Latest news with #CDProjektRed
Geek Girl Authority
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
Book Review: THE LITTLE WITCHER
Thank you to Random House Worlds for a copy of The Little Witcher in exchange for an honest review. What could be harder than slaying nightmarish monsters and saving the realm? Raising a daughter. This collection of short but impactful stories in The Little Witcher shows us what life could be like if The Witcher took place in a Family Circus comic. The Little Witcher The Little Witcher is a short collection of comics written by CD Projekt Red, the creative minds behind The Witcher, and illustrated by the talented Giada Carboni. This collection of short comics details the slice-of-life aspect of raising a little witcher. Follow your favorite characters from The Witcher franchise as they deal with their greatest challenge yet, raising a young and adventurous Ciri. After all, they say it takes a village to raise a child. Images courtesy of Random House Worlds. With the help of Yennefer, Vesemir, and Jaskier, Geralt takes on the role of Daddy and everything that comes with it. This means tea parties, a 'strict' bedtime routine, and facing real monsters under the bed. RELATED: Toss a coin to your Witcher by reading The Witcher recaps Because The Little Witcher is written by the creators of the game, the stories come from a deep understanding of the series as well as what it means to be a good parent. In other words, it is genuinely inspired by the games but offers a completely new perspective on the characters and what their lives could be like as a found family. The Most Powerful Sign Every single story in The Little Witcher is worth reading, but there are a couple that stand out. 'The Most Powerful Sign' by Tomasz Matera is one such story where Geralt teaches young Ciri important signs every witcher must know. RELATED: Geeked Week 2024: The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep Gets Premiere Date and First Clip For example, the Quen sign creates a magical barrier that protects against the fiercest monsters, which Ciri uses to ward off a goose. Aard makes a powerful force that pushes any obstacle out of the way. Of course, little Ciri uses this to clear all the junk (including Dandelion) out of her room. Image courtesy of Random House Worlds. Igni casts a flame anytime, anywhere, which is perfect for toasting Ciri's marshmallows. Get ready to break out the tissues when Ciri comes up with her very own sign. She makes a heart with her hands (the same sign my daughter makes to me), and Geralt tells her that it is the most powerful sign of them all. I'm not crying, you're crying! RELATED: Everything Coming to Netflix in August 2025 Bad Words The last example was heartwarming, but this next one is hilarious, especially to those raising impressionable young ones. In 'Bad Words' by Bartosz Sztybor, Dandelion, Yennefer, and Vesemir move an expensive vintage chaise up the stairs to Dandelion's room. The chaise drops on Vesemir's foot, and he instinctively yells out, 'Dung!' Image courtesy of Random House Worlds. The rest of the comic is the group recalling every time Ciri heard a curse word and proceeded to use said bad word or phrase in public. Collectively remembering these embarrassing mishaps, the group sets out to try to stop the curse word before it reaches Ciri's bedroom. When Ciri catches the crew outside of her room and asks what they are doing, Dandelion cleverly responds, 'Morning Acrobatics!' And to their relief, 'Morning acrobatics' is the phrase the little witcher chooses to repeat. RELATED: Yennefer's Infertility Battle Is Important, Here's Why To Read or Not to Read Fans of The Witcher video games will get the most from The Little Witcher. However, anyone who enjoys quality artwork and wholesome stories will also enjoy this read. Although the games aren't kid-friendly, this graphic novel is great for all ages. In fact, it might just become your kiddos' favorite bedtime story. Yes, it is a quick read, but trust me, you will read it more than once, as I have already read it several times with my young daughter. Image courtesy of Random House Worlds. Overall, the stories are heartwarming, and the illustrations are adorable. The Little Witcher teaches wholesome little lessons about being a parent and demonstrates the value of a found or unconventional family. Image courtesy of Random House Worlds. I never thought I would get quality parenting advice from Geralt of Rivia. I also never thought I would use the words wholesome and The Witcher in the same sentence, but they made it work wonderfully. Of course, I recommend The Little Witcher to fans of the games, but anyone who enjoys wholesome slice-of-life stories with cute illustrations should snatch this up. RELATED: Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: Yennefer of Vengerberg The Little Witcher is now available wherever graphic novels are sold. Try your local bookstore or get your copy here from Penguin Random House. Netflix Renews THE WITCHER for Fifth and Final Season
CNET
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
These Are the Switch 2 Launch Games You Should Actually Consider
The Nintendo Switch 2 hasn't been out long but it's still somewhat disappointing that not many new games are available yet to use the new hardware. Yes, Donkey Kong Bananza is probably the biggest hit for the Switch successor that everyone should pick up but aside from that and Mario Kart World, there's not much else to get. For those who are still looking for something else to play on their Switch 2, here's a list of some of the more interesting launch games to pick in the meantime. Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition Nintendo Aside from Mario Kart World, Cyberpunk 2077 is the most impressive launch game for the Switch 2. Not only does the game look great but it runs incredibly well. Even better than the Steam Deck. CD Projekt Red did an incredible job making arguably the best-looking Switch 2 game. There is, however, a catch: Night City, which is huge for a video game map, is practically empty. This is a significant compromise as the other versions of Cyberpunk feature a living, robust city. Granted, the roaming NPCs didn't do much to affect your game but they provided that feeling of being in a sprawling city landscape. Aside from that, Cyberpunk on the Switch 2 has fast loading times, makes use of ray-tracing and has a steady frame rate, and it's likely there will be subtle improvements over the course of multiple updates. This version also makes use of the touchscreen during hacking and there is some use of the motion controls when playing. The key thing with Cyberpunk on the Switch 2 is understanding who this is for. As this comes with the Phantom Liberty DLC, this version of the game is solely for those Switch 2 owners who never played the game. They'll be in for a treat but if you played any version of Cyberpunk, there is little reason to spend money on this game. Fast Fusion Fast Fusion is the other launch racing game for the Switch 2, with a look and feel similar to the Wipeout series found on the PlayStation consoles. The futuristic racing game is considerably more affordable than the other launch titles at only $15, but it's appropriate, as the game doesn't have much content. In Fast Fusion, players drive a hover-racer that reaches speeds of 500 mph, although races aren't just about who can go the fastest. The courses have a unique dynamic where players have to switch their vehicle's colors from red to blue. If the color matches the boost lanes found throughout the track then the vehicle will hit top speeds while obtaining a bit of boost to use at any time during the race. However, if your vehicle's color doesn't match, then it will slow down considerably. The tracks are futuristic-looking and have different obstacles, such as giant fans and boulