It’s been one hell of a second half this year, and even we’ve begun to feel the pressure of such a crowded calendar of releases, no matter how enjoyable they’ve been to play. But lo and behold, we’re now staring at yet another massive title that’s going to eat up our time, and what’s funny to us is that it’s a game we’ve played at least twice on average amongst ourselves.
The Witcher 3 Remastered is bringing a fresh new take on an RPG that’s eleven years old at this point, and making the attempt right in the middle of a bevy of new games that have been competing for our attention, while GTA 6 looms large on the not-so-distant horizon.
It isn’t getting an empty runway and is up against some stiff competition, but we think Geralt’s a seasoned veteran who’s more than up to the challenge of holding his own against them. Let’s dive into why, beginning with that September 29 release date.
Timing As Precise As A Witcher’s
For the remaster to come out at a time when a bunch of great games have had a bit of time to taper off their initial explosions, and an October release calendar that’s fairly generous in the amount of time it affords it to cast a spell on its players, Remastered is playing its cards right as far as choosing its moment is concerned.
That release date is significant because it showcases confidence from its developers, as well as strategic considerations that make sense to those of us who have allowed our time in White Orchard and Velen to pull us to Novigrad and Skellige in the bargain. That window of opportunity in October, being as wide as it is, can only be good news for a game that’s easily captivating in its original form, coming with a slew of improvements to make it feel new.
The confidence part of things comes from choosing to release the game at a time when there are several great ones in play to divide player attention. It means CDPR is happy to allow the likes of Logan, Dylan, Simon, and even another beloved IP to take a shot at Remastered, and is optimistic about Geralt’s adventure striking enough of a chord to keep us tuned in despite them.
It’s a good idea, then, to think about why that’s the case.
Marvel’s Wolverine
Let’s talk about Marvel’s Wolverine, which has now been out for a couple of weeks and has overcome a bit of criticism to cement itself as another great PlayStation exclusive. Logan’s as seasoned and grizzled as Geralt, and probably operates along similarly grey moral lines, but he has the advantage of being in a brand-new AAA release from Insomniac, following in the shoes of an already successful IP.
He’s got massive production values bringing the world around him to life, while his story and combat have kept players on their toes since they began their look into the character’s latest chapter. The launch window attention Wolverine received has allowed it to show off its value proposition with aplomb.
But Remastered’s got advantages like longevity on its side. There may be Wolverine players who are already done with the story and most of its side content, and possibly waiting for a new game to sink their teeth into. Against this one, Remastered doesn’t necessarily need a bigger launch, and could allow Geralt to just have players stay with him longer than they need to with Logan.
Control Resonant
It’s time to bring the clock a little closer to when Remastered’s hitting the shelves, and Remedy’s altered version of Manhattan is definitely a threat to The Continent thanks to its new-gen presentation, the brand-new story and premise that automatically allow for some truly bizarre memories with the game, and a well-reputed studio behind it.
Factor in a combat system that’s just sublime, and a technological appeal that the game’s world creates space for, and you have a game that’s as fascinating as Geralt’s adventure, with the distinct edge of modernity and Remedy’s penchant for making you meet the unexpected.
But that comes with a price, and that’s literally a point in favor of Remastered since it’s a free upgrade. It’s easy to imagine a player with a copy of The Wild Hunt deciding to give the remaster a go while they save up to pick up a copy of Resonant once they’re done.
For some, the familiar might carry enough of an appeal to delay taking on Dylan’s fight against The Hiss for a while. But there’s another contender in this particular fray which released right alongside Resonant.
Silent Hill: Townfall
As another September 24 release, you could argue that this one’s appeal is directed at an entirely different audience, but there’s the consideration that this one’s definitely turning eyeballs away from Remastered, and for good reasons. But as a game that’s heavily focused on psychological horror, we believe it’s the perfect way to weave in one of The Witcher 3’s strengths.
Where Wolverine brings superhero action, Control lends a bit of the paranormal to its gameplay, and Townfall uses horror, Remastered has the advantage of a title that has all of this and more.
There’s the open-world, exploration, RPG progression systems, a very potent choice-based narrative, monster hunting, and so much more. Its appeal as a “main game” that you just lose yourself in cannot be denied.
Speaking of main games, there’s another September release that’s coming out right alongside Remastered that deserves a look.
