The Witcher 4 ’s game director , Sebastian Kalemba , confirmed that the game will be about the same size asThe Witcher 3 , and I could n’t be well-chosen . The Witcher 3had over 100 hoursof gameplay , not to mention its several substantial DLC expansionsBlood and WineandHearts of Stone . IfThe Witcher 4is go to have just as much content as the late biz , then it should hit the seraphic speckle between too little and too much to do .

In a recent interview withSkill Up , Kalembra confirmed this to be the grammatical case . Seeing a subsequence to a secret plan be about the same duration as the former instalment is a nice change of tread . latterly , it seems like developers want to balloon the runtime of any subsequence they create . For instance , Assassin ’s Creed Valhalla ’s chief storyis almost 20 minute longer thanAssassin ’s Creed Odyssey . Although more of a good matter might not ab initio seem like a bad idea , I can see several benefits of keepingThe Witcher 4at a standardized runtime as its predecessor .

The Witcher 3 Was Big Enough

The Witcher 3 Had Multiple Large Regions

In terms of both runtime and the actual sizing of its map , The Witcher 3did a very effective business managing its resourcefulness . The reality is segment off into several large regions , with a smaller basic region for players to get a feel for the plot . Despite being sectioned off , no region of the world find too small or empty . Simply walk from one side of the map to another in both Velen / Novigrad and Skellige conduct about an hour without even exploring all the nook and fissure of each map , and that ’s not mentioningTouissant fromBlood and Wine .

CD Projekt Red confirm in a late consultation that romance options will be added in the Witcher 4 , help create a " meaningful story . "

One of the most important aspects of an receptive - man single-valued function is that it does n’t experience limiting , despite the need for boundaries . While playingThe Witcher 3 , I never felt pin down by the map , and it took a retentive metre to run out of new and interesting seat to go . It assist that most parts of the single-valued function inThe Witcher 3were used for quests or had something to hound . I worry that if the map forThe Witcher 4was any larger it would take a chance losing that same flavor .

Witcher 4 Ciri in front of map

Custom Image by Katarina Cimbaljevic.

An Overly Large Map Would Make Witcher 4 Feel Empty

Too Much Room Between Objectives Can Make A World Feel Empty

Amap as big asThe Witcher 3’sis salutary for giving an open - existence game a sense of adventure . That pronounce , there is such a matter as too large of a mathematical function for an exposed - world game . As much as I enjoy secret plan likeBreath of the WildandRed Dead Redemption 2 , there is a lot of empty blank space on both maps . While this is thematically appropriate inZeldaandRed Dead ’s beautiful sights make up for some of its emptier areas , I still opt to havea map that is more densely packed with things to do .

Between things like brigand camps , monster nests , and guarded treasures there was very little space separating things to do inThe Witcher 3 . I would n’t really wantThe Witcher 4to expand its map just for the saki of say it ’s self-aggrandising if it just intend fan out out the things I can actually interact with in some way . KeepingThe Witcher quarto a more sensible size could also help CD Projekt Red avoid some take they ’ve had in the past tense .

Keeping The Witcher 4 A Manageable Size Will (Hopefully) Prevent Launch Issues

CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077 Had Major Launch Issues

CD Projekt Red ’s last big launch , Cyberpunk 2077was a cataclysm . The game had been hyped up for long time , but when it came out it was nearly unplayable due to a potpourri of bugs . SinceThe Witcher 3already created high expectations for the series , it would in all likelihood be just as big of a disappointmentifThe Witcher 4was release in as broken a province asCyberpunk 2077did .

The massive population of The Witcher includes a batch of character , but this set of 10 motive to make an appearance during Ciri ’s novel journeying .

By keepingThe Witcher 4around the same size asThe Witcher 3 , CD Projekt Red will hopefully have a dependable gauge of what it takes to get the game quick for launching . This means that players wo n’t have to vex about biz - soften glitches or having to wait an extended period of time to in reality be able-bodied to play the plot . WereThe Witcher 4a much larger projection than the previous title , the developers might not have as strong of a model to follow which could head to some potentially grievous territory .

Witcher 4 Ciri with Gearlt and Eskel from The Witcher.

As a grown fan of the games CD Projekt Red puts out , I would also really hate to see it deal with anotherPR tragedy likeCyberpunk 2077 . Though it is now view one of gaming ’s best return stories , the game ’s fatal launch will likely stick in the back of many instrumentalist ’ minds until the fellowship releases its next big plot . IfThe Witcher 4had just as many offspring asCyberpunk , it could be bad news for one of gambling ’s most exciting studios .

A Smaller Game Is Better For Replayability

Large Games Can Be Intimidating To Revisit

Even if an clear - earthly concern game does n’t find too big the first time through , its consuming size can make it hard to come back to . I latterly tried replayingRed Dead Redemption 2but kick in up on it partway through . Although my first fourth dimension through the secret plan was one of my favorite gaming experience of all time , the thought of investing the same number of hr into it again after having thoroughly explored the map just did n’t feel deserving it . In contrast , I’ve playedThe Witcher 3several times because it always manages to hold my interest .

Replayability is always something to consider with a game that offer choice likeThe Witcher 3 . I always desire to see the different outcomes of the biz ’s branching conclusion , but if a plot is too bragging or has too much downtime , I do n’t obtain it deserving revisiting . The Witcher 4will in all probability have option interchangeable toThe Witcher 3 , so I appreciate it retaining its replayability by not trying to be too big .

I can sympathise the impulse of want a secret plan to be as gravid as possible . Not only are biz expensive , but if they ’re good , I sometimes find myself wishing they would last forever . It ’s that feel that drive me to complete even the most tedious side quests inFinal Fantasy VII Rebirth . However , in accuracy , there is such a affair as a game that is too long or too self-aggrandising . IfThe Witcher 4staying the same size asThe Witcher 3means it ’s also as good , I will be much happier than if it was bounteous but worse .

Geralt and Roach chasing down a gryphon in The Witcher 3

Source : Skill Up / YouTube

Cyberpunk 2077 Garrett pointing at head.

Geralt, Yen and Triss from The Witcher 3.

The Witcher 4 Ciri With Chains burned.

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