In the latter part of 2022, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt underwent a substantial next-gen update, now comfortably fitting the current-gen narrative for PS4, Xbox One, and PC owners at no additional charge. While the PC version enjoyed the most significant visual overhauls, modders, equipped with the complete suite of modding tools, have been busy pushing the game’s visual boundaries even further. Halk Hogan’s "The Witcher 3 HD Reworked Project NextGen Edition" is at the forefront of this evolution, redefining the game’s aesthetics.
The mod author explains that this project, long in development, transforms and updates a vast array of game assets including textures, models, and materials, numbering in the thousands. The full download size is close to 12GB, reflecting the scale of this endeavor. And for those who perhaps question its legitimacy, CD Projekt Red has indeed given its seal of approval.
While quirky mods—like Geralt the Centaur—are amusing, there’s a strong demand among players for the highest-quality version of this modern open-world classic. Just as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim from 2011 continues to thrive with amazing mods, CD Projekt Red’s RPG marvel will undoubtedly enjoy a steady stream of impressive, lore-friendly or otherwise, mods for the foreseeable future.
Before diving into the mod’s page to verify if your PC can handle it, it’s worth checking out the comprehensive 15-minute video Halk Hogan released. This video provides an in-depth glimpse into the modifications made to models, textures, and a variety of assets:
As you’ll observe, the mod doesn’t just enhance object clarity; it significantly refines the detail in the game’s scenery and even upgrades the LOD details. Although The Witcher 3’s current-gen update already introduced ray tracing and numerous graphical enhancements, it was curious that some basic elements were not similarly refined.
Thanks to Halk Hogan’s work, the game appears much more cohesive. As a straightforward ‘replacement’ mod, it’s compatible with other game modifications and even functions with the older game versions. It also allegedly maintains a minimal FPS impact, provided you have enough video memory, setting it apart from some resource-intensive ENB presets.
Even for those sticking with the console version, embarking on a new journey to mark the game’s tenth anniversary next year seems fitting, especially since the next installment in The Witcher series has entered full production but is still a few years from release.
