Comprehensive ‘The Witcher 3’ Game of the Year Edition set for August 30 launch

By Danny Cowan August 11, 2016

Developer CD Projekt Red confirmed Thursday that a bundled Game of the Year Edition of its open-world fantasy epic The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is coming to consoles and PCs worldwide by the end of this month.

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The comprehensive package will launch stateside as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition, and Amazon is now taking pre-orders for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions.

Released in May of last year, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt won multiple awards for its expansive open world and varied quests. Many outlets branded The Witcher 3 as their pick for 2015’s Game of the Year, leading CD Projekt Red to craft a feature-packed Complete Edition for players who haven’t yet experienced Geralt of Rivia’s latest monster-hunting crusade.

In addition to bundling the full version of The Witcher 3 with all patches and updates released in the months after its initial launch, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition includes all add-on content previously available as part of its digital Expansion Pass. Players who purchase the upcoming Complete Edition will get access to The Witcher 3‘s “Hearts of Stone” and “Blood and Wine” expansions free of charge, with each boasting a unique set of additional storyline quests.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition also includes 16 digital content packs that were previously issued as free downloadable content on a weekly basis. The Witcher 3‘s free add-ons range from minor aesthetic tweaks like alternate character outfits to significant gameplay-expanding additions including new quests, weapons, and bounties.

The Witcher 3‘s forthcoming Complete Edition also offers up a New Game Plus mode, allowing veteran players to experience the game’s story from the beginning while retaining their previously earned character stats.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition launches for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC platforms on August 30.

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The game positions the player as the classic Lord of the Rings villain, shining light on his previously unexplored backstory, which includes his capture and subsequent escape from the clutches of evil. It’s a novel concept that I wasn’t exactly sure would work before trying it out for myself. Given all that, I knew I needed to play The Lord of the Rings: Gollum at PAX East, and after going hands-on with it, I came away with mixed thoughts that lean positive, with more than a few caveats.

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The current-gen version of The Witcher 3 has been in the works for quite some time, suffering multiple delays since its initial announcement in 2021. Thankfully, the game's developer will make good on its promise to launch it in 2022.