With the recent announcement that a full-scale remake of 2007‘s The Witcher is in development, fans have wondered – could this highly anticipated reboot end up being free? Given typical industry pricing and the scope of the project, the Witcher 1 remake will almost certainly not be free at launch.
CD Projekt Red has built a reputation for pro-consumer practices and generous free DLC support. However, their approach with paid releases has remained consistent with standard premium pricing models.
Past Witcher games have retailed for $50-60 at launch across platforms. While CDPR engages in occasional giveaways like the free release of Witcher 1 Enhanced Edition, these serve more as marketing promotions rather than permanent pricing strategies.
Fan Reactions Show High Demand But Willingness to Pay
Across social media and forums, Witcher fans expressed enthusiasm about the remake but without a strong expectation or demand for a free release. The announcement tweet from the official Witcher account has over 58,000 likes as of writing, with comments focused on hype for the game rather than pricing.
On Reddit, the most upvoted comments were users happily willing to pay full price for a Witcher 1 remake done right. One player spoke for many saying, "Take my money. I don‘t even care if I have to pay full price. The first Witcher game deserves this remake."
This aligns with analytics firm Quantic Foundry‘s 2022 report on gaming motivations, which found Witcher fans prioritize rich story and worlds over price value. This core audience is invested in the franchise and willing to pay for premium experiences.
Witcher Popularity and Reach Continue to Grow
The Witcher games have exploded in mainstream popularity in recent years, especially after the hit Netflix adaptation. The Witcher 3 has now sold over 40 million copies worldwide across all platforms.
Witcher 3 player count on Steam tripled in 2021 thanks to the Netflix show and still sees over 73,000 concurrent players today. Total series sales have likely passed 50 million including the first two games.
In 2021 alone, the Witcher franchise generated over $912 million in revenue according to CD Projekt Red financial reports. This mass market reach provides incentive for a paid release to maximize profit potential.
Remake Scope Compares to Full-Budget Titles
At release, The Witcher 1 was considered an ambitious AAA production built on a modified version of BioWare‘s Aurora engine. The same care and resources are being applied to the remake.
CDPR is working with Polish studio Fool‘s Theory to rebuild the entire game in Unreal Engine 5 as a story-driven open world RPG. This compares in scope to full-budget releases like the Dead Space remake ($70) and Resident Evil 4 remake ($60), rather than a remaster with superficial upgrades.
The Witcher 1 remake is positioned to be a premium current-gen experience on par with the most anticipated single-player RPG titles. As such, free access would be highly unprecedented.
What Factors Could Influence the Pricing?
While a free release appears highly unlikely, various factors could impact CDPR‘s final pricing decision:
Budget – The Witcher 1 was an ambitious game for its time but recreating it to modern standards with new mechanics, cinematics, voice work and an open world structure will require a significant budget. The pricing will need to recoup these development costs.
Marketing – Releasing the remake for free could generate immense buzz and goodwill with fans. However, CDPR will want to capitalize on the hype with a solid paid launch. Promotions like timed free releases or launch discounts seem more likely.
Fan Expectations – As noted above, core fans seem primed to pay full price for a Witcher 1 remake done right. However, a full-budget $70 tag may test that willingness for a 15+ year old game. $40-$50 seems a better range to meet expectations.
Perception of Value – Game pricing is tied to perceived value, which free access can actually damage. Overly cheap pricing can give the impression of an unsubstantial product. Pricing in line with other premium remakes will boost its perceived value.
Analyzing these variables points to a paid release priced at a discount compared to full-blown sequels like Cyberpunk 2077, but still in line with other current-gen remake titles.
The Complex Relationship Between Price and Value
The psychology around free products is interesting – while obviously appealing, free access can actually reduce perceived value in some cases. Players may subconsciously assume quality based on price.
For example, when the base version of Destiny 2 went free-to-play, some players expressed concern that the experience would be cheapened or overrun with microtransactions.
In reality the core gameplay remained the same, but the loss of a paid entry point affected perception. This may come into play when setting the remake‘s pricing.
Conclusion – Highly Anticipated, But Worth Paying For
Given the tremendous hype surrounding a modern recreation of the inaugural Witcher adventure, fans would of course welcome the ability to enjoy the remake at no cost. However, based on CD Projekt Red‘s pricing history and the scope of the project, expecting The Witcher 1 remake to be free seems highly unrealistic.
A reduced price point compared to brand new sequels? Certainly possible, even likely. But outright free access at launch would be an astonishing deviation from typical practices. Witcher devotees seem primed to pay reasonably for the ability to re-experience Geralt‘s introductory tale reforged.
For the chance to revisit a beloved RPG world completely transformed by today‘s technology, most fans are ready to happily hand over their hard-earned crowns.
