Haven’t Revisited The Witcher 3 Since the Update? The ‘NextGen Edition’ Mod Enhances Visuals in the Latest Version

Toward the end of 2022, fans of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt received a delightful surprise with a robust next-gen update, free of charge, for those who’ve got the game on PS4, Xbox One, or PC. While the PC versions saw the most striking upgrades, that didn’t slow down the modding community. Now with full access to modding tools, they’ve taken the liberty to further refine the game’s textures, meshes, and numerous other elements. Leading this charge is Halk Hogan’s epic ‘The Witcher 3 HD Reworked Project NextGen Edition’ which is truly elevating the experience.

Halk Hogan, the mastermind behind this mod, explained that it meticulously enhances a vast array of game assets—textures, models, materials—you name it, with changes numbering in the thousands. Given the hefty 12GB download size, it’s clear they’re not making light claims. And for those of you wondering, yes, CD Projekt Red, the original creators, have given this project a nod of approval.

Now, while we all get a kick out of quirky mods like seeing Geralt transformed into a centaur, at the end of the day, many gamers lean towards experiencing the most polished edition of such an iconic open-world title. Take Skyrim from 2011, for example; it’s still thriving, thanks largely to an ongoing influx of amazing mods. Similarly, it’s safe to assume that CD Projekt Red’s role-playing masterpiece will continue to inspire extraordinary mods, whether they stay true to lore or venture elsewhere, for many years.

Before diving headfirst into the mod page, assuming your PC can brace its impact, it’s worth watching Halk Hogan’s detailed 15-minute video. Recently released, it showcases the sweeping changes across models, textures, and various game assets:

As shown, the improvements don’t just enhance the crispness of individual objects. The overall scenery and geometry across the game world benefit from significant detail enhancements, including Level of Detail (LOD) improvements. When the official current-gen update introduced ray tracing and top-notch graphical upgrades, it did seem odd that certain simpler presentation aspects weren’t addressed.

However, thanks to Halk Hogan’s mod, the game now appears more visually consistent. Pleasantly, as a ‘replacement’ mod, it’s compatible even with other modifications that tweak different aspects of the game. Plus, for those playing older versions, the mod reportedly doesn’t overly tax system performance (providing you have some extra video memory to spare), making it less demanding than a heavy ENB preset.

Even if you’re playing on a console, there’s never been a better reason to dive back into the Witcher universe—especially with next year marking the tenth anniversary. Besides, with the next Witcher installment just entering full production phases, we’re still a few years away from its release, giving you plenty of time to enjoy and celebrate these classic adventures anew.