of gameplay too.
Wow, I remember when those texture packs for Fallout 4 came out. Back then, mods were popping off too, and they completely overhauled the graphics. When I looked at it, the lighting was totally different, shadows were smoother, and the building textures were refreshed. It didn’t hit as hard as the mod I was playing, but it genuinely felt like I was playing a different game.
I think the biggest change was in the lighting. Thanks to that "global illumination" thing, players' faces were actually lit up and stuff. It sounds like a small tweak, but it gave this vibe like it was made just for you. I don’t know if The Witcher 3 would get the same effect, but I feel like what CDPR did was more of an "evolution" than a revolution.