CD Projekt Red says that it has "no plans" to release a performance boosting patch for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt when the PlayStation 4 Pro launches. That's according to Reddit user govind1262, who emailed the studio asking whether a Pro update is a possibility.
The developer's reply reads: "Our teams are currently working very hard on our upcoming projects such as Gwent: The Witcher Card Game and Cyberpunk 2077. We want to be entirely focused on the development of these projects." Fair enough, we suppose, although it's admittedly a bit of a shame to hear that one of this generation's best games won't be getting any special Pro treatment.
If anything, though, this just makes us wonder how many pre-Pro titles are actually going to get updated. CD Projekt Red is a studio renowned for its user-friendly ways, yet here it is saying that it's got more important matters to attend to. A worrying sign for PS4 Pro support? Potentially.
Are you disappointed to hear this news? Imagine just how good those Skellige sunsets would look in the comments section below.
[source reddit.com]
Comments 42
That's completely understandable. No point in having to divert resources just because Sony wanted to have a mid-gen upgrade.
They can make a whole lot of effort on Gwent but can't be bothered to increase sales of Witcher 3 with a sexy tweak?
I'd be much more likely to play if it were 60fps. Last time I tried it (maybe it's improved since), it was fairly choppy.
Always a chance they might change their minds if Sony offers incentive.
Boooooooooooo
I'm a bit surprised by this. I really thought CD Projekt Red would jump all over this. That said if not doing this makes Cyberpunk 2077 better than I'm fine with it.
I wouldn't be surprised if they change their minds on this down the line. There is currently a small team away from the main Cyberpunk team working on Gwent. Once Gwent comes out that team could do a pro patch for the Witcher in a matter of just a few weeks before rejoining the main team. The losses would be virtually non existent, when traded against the new people that would/could pick up the Witcher 3 as a result.
People who's PS4 Pro is their first PS4
People who are looking for the best game to show off their graphics on their PS4 Pro
People who were waiting for the GOTY edition of the Witcher anyway.
There's a lot of people that would be potentially pushed into buying by this.
Good for them. They made that game for PS4, not PS4 Pro, so why should they bother with it? They've had all that success with Witcher 3 so they don't really need anything else at this point.
I'd much rather have two new games than a patch for one that has been out for over a year.
http://www.videogamer.com/ps4/days_gone/news/only_1_person_is_working_on_days_gones_ps4_pro_support_2_on_infamous_report.html
So it starts. I figure it would be the easiest to just optimize for the standard PS4 as always and maybe unlock the framerate on the Pro. That's it.
Booo, they have time for free to play card game but doesn't have time to improve their game.
Maybe they are waiting for the PS5 for native 4k before updating any more?
As soon as PS4PRO starts selling like got cakes they will see reason and change their minds.
In their defense, The Witcher already looks quite spectacular!
The game seems fine the way it is. It was a huge hit before Pro, it'll stay good after. I don't see any reason to complain.
Good. I'd rather see them focus on Cyberpunk. If you want a smoother framerate on Witcher 3, don't blow 400 bucks on Pro, work on upgrading your pc. I've played it on both systems and pound for pound, even on medium settings on PC, it is much more optimized than it's PS4 counterpart.
Hopefully their will see sense once Pro is out, they weren't afraid of doing enhanced versions of their game's previously so why stop now.
I wasn't really expecting any 3rd party studios to patch their old games, just add the support on new titles going forward but it's still kind of a shame, it's a game worthy of having a visual upgrade.
No surprise since they're in Microsoft pockets!
I was actually wondering why WB was patching Shadows of Mordor...
It's a much older game and isn't on anyone's radar anymore.
No surprise since they're in Microsoft pockets!
"there is no dev like CDprojekt Red! they are for the gamers!"
I really don't have time to revisit the game anyway, so it's no big deal to me at all.
good news. Hope all developers turn their nose up at this mid-generation revamp. Shame on Sony. A generation is a generation. Stop with the half cycles. Well done CDprojekt Red, I'm proud to be a follower of your games. Especially now.
Red stop work on Cyberflunky 7+ to concentrate on witcher, they get informed about ps4 pro, decide to ignore ps4 pro, release a goty edition with zero interest in ps4 pro, make a Gwent card game on a whim whilst at the same time starting up Cyberflunky 7+ again. Okay, whatever guys.
