The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Will Have 36 Different Endings, No Load Times, and More | Interview

OnlySP: After seeing a breathtaking 45 minute presentation for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt at E3 (of which you can expect a write-up soon), I was able to catch up with gameplay producer Marek Ziemak for a juicy interview about the game. Topics included load times, multiple endings, the game going multi-platform and the voice acting process, among others. Sharpen your swords as we dive in.

[ZodTheRipper]

Those guys are crazy. This could turn out to be either one of the biggest RPG's or one of the most overhyped games ever. Judging by the latest trailer, I'm expecting the former at the moment. It really does look as good as they suggest it to be.

[Wingsfan24]

Have you played the first two? These guys know what they're doing, don't worry.

[PraxxtorCruel]

I'm not playing 36 times to experience 36 endings. That is crazy. I wish there was an easier way of doing this!

[NameRemoved0017]

Buying it on PC because it will have mod support :D

[elhebbo16]

@PraxxtorCruel that is one of the most laziest excuse of not liking a game that I've ever heard.

[Mr Tretton]

@Praxxtor, just watch the other 35 endings on the internet. :)

[awi5951]

Buy this game on GOG.com so the developers gets 100 percent of the Profit from the game. Thats where i buy all my witcher games and i never forgave steam for censoring the first witcher. So im not sure what mature content will be in witcher 3 just to be sure buy it on Gog.com

[dedicatedtogamers]

The first two games are incredibly good, and they both have a lot of variety and replayability.

Just so people know, the bit about "36 endings" probably refers to 36 ending sequences, not 36 distinct endings. What I imagine they'll do is something similar to Fallout, where your actions with each city, each faction, and each major event is highlighted in the ending.

So (I'm just spitballing here) there might be six sections to the ending, and six different variables for each particular section.

[Sovereign59]

Here's hoping they can pull this off well and avoid pulling a Bioware. An actual quote from a developer at Bioware prior to the release of Mass Effect 3: "This story arc is coming to an end with this game. That means the endings can be a lot more different. At this point we’re taking into
account so many decisions that you’ve made as a player and reflecting a lot of that stuff. It’s not even in any way like the traditional game
endings, where you can say how many endings there are or whether you got ending A, B, or C.”
Even after the release of the extended cut, to this day there are really only 4 endings, none of them much more preferable than another.

[Saksoy]

Cant wait for this game its going to be epic.

[Prcko]

day 0 buy

[chcolatesnw]

lol they should delay the xbox one version release date until xbox one officially releases in poland. that should teach ms that murica =\= world

[ElementX]

How do you know the One won't be released in Poland by the current release date?

[ElementX]

I mean the release date of the game, not the console. The game is coming out sometime next year and Poland may have the One by that time.

[Pintheshadows]

It has been confirmed that the One will not have released in Poland by the time The Witcher 3 is out.

[ElementX]

I wasn't aware, thanks

[xtremexx]

36 different endings? guess im gonna have to do 36 different playthroughs (not like i wasnt going to anyway).

no load times? how the f**k is that gonna happen? if it actually works, that would be amazing.

[Wingsfan24]

Takes 50 hours just to complete the main quest, so 50x36=1800 hours of gameplay if you want each ending lol. Just don't be surprised if someone tells you, you have no life. Hopefully the plat trophy doesn't need all 36 endings, I'd feel damn sorry for the poor sap who goes after that haha.

[ElementX]

Just save your game a lot and reload different parts where you make critical decisions and continue from there. Actually I never play through games multiple times, I'll sometimes start a second play through but I always end up buying something new to play.

[grailly]

I think no load times is what should define this gen, more so than 1080p and 60 fps

[fossilfern]

we have had no loading screens for years... God of War, Metroid Prime etc

[grailly]

doesn't make them good…
I'm playing the last of us right now, and it doesn't have loading as long as you don't die, and if you die the loading is really short, it's awesome!

[Grap]

WoW compare liner game vs RPG open world

[grailly]

open world games actually tend to have less loading… the whole map is accessible then the game loads when you get into buildings.

I'm pretty sure morrowind did this years ago, it only loaded when you fast traveled, which is totally acceptable.

[NameRemoved0017]

@grailly

Bethesda said the reason that fallout 3/NV/Skyrim had to load was because the Xbox and PS3 did not have enough RAM.

[Destrania]

Can't wait for this game!

[Sketchy_Galore]

Damn, I was hoping for 37 endings. Oh well, the other stuff sounds good.

[despair]

bah without 38 endings its a no buy for me.

[GodlyPanda117]

No load times? Next Gen could not come any faster.

[UNGR]

Ironic that you're waiting so you don't have to wait.

[Dark11]

2014 GOTY.

[Red_Devilz]

Day 1 preorder. Can't wait

[UNGR]

My only complaint was the menu layouts, other than that it's a solid game, and it looks like all improvements so far. 36 different endings sounds good, will be interesting to see how different they are. Way to put Bioware to more shame, CD, nice work.

[Mariusmssj]

Yep CDPR confirmed that they got the feedback and PC and Consle versions will have improved custom made UI

[UNGR]

Good to hear. Layouts for UI in console games need much improvement, I was a little disappointed to heat both next gen controllers wouldn't have any extra buttons for mapping. Would have been nice, but I'll take what I can get.

[Gamer-40]

The best next-gen game.
End.

[rageus]

I'd hate it if the game ended in 36 differently coloured explosions. But since we're talking about the Witcher I wouldn't be worried about it.

[aliengmr]

Even if, still better.

[GamePeace]

What? All three versions made for their own? Wow, very impressive, you gotta love them. I thought the next gen versions would be PC ports like Witcher 2 on Xbox 360.

[Scroticus]

It's why we love CDProjekt. They do things the right way!

[MadLad]

I have the utmost respect for the developer. Witcher 3 is my most anticipated game at the moment.

[Dr Pepper]

I'm not going to expect 36 extremely different endings. There are probably only a handful of very unique experiences to witness at the end. However, it is great that they are putting a lot of variables into the game that have an influence on some aspect of the world. I can't wait to explore it.

[jmc8888]

But will we become human machines with green stuff inside of us?

[GamePeace]

CD Project is made of human machines.

[KRUSSIDULL]

I brought the Witcher 2 now on Steam when it's for sale to see whats all the fuzz about The Witcher games are.

[Mr Tretton]

Steam version has bad DRM, take the CD key and redeem it at gog which is DRM free.

[KRUSSIDULL]

What do you mean, it's playing fine with DRM.

[Mr Tretton]

Depends on the person, if you want to know more about it you can google it, but there's a reason they made it so people can get a free version from gog. Too many complaints of the Stream DRM version. I personally couldn't even download the game without the download resetting.

[Pintheshadows]

By the way, The Witcher is £2.67 on Steam until tomorrow.

[Bonerboy]

Whats the point? What a waste of time and resources. Christ add some extra missions or a few extra creatures instead.

Regardless, this is looking up on my list of purchases this year.

[menghina]

Can't wait for this game :D
Also Gothic 3 was open world without loading but had some big optimization issues at that time , but with the last community patch 1.74 works nice for who wants an open world RPG is worth playing.

PS : CD Projekt RED rocks !