Towards the end of 2022, players of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt got a nice surprise—a free next-gen update for PS4, Xbox One, and PC users. While PC aficionados naturally got the most substantial visual upgrades, modders didn’t waste any time in pushing the game’s aesthetics even further. With full modding tools on hand, they’ve been enhancing textures, meshes, and more. Leading the charge is Halk Hogan’s ‘The Witcher 3 HD Reworked Project NextGen Edition,’ taking the visual experience to all-new heights.
Halk Hogan himself mentions that his mod, which has been brewing for quite a while, significantly enhances a vast array of game assets—textures, models, and materials—essentially revamping thousands of elements. Judging by the hefty 12GB download size, these claims aren’t mere exaggerations. And yes, if you need some form of official recognition, CD Projekt Red has given their nod of approval.
We all enjoy those quirky mods—like turning Geralt into a Centaur—but let’s be real, most of us want to play a classic masterpiece in its prime form. Just like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim from way back in 2011 is still getting mind-blowing mods, The Witcher 3 is sure to see amazing modifications, whether they stick to the lore or not, for many years down the line.
For those contemplating a dive into the mod page, it’s worth checking out Halk Hogan’s 15-minute deep dive video. Recently uploaded, it showcases the many tweaks made to the game’s models, textures, and various assets:
[Image of YouTube Cover]
You can catch the full video on YouTube.
By installing this mod, you’re not only making elements look sharper but also seeing noticeable detail enhancement throughout the scenery, including better-defined LODs. Sure, the official current-gen update for The Witcher 3 brought in ray tracing and other cutting-edge graphics, but it was odd that some basic elements were left untouched.
Thanks to Halk Hogan’s efforts, the game feels remarkably well-rounded. Since this is a ‘replacement’ mod, it plays nicely with other mods affecting different game aspects. It’s compatible with older game versions and doesn’t significantly impact FPS as long as your video memory can handle it, unlike some demanding ENB presets.
And even if you’re sticking with the console version, consider starting a new journey next year to mark its tenth anniversary, because exciting news—another Witcher game is now officially in full-scale production. So yes, hold your horses; it’s still quite a few years before we can dive into another adventure in the Witcher universe.
