[Update #2]: The Witcher 3's big next-gen update has now arrived and, aside from a couple of technical issues, it's been a resounding success.

[Update]: CD Projekt Red has now detailed all of the major improvements coming with The Witcher 3's next-gen update.

If you're considering diving into The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, you might want to exercise a little bit of patience as CD Projekt Red has just announced that the next gen update will be launching this December 14th, 2022 for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Most importantly, the next gen update will be entirely free for all owners of The Witcher 3!

The exact list of improvements has not been revealed just yet, but you can expect to see improved visuals, better performance, ray tracing support, as well as a variety of features from popular mods integrated into the base game. The good news doesn't end there, however, as CD Projekt Red is also planning to release a free piece of DLC based on Netflix's The Witcher series, though once again the specifics behind the new additions are still shrouded in mystery.

It's also worth mentioning that CD Projekt Red will be launching The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition on December 14th alongside the next gen update. True to its name, the Complete Edition will bring with it all of the expansions and updates bundled into one convenient package, thus making it the perfect jumping off point for new players.

Personally, I would highly recommend giving The Witcher 3 a try, especially if you can get it at a bit of a discount during some of the upcoming holiday sales. I say this because The Witcher 3 features an absurd amount of interesting storylines and locations to explore, so despite the combat being a little bit simplistic it's very easy to get wrapped up into the world and its characters.

Whatever your plans may be, I'll make sure to let you know once CD Projekt Red reveals the free DLC, as well as when the next gen update goes live. Until then, I'll leave you with the original cinematic trailer to help set the right mood. Enjoy!