Towards the end of 2022, fans of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt got a real treat—a next-gen update rolled out at no extra charge. This update came to the game’s base versions on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, marking a significant improvement, especially for PC users. With the power of modding tools fully unleashed, creative modders dived in to elevate textures, meshes, and the overall game world. Halk Hogan’s project, known as ‘The Witcher 3 HD Reworked Project NextGen Edition,’ is a standout in this enhancement journey, bringing the visual experience to a whole new level.
The creator has been at work for quite some time, and the results speak volumes. The mod revamps a massive load of assets—textures, models, materials, and then some, which tally up to changes numbering in the thousands. Considering the mod’s hefty download size of nearly 12GB, it’s clear they’re not overstating the extent of their work. And for those who seek CD Projekt Red’s approval as a sign of quality, it’s officially got it.
While quirky mods like turning Geralt into a Centaur provide some laughs, most players are ultimately seeking the pinnacle version of a beloved modern classic. If we look at how Skyrim, another legend from 2011, still thrives with new and amazing mods, it’s safe to predict that CD Projekt Red’s RPG masterpiece will continue to inspire modding creativity—whether it’s sticking to its lore or venturing beyond—for many years.
Before you consider diving into the mod, it’s worth checking out the 15-minute video Halk Hogan recently shared. It offers a comprehensive look at the numerous tweaks and enhancements to models, textures, and various assets:
From what you can see, the mod doesn’t just enhance the sharpness of objects. It significantly enriches the detail of scenic geometry across the entire game, including substantial improvements to the Level of Detail (LOD). Although The Witcher 3’s official update brought in advanced features like ray tracing, it left some basic elements untouched—something this mod addresses beautifully.
Halk Hogan’s mod successfully integrates into the game world, creating a more unified appearance. And since it’s a straightforward ‘replacement’ mod, it should work harmoniously with other mods that tweak different aspects of the game. Impressively, it’s compatible with the older version too and seems to have a minor impact on FPS, assuming you’ve got enough video memory, making it less taxing compared to a demanding ENB preset.
Even if you’re playing on a console, replaying The Witcher 3 to mark its upcoming tenth anniversary seems like a great plan. And with the next installment in the series just entering full-scale development, it’ll be a while before we get our hands on it, giving you plenty of time to revisit Geralt’s epic journey.
