T w e n t y S i d e d

WitcherIII has been remastered, which isn’t significant. That seems to be the thing to do these days. Making new games is so enormously time-consuming and expensive, it’s easier to slap a new coat of paint on an old game, sell it at a reduced price and squeeze the last few drops out.

What’s significant is CDPR isn’t selling it. They’re giving it away. Like… for free.

This isn’t some indie game. This is Witcher III. One of the most celebrated games ever made. Universally believed to be one of the best games ever made. In any format, in any genre, on any system. For free.

Who does that?!?

This is in addition to all the free stuff they gave away during the initial release. School of the Cat armor set, a new outfit for Triss and Yennefer, different Gwent cards…… a dozen or so minor add-ons. Every single other publisher on earth would have charged $5-10 for them. CDPR gave them away. For free. At this point CDPR believes games are some kind of philanthropic endeavor, are averse to making money or are just trying to make Bethesda look like assholes.

I do think it’s really smart, though.

Witcher III came out 11 years ago. The core demographic for gamers is still 18–25-year-olds. The industry is aging, as is evidence that I, a 53-year-old, knows who Todd Howard is, but the 18-25 demographic is still the target audience with the most time and disposable income. Those people today were 7-14 years old when Witcher III was originally released. Unless their parents were apathetic or disturbed, nobody lets a 10-year-old play Witcher III. So for today’s key demographic it’s a game they might never played but have heard about their entire lives. In the same way they have heard about Leisure suit Larry, San Andreas and Silent Hill.

Same is true for Fallout 4 and GTAV. These titles were massive 10-12 years ago. But an entire generation has grown up without their own GTA, without their own Fallout. I knew a lot of people playing GTA IV and V had never played Vice City, certainly never played the original top-down scroller. When FO3 was released, many new players had never played the first two. Which, for those titles, is ok. Each installment is its own thing. Playing GTAV didn’t require knowing who CJ or Tommy are. FO4 doesn’t require you to know who Marcus and Myron are. It makes games more enjoyable, but not required.

WitcherIII is different in that it’s a continuation of the same story. If CDPR wants people to invest the time and effort in Witcher 4, to understand who this white hair chick is and why she can teleport, they will probably need to play the previous. There’s no better way to get people to play an 11-year-old game than giving it away for free. It removes even the lowest hurdle.

Still, any other publisher would at least charge $10 for a remastered GotY release. Which also includes all the DLC, by the way. That’s close to 250 hours of some of the best gaming experience ever made…. For free. Just to introduce the series to a new generation. Just to whet your appetite for WitcherIV.

Or maybe they still feel lingering guilt over the whole Cyberpunk thing.

Patrick Young The race of insects that excavate the ruins of our civilization will determine we segmented time not by solar cycles but by aroma. Cinamon season. Pumpkin spice season. Sweet baby Rays BBQ sauce season....