Adding a Chain to The Witcher 3 Became Possible Thanks to Technological Advancements - 11 Years Ago CDPR Would Have Had to Animate Everything Manually
Now developers were able to implement their vision without much trouble.
Currently, CD Projekt RED, in collaboration with Fool’s Theory studio, is developing a story expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt called Songs of the Past. The game will not only add a new region for exploration and story content but also expand the main character's arsenal.
Geralt will gain the ability to use a chain. Initially, the creators of The Witcher 3 wanted to give him this weapon in the original game, but technical limitations were a hindering factor back then.
In a recent interview with techradar, Jakub Rokosz, who leads the development of Songs of the Past, shared his memories of working on The Witcher 3:
There were many discussions — we wanted to implement the chain in the main game, but from a technological standpoint, it was impossible to do it properly. At that time, the combat system, targeting, camera, and enemies were designed in such a way that a single feature would require too massive an overhaul. When we simultaneously started working on Songs of the Past and the remaster, we understood that we would have to refine various elements, and eventually, the opportunity to create the chain arose.
Senior Quest Designer Despoina Anetaki noted that it is very difficult to implement such animations manually, but modern technologies allow for the creation of a chain for Geralt without much trouble:
It's a versatile weapon, and I think it will help embody the image of the butcher that many players envisioned, especially those who read the books and imagine a cool Geralt with a chain. I think they will like it.
The release of the Songs of the Past expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is expected in 2027. A more precise date has not yet been announced.
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