CD Projekt RED’s Project Golden Nekker has been officially revealed and it’s an expansion for Gwent called Rogue Mage. Releasing tomorrow for PC, iOS and Android, it will cost $10 for the standard version. For $20, players can net the premium edition with skins, cosmetics and card packs for use in multiplayer.
Speaking to IGN, game director Vladimir Tortsov said Rogue Mage emerged from players’ desire for more PvE experiences in Gwent. “While Gwent multiplayer is a fantastic game for those who are looking for a great PvP multiplayer experience, we perfectly understand that many Witcher players loved the original mini-game of Gwent for totally different reasons. With Rogue Mage, we aim to give this audience a reason to play modern-day Gwent in the format they prefer.”
The story follows Alzur, a mage looking to create the first Witcher. As such, it takes place hundreds of years before Geralt was born. Utilizing a rogue-like format, Rogue Mage sees players starting with 12 cards a deck. The four decks offer unique themes and purposes, though each offers three key cards to build on. Upon exploring the procedurally generated map, more cards are unlocked.
However, you’ll also come across Places of Power and moral dilemmas with different choices. Interestingly, the story isn’t treated as an official addition to the lore. Tortsov notes, “Our goal with Rogue Mage’s story is to give players enough context on who Alzur is, what is his motivation, and the general setting of the world he lives in. We hope that players will get enough immersion to complement the gameplay-first formula, but we do not expect the story to be the main reason for players to appreciate this release.”
Depending on one’s path, it’s easy for a run to be over quickly or even go for an hour. The expansion should offer more than 30 hours of gameplay in total if you do everything. Of course, there are also difficulty modifiers that can either make things easier or harder. It’s also worth noting that it’s entirely playable offline, though cross-save progression and leaderboards require an internet connection.
Stay tuned for more details when Rogue Mage goes live tomorrow.
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