As 2022 wound down, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was treated to a top-notch next-gen update, now considered current-gen, and it didn’t cost a dime for those who already owned the game on the PS4, Xbox One, or PC. While the PC version received the most visible upgrades, this didn’t deter the ever-dedicated modding community. Granted access to complete modding tools, they’ve been further enhancing the game’s textures, models, and beyond. The standout project here is Halk Hogan’s ‘The Witcher 3 HD Reworked Project NextGen Edition,’ which truly elevates the game to new heights.
Halk Hogan has been laboring over this mod for quite a while, and they claim that it "improves and reworks a vast number of game assets—textures, models, materials, and more—ranging into the thousands." With a hefty download size approaching 12GB, they’re definitely not overstating the scale of these enhancements. If you were wondering if CD Projekt Red is on board with such mods, the answer is a resounding yes, they support the initiative.
Though taking a quirky turn with mods like Geralt as a Centaur can be fun, many players gravitate towards experiencing the ultimate version of this iconic open-world adventure. Even now, with 2011’s The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim still kicking and regularly receiving new mods, it’s safe to say that CD Projekt Red’s RPG gem will continue to inspire both lore-friendly and outlandish mods for many more years.
Before diving into the mod’s details, if your PC can handle the update, make sure to check out the insightful 15-minute video uploaded by Halk Hogan recently. It showcases a comprehensive overview of changes made to models, textures, and various game assets:
As demonstrated, Halk Hogan’s mod goes beyond simply sharpening objects; the landscape’s geometry achieves a notably richer detail across the board, even improving Levels of Detail (LOD). Although The Witcher 3’s official update boasted ray tracing and numerous advanced graphical features, it always seemed odd that some fundamental elements of the game’s presentation were left unaltered.
With this mod by Halk Hogan, everything feels much more integrated visually. Since it functions as a straightforward ‘replacement’ mod, it’s expected to be compatible with other mods that tweak different aspects of the game. Impressively, it works with the game’s older version and, assuming you have the necessary video memory, doesn’t significantly impact FPS, unlike some of those demanding ENB presets.
Even if you’re playing on a console, embarking on a new journey through The Witcher 3 to mark its tenth anniversary next year could be a wonderful way to celebrate. Plus, with the next Witcher game now in full-scale development, we’ve still got a wait on our hands for its release.
