The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt/GOG Conference Report, Release Date, Trailers and GOG Galaxy
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As usual here at GameBanshee, we're liveblogging today's CD Projekt RED/GOG.com conference, which, among other things, promises a look at new The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt gameplay. Considering the action-RPG open-world threequel is highly anticipated, you'll probably want to watch the conference via Livestream if you have the chance. If you don't, then there should be no problem, as CD Projekt has already explained on Twitter that they'll upload the conference on YouTube with a small delay after it's finished.
First of all, CD Projekt RED announced the definitive release date for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which would be February 24th 2015. As expected, the release is simultaneous for all platforms. The standard edition is coming with a game manual, a Witcher compendium, a game map, the game's soundtrack and some stickers (and the game DVD, of course).
Marcin Iwinski, co-founder and joint CEO of the company, stressed that the limit for the standard edition was the physical size of the box before announcing the collector's edition for the game. The box is apparently pretty large and includes (in addition to the previous elements) an art book, a really large statuette of Geralt fighting with a griffin, and a steelbook case for the game.
As for the digital edition, the GOG.com's version will come DRM-free with a pre-download. Digital downloaders will also get a digital artbook, bonus making of videos and a detailed digital map. The GOG.com will also get an extended game soundtrack, the first issue of The Witcher Dark Horse comic book, concept artwork and avatars pack, custom made wallpaper and Neverwinter Nights with its three expansions. In addition to the lower pre-order price on GOG.com you'll also get a "loyalty discount" if you own the two previous titles and a "fair price package" comprised of $11.98 to spend on GOG. The GOG.com pre-order page is already online, so feel free to check it.
After talking about the various editions Iwinski showed off a very impressive trailer mostly made off gameplay footage. A lot of the characters, including Dandelion and Geralt himself, got a bit of a facelift treatment since The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. As usual, the graphics look very impressive.
The trailer concluded the part of the conference dedicated to the open-world title, so a GOG.com rep walked on stage to present some brand-new GOG.com technology called "Galaxy", an optional client application for GOG. The key pillars are: freedom of choice, which translates to not being forced to be online to play a game; optional client, which sort of speaks for itself: you don't have to download or use the client to download games off GOG; cross-play, meaning, at least in theory, you should be able to interact with players that bought a game off another store or client, such as Steam.
After explaining the core values for Galaxy, a The Witcher Adventure Game PC and Mac port was announced for a 2014 release. The closed beta will only be available on GOG Galaxy, and you can apply for it at this address. They're keen to stress that the game won't be free-to-play and will have a single-player mode, though the closed beta is multiplayer only. Two beta keys will automatically be given to GOG.com The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt pre-orders. More "Galaxy-powered" games are also promised for the future.
A making of video for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's collector edition figurine concludes the pre-E3 conference. We see concept art for the game's monsters and the statuette as it's constructed, while a deep voice narrates. The team apparently wanted to capture something instinctive, combat where there's no time to think, raw motion. CD Projekt also included hurdles while trying to replicate the original sculpture: polystone was use, and every figure was painted by hand.
Now that the conference has concluded, I'll take the opportunity to embed the very impressive trailer that was shown for The Witcher 3:
And the Collector's Edition unboxing video, so you can see the goodies for yourself:
Also, given I forgot to note it earlier, I'll also add that GOG.com pre-orders from outside the US will benefit from a "fair price package" similar to the one offered for The Witcher 2, which gives you $11.98 to spend on the store's catalogue. I've also appended this information to the original report.
Update: Here's CD Projekt's official press release:
CD PROJEKT RED, the creators of the critically acclaimed Witcher series of games, are thrilled to announce the content of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Collector's Edition, reveal details about pre-orders, and launch a new trailer, full of epic in-game footage showing previously-unseen game features.
With the release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, CD PROJEKT RED continues its tradition of giving gamers more. Wild Hunt will be available in two physical, content-rich editions, and as a digital edition, on GOG.com.
Dedicated to gamers who want more from physical box editions of games than just the disc and the manual, containing premium items prepared by the developers, this edition of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the definitive answer for those gamers who want to enter the Witcher universe with style.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt box contents
- A Blu-rayâ„¢ Disc with the game (DVDs on PC)
- An exclusive CD with the official soundtrack
- The official, developer-created "Witcher Universe - The Compendium"
- A beautiful, detailed map of the in-game world
- A set of unique stickers
- A stylish, protective sleeve
The Wild Hunt Collector's Edition brings Witcher fans the fruit of our hard work and passion--what we think is the most artistically complete game figure ever made for a collector's edition of a game. Forged of supreme-quality materials and containing exclusive content straight from the developers, The Witcher 3 Collector's Edition is every Witcher fan's dream come true.
(Behold, the Collector's Edition of The Witcher--over two kilograms of the most badass monster slayer, ready to bring your desktop figure collection to a whole new level,) said Adam Badowski, Head of Studio, CD PROJEKT RED.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Collector's Edition box contents
- All the contents from the standard edition of the game
- A giant, 33x24x26 cm (10)), 100% hand painted, Polystone figure of Geralt of Rivia battling a Griffin
- An exquisite, collector-grade Witcher medallion
- A one-of-a-kind SteelBookâ„¢ box
- A two-hundred-page artbook, containing breathtaking art from the game
- Huge outer and inner Collector's Boxes you can store your Witcher merchandise in!
The release date of the game is set for the 24th of February, 2015. The game will be available in the following languages: English, Polish, German, French, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese and Japanese (full voiceover); Arabic, Italian, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, Czech, Hungarian, Latin America Spanish, Korean (subtitles).