Minecraft Dungeons 2
The obvious appeal of a much-awaited sequel in a gigantic franchise is evident here, and all we need to focus on is how each game targets very different audiences with distinct experiences on offer. It’s going to come down to personal tastes as far as its appeal against Remastered is concerned, but we’re once again drawn to the appeal of something that’s free for many players versus a title you need to pay full price for.
Budgets are then a variable to consider, especially in a month where it’s very likely that potential players might already be stretched too thin, having picked up some of the other enticing offerings that the month had to offer. Either way, launch comparisons with Dungeons 2 are tricky when it’s two vastly different titles vying for their players’ attention.
A Long Road Ahead
It’s all fine and dandy to think about games that already had their time in the spotlight and Remastered’s potential to overshadow them thanks to a later release date, but October isn’t letting up on the pressure, and is sure to test the new version’s staying power.
The month’s hitting fast and hard with Ace Combat 8 on the 2nd, and Gears of War: E-Day and Star Wars: Galactic Racer out on the 6th. That’s evidence that Remastered isn’t just competing against September’s lineup, but against October as well, with brand-new AAA titles trying to pull players out of the Continent’s spell almost as soon as it begins to take effect.
But can they succeed against a title that has such an addictive open-world structure coupled with details that just gnaw at you till you resolve them? From the old lady who needs help retrieving a frying pan from some alleged ruffians to some truly memorable, and even macabre stories to uncover on The Path, abandoning a playthrough once you get started in The Wild Hunt isn’t something you do easily.
But Remastered’s potential for retention is going to be further tested by two other major releases in the month.
Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen
Perhaps the most direct competitor to Remastered, Dark Arisen’s RPG trappings, world design, and quests, combat, and the appeal of entirely new additions to a title that did quite strongly when it first came out are all points in its favor.
Those systems are well utilized in a world that’s every bit as dangerous as The Continent, in an adventure that may not tell a story of the same size and scope, but is definitely good enough to warrant a look from players that Remastered might be hoping to hold on to for a while longer than its October 9 release date.
But Remastered does bring familiarity and nostalgia to the table, and the same budgetary constraints that give it an edge over other titles continue to hold thanks to it simply needing players to hit download and get started.
But Geralt’s combat prowess has yet another test waiting at the end of the month.
Phantom Blade Zero
October 29 is a date many action fans have marked on their calendars, and with Remastered already out for a month by then, we have to think about whether it can be appealing enough to players who’ve been eagerly waiting for this one to sink a few more hours into it once its novelty has worn off.
But given its vast breadth and the sheer scope of the narrative threads it puts on you, a lot of players might likely be far from done with it, and perhaps in too deep to satisfactorily extract themselves from the experience long enough for a new game to take root in their minds.
It’s not guaranteed, but we can’t deny that it’s a very strong possibility with a remaster of a game that’s already sold 65 million copies, is free for existing owners, and is bringing a list of changes that are nothing short of a labor of love from a team that has continued to add to it over a decade after it was first sent out in the world to carve its legacy. And it’s got enough reasons to enjoy a strong presence in modern gaming in its latest form.
Expecting The Unexpected
With launches across all available platforms and the new Switch 2 version, its expansions, all of its improvements, and Battle.net presence, The Witcher 3 Remastered is definitely a welcome addition to a very intense calendar of releases.
But it’s also got something else up its sleeve as the foundation for Songs of the Past and The Witcher 4, and its appeal as the first step in that direction is something to consider when you think about its potential success this year. When viewed through that lens, and with the scope of it feeling fresh enough to replicate its magic from years ago factored in, all the remaster might need is for players to hit download.
But then there’s GTA 6 a game against which every release the year has offered us so far pales in comparison to. But that one isn’t going to release on PC yet. And The Wild Hunt is kind of the perfect game to have as a secondary one that you’re chipping away at when you decide to game on another platform. We’re under no illusions that GTA 6 is going to lose players to anything this year, but with Remastered getting 51 full days before it releases, we think it’s a fantastic window for Geralt to leave a lasting impression on players old and new.
It’s definitely ironic that a game that’s nearly eleven years old has the potential to dominate the conversation ahead of this generation’s biggest release, especially when it’s competing against some truly fine ones. But we don’t think the question here should be whether Geralt’s adventure overshadows the competition.
Rather, we think it’s more about whether The Witcher 3 Remastered can be the game people continue playing right up until GTA 6 arrives. From where we’re standing, it’s poised to achieve that goal pretty well, and that’s a win in and of itself in our book.
Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.
