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Nicholas Becher
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Nicholas Becher is a gaming journalist with an MFA in Creative Writing from FAU. With extensive experience playing video games, he covers all forms of gaming content at Screen Rant, from breaking news to the latest fan theories. Most-played games range from Clair Obscur to Civ to Elden Ring to Halo 2 and beyond.
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If you're waiting on pins and needles for the eventual release of The Witcher 4, there are hundreds of incredible mods available out there to keep players busy. One exciting mod project to keep on your radar revitalizes The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in a beautiful "next-gen" overhaul.
A new The Witcher 3 mod that completely revamps the visual elements of the game in a 2026 "HDRP next-gen" overhaul project that will officially be releasing "later this year" (via X). The Witcher 3 HDRP NextGen Edition mod was announced a few months back, but will now feature full wind simulation, an entire visual rework of every character in the game, and much more.
The Witcher 3 Has Never Looked This Good
A new preview of the HDRP NextGen Edition mod for The Witcher 3 (via YouTube) was recently released by modder in charge of the project, Halk Hogan. It provided better insight into just how extensive the next-gen overhaul mod will actually be, and confirmed that it will be releasing later this year. With rumors of an official new The Witcher 3 DLC in the works, it's an exciting year for fans of the now decade-old fantasy RPG.
The HDRP overhaul project is substantial in scale, and will attempt to modernize multiple aspects of the game with improved textures and graphics. This includes environmental textures, improvements to vegetation, ice and water, bricks, various updates to materials and other assets—just about anything you can think of.
This Next-Gen Mod Is Packed With Features
Geralt pulling a thumbs up in The Witcher 3
If you're looking for a "next-gen remaster" of The Witcher 3 that fully incorporates high-resolution graphic overhauls into every aspect of the game, the HDRP NextGen Edition is hands-down one of your only and best options, even if it is unofficial. Further highlights of this extensive mod include:
- Relief mapping on surfaces to make them look more realistic
- "High-quality smooth" effects and improved model details
- Improved details on objects from a distance
- "Specially customized materials and shaders for all reworked assets that give the objects and surfaces a more realistic look"
- Lore-friendly updates that match CDPR's original vision and aesthetic for the game
The Witcher 3 HDRP NextGen mod promises a must-try visual experience for fans that you'll definitely want to keep an eye out for when the updated version releases later this year. It's certain to be another of several incredible mods that come highly recommended among players, and is already one of the most anticipated mod projects currently underway.
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Get curated Witcher 3 mod roundups, in-depth looks at projects like the HDRP NextGen overhaul, feature breakdowns, and practical notes—subscribe to our newsletter to explore which visual overhauls suit your game. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.The Witcher 3 fans have a lot to look forward to this year. If the rumors of a new DLC turn out to be true, most players are going to be plenty busy until The Witcher 4 eventually releases, which could be as soon as 2027 according to optimistic estimates.
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Like Follow Followed The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt RPG Action Adventure Systems
9/10
OpenCritic Reviews
Top Critic Avg:
93/100
Critics Rec:
95%
Released
May 19, 2015
ESRB
M for Mature: Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content
Developer(s)
CD Projekt Red
Publisher(s)
CD Projekt Red
Engine
REDengine 3
Genre(s)
RPG, Action, Adventure
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