Summary
The Witcher Remakewill be taking an honest look at the original game from 2007, and will improve on the features that feel outdated, bad, and unnecessarily convoluted. When it was originally announced in October 2022,The Witcherfans were excited about getting a more modern take on the cult classic that started CD Projekt Red’s rise to prominence. Though “eurojank” has its charms, and there’s a lot to appreciate aboutThe Witcher, even the Enhanced Edition started to show its technical limitations well before 2024.
While the teams at CD Projekt Red are busydeveloping the next entry inThe Witcherfranchise, as well as creating the sequel toCyberpunk 2077,The Witcher Remakeis led by Fool’s Theory, a studio of CD Projekt Red veterans. Its CEO, Jakub Rokosz, worked on the final two games of Geralt’s trilogy, and expressed regret that he never got to work on the first one. While Rokosz hopes to giveThe Witcher Remakethe respect it deserves, it’s also an opportunity for him to complete his portfolio ofThe Witchersaga.
The Witcher Remake Won’t Shy Away From Making Bold Changes
Asreported on GamesRadarvia an interview with Edge, Jakub Rokosz claimed that the developers would evaluate all aspects of the originalWitcher, and strongly implied that not every feature would make the cut. While it’s easy to assume that the problematic “sex cards” obtained from Geralt’s romantic escapades would undoubtedly end up on the cutting room floor, thetiming-based combat fromThe Witcheris also something that fans are hoping gets modernized in the remake.
In the interview, Jakub Rokosz stated that “first and foremost, we need an honest, down-to-earth analysis of which parts are simply bad, outdated, and need to be remade.” However, he also made sure to mention that their project would “highlight the parts that are great, should be retained, or are direct key pillars that can’t be discarded,” implying that the grim atmosphere andstory ofThe Witcherwould be preserved.
“First and foremost, we need an honest, down-to-earth analysis of which parts are simply bad, outdated, and need to be remade.” - Jakub Rokosz, CEO of Fool’s Theory
Much like theopen world inThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, the remake will give the outdated zones from the original game a more open layout, one that relies less on awkward loading screens and uses modern exploration conventions. Unfortunately, fans will have to wait until after the nextWitchergame releases to get their hands onThe Witcher Remake, as the two titles will share the same base technology. The exact release date for either project is currently unknown.
The Witcher
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Based on the fantasy novel series by Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher is an action role-playing game released by CD Projekt Red in 2007. Its remake is currently in development by Fool’s Theory on Unreal Engine 5.
