The Witcher is finally getting an official remake
Geralt's first adventure is receiving a total overhaul, as The Witcher is being remade in Unreal Engine 5
CD Projekt Red has revealed a remake of The Witcher, the first game in the studio’s acclaimed RPG series, is on the way.
The game is being rebuilt from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5 by Polish developer Fool’s Theory. Several developers from past Witcher titles are also involved, with CD Projekt Red supervising the project.
Fool’s Theory has previously contributed to the making of Baldur’s Gate 3, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, and DLC for Divinity: Original Sin 2. It also released the open-world isometric action RPG Seven: The Days Long Gone in 2017, the studio’s only original release to date.
“Collaborating with Fool’s Theory on the project is just as exciting, as some of the people there have been previously involved in The Witcher games,” said CD Projekt Red’s head of studio, Adam Badowski, in a blog post.
“They know the source material well, they know how much gamers have been looking forward to seeing the remake happen, and they know how to make incredible and ambitious games. And although it will take some time before we’re ready to share more about and from the game, I know it’ll be worth the wait.”
CD Projekt Red previously teased the game under its codename Canis Majoris, alongside a Cyberpunk 2077 sequel and new Witcher trilogy, but says it “will be a while” until it starts revealing any more details about the remake.
Released in 2007, The Witcher was the first video game based on author Andrzej Sapkowski’s acclaimed fantasy novels. Although it gained praise on release for its evocative world and writing, it now looks rather meager next to The Witcher 3, which catapulted the series into mainstream success.
That Fool’s Theory is rebuilding the whole game in a modern engine can only be a good thing. The Witcher’s drab textures and cumbersome, tedious combat will need a major overhaul if it’s to make a dent in today’s RPG landscape.
The Witcher has also been adapted into a successful Netflix series starring Henry Cavil of Superman fame, as well as an animation, The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf. It means there’s a bigger potential audience for CD Projekt Red to go after than previously.