Back in late 2022, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt delighted its fans with a robust next-gen (or should I say current-gen?) update without any added cost for those who already had the game on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. While the PC version basked in the most dramatic visual upgrades, the thriving modding community, now armed with complete modding tools, didn’t hold back. They dove right into enhancing textures, meshes, and more. Enter Halk Hogan’s ambitious ‘The Witcher 3 HD Reworked Project NextGen Edition’—a mod that truly ups the ante.
The creator, Halk Hogan, has been refining this project for quite a while and claims it enhances and reimagines a vast selection of the game’s assets—textures, models, materials, you name it—amounting to changes that number in the thousands. Weighing in at nearly 12GB, the mod’s hefty download size backs up these impressive claims. And if you’re looking for CD Projekt Red’s blessing, rest assured, they’ve given their nod of approval.
Sure, quirky mods like transforming Geralt into a Centaur are entertaining. But when push comes to shove, most players crave the ultimate version of an iconic open-world adventure. Just look at The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim from 2011—it’s still thriving with exciting mods emerging daily. You can bet your gold coins that CD Projekt Red’s RPG marvel will continue to inspire awe with both lore-fit and outlandish mods for years ahead.
Before delving into the mod page, provided your PC can handle it, it’s well worth setting aside 15 minutes to watch Halk Hogan’s recent walkthrough video. This detailed showcase breaks down the myriad enhancements made to models, textures, and various game assets:
The mod doesn’t just sharpen textures; it significantly enhances the spatial geometry, making the entire game world feel more intricate. Even the level-of-detail (LOD) elements receive noticeable upgrades. While The Witcher 3’s official update did introduce stunning ray tracing and other advanced graphics features, it felt odd that some of the fundamental visuals remained untouched.
With Halk Hogan’s overhaul, the game world looks much more harmonious. Since it’s essentially a ‘replacement’ mod, compatibility with other game mods is expected, including compatibility with the older game version. Plus, it reportedly imposes minimal FPS drawbacks, provided your system has a bit of extra video memory—which is a relief compared to taxing ENB presets.
Even if you’re enjoying the game on a console, revisiting it next year for its tenth anniversary sounds like a fitting tribute—especially now that the next chapter of The Witcher saga has ramped up into full-scale production, though it’s still a few years away from release.
