Though it took a while to really take off in the US and hit the mainstream,The Witcheris now one of the most popular fantasy franchises out there, with a beloved series of video games and a great Netflix adaptation already under its belt. So, with this rise in popularity in the last few years, it only makes sense thatCD Projekt Redwould want to return to itsWitcherroots. But along with anotherWitchergame, CD Projekt has also just announced that, for the first time in series history, the nextWitchertitle will feature a multiplayer component.
AfterCD Projekt Red fumbled the release ofCyberpunk 2077, the gaming industry was pretty sure that the once-beloved developer would be taking a bit of a break to recover. However, CD Projekt has been working tirelessly on updatingCyberpunk 2077, trying to make it the game that was promised before launch. Well, the developer’s efforts seemed to have paid off, asCyberpunk 2077has just recently had a sudden influx of new and returning players, sparking the studio to announce a sequel to the game alongside the subtle announcement that both it and the previously-confirmedWitchersequel will be getting some form of multiplayer mode - though this could mean a few things for the monster-slaying game.
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What Multiplayer in the Next Witcher Could Look Like
CD Projekt Red, via Twitter, has just announced a pretty expansive slate of upcoming games, set in both theCyberpunkandWitcheruniverses. Three separateWitchergames are currently in development at the studio, including a sequel trilogy that follows on fromThe Witcher 3, another open-worldWitcherRPG being developed by an unconfirmed third-party studio, and anunknownWitchergame being worked on by The Molasses Flood. In this announcement, CD Projekt Red also included a subtle note that read, “Introducing multiplayer to most of our new games to enrich the single-player experience.”
This statement seemingly confirms that at least some of these newWitchertitles will have some form of multiplayer component. With all three of theseWitcherprojects stated to be story-driven, single-player focused experiences, it seems most likely that any multiplayer components will be secondary to the main gameplay loop of each title. That being said, there are a few different ways that CD Projekt Red could incorporate multiplayer intheWitcherseries.
By far the most exciting way to incorporate multiplayer in futureWitchergames would be to allow multiple players to jump into one big open-world together. It would be a little tricky to figure out, but having 2-4 fellow Witchersexplore The Continent together, rescuing townsfolk, slaying monsters, and getting embroiled in local politics is the ideal way to introduce multiplayer in theWitcherseries.
Alternatively, CD Projekt Red could take some inspiration fromDark SoulsandDeathloopand introduce an invasion mechanic. Players could invade another Witcher’s game and take on the role of a boss monster, giving the Witcher a tougher challenge to face. Or, players could take on the role of a Witcher from another school, and attempt to race the other player to kill the monster and claim the prize before them, with an intense game of cat and mouse breaking out once the player has the monster’s trophy and is on their way to town to collect the reward.
Unfortunately, the most likely scenario is that futureWitchertitles will add a multiplayer component to their mini-games. For instance,Gwentwas one of the most beloved aspects ofThe Witcher 3, and it’ll probably be seen again in the sequel. It only makes sense that CD Projekt Red would want to makeGwentmultiplayer in the actualWitchergames themselves, just as it is in the standalone spinoff.
MoreWitchergames are in development.
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