Fair play, I'm pretty sure cyberpunk and gwent will have options on the pro, and being a 'proper gamers company' I'm happy. They have made the right choice.
Honestly, I think this is disappointing. I completely understand and respect their decision, but I hope they reconsider it. This, along with Grand Theft Auto V, is a game that absolutely should be updated for Pro.
I really don't understand the defense by the dev fanboys, I love witcher but the laziness to not support an attempt at 4k depsite their very recent goty release and the crappy no transfer of save game data between physical and digital copies in the uk. Really. Really?? On your pony and plough yourself.
Good. No reason they should have to slow down development projects they're immersed in now because Sony decided it wanted to make a more powerful PS4 a few years after launch.
Good. There's been more than enough time spent this gen on making older games more visually palletable. What with all the remasters and now, if devs start going back again to spruce up visuals even more... it's like come on, when does it stop? Release a game and be done with it. Half this generation has been existing games fluffed up visually and repackaged for sales- Lord knows the last thing they need is even more reason to keep dressing up the same old existing games. It'll be PS5 and still releasing PS3 remasters.
Im very curious if nonpatched games will at least reach 30/60 fps where original ps4 cant. In case of witcher and Just cause 3 it would be a blessing
Totally fair enough. They've gone far beyond what could have been expected from them in both free and paid for content.
I don't understand all the negativity implying they're lazy and such. They put everything they had into finishing up the dlc and patching the game to the very end, they finally got to move on and now people expect them to go back again? Just let them work on Cyberpunk in peace.
Such a shame would of bought it for my PS4pro , really sad they won't take the advantage of it
@Bad-MuthaAdebisi They've shown us, the customers, more good will and support in the past few years with their games than any other company, period. I am not one to jump to the defense of just any company, but you're 100% wrong in this case. Take the donkey you rode in on back to the SALT mines and sincerely, plough yourself.
@get2sammyb Honestly, anything above what you're getting on PS4 as it stands is strictly eye candy and bragging rights on PC. Everyone was happy with games being locked at 30 fps on PS4 until they found out there was a slight possibility to raise it. If the pro truly does what Sony claims by helping to steady framerates even without a patch, I'd say just be thankful for that.
The game is done. The game is great. They finally shipped the complete edition.
Absolutely right move
Not sure why any studio would waste resources on this . Will it increase sales? I don't even know if Pro features will increase sales for new games in a significant way, I don't see any benefit to updating old games. The benefit is all for Sony, not the publishers and certainly not for developers.
Lots of Witcher fans here lol I'm with @MadAussieBloke though, hopefully I can actually make it to the end of Cyberpunk. Witcher just ain't doing it for me.
Nice gwaffix tho.
Its a waste of time and resources for any game which is more than 6-12 months old to be patched to Pro. Most of your sales are already done during that time so the cost benefit of putting extra staff onto the project cannot be cost effective.
I tried Witcher 3 and just gave up on it normally love RPG's but this one just did not click.
@Napples oh, making it personal and telling me to personally go plough myself lol that's a bit touchy. I'll repeat myself, game or the year edition zero 4k support. uk no cross save transfer between physical and digital copies. Not good enough. I'm bored of hearing how they're sweet hearts and darlings. I don't even care that witcher 3 isn't supporting 4k, but, but, it absolutely turns my stomach when I hear cheers of encouragement that they're not supporting ps4 pro 4k, please, all just get a grip. Its not a good thing. Its just their lack of support, that's all it is.
@Bad-MuthaAdebisi they wont really impact sales. A PS4 Pro patch on older games is always going to be a loss for the developer. A game tends to make 80% of its sales in the first 6 months. Most of the rest of that 20% follows within the first year. The numbber of people that want to play Witcher 3 and have not bought it already is very small. Non-zero, sure, but not likely enough to even cover the cost to develop the patch, let alone make a profit.
Its the "trophies" issue all over again. Its not worth it financially for most developers to devote time and money to a PS4 Pro patch for a game thats out of its honeymoon phase.
CD Projekt Red delivered above and beyond for Witcher 3 so I don't think there's any problems here.
@thedevilsjester that's up to them, its a mistake in my opinion as GoTY edition in the ugly PS4 Pro compatible Blu ray box would have sold well over Crimbo. Never mind.
Tap here to load 42 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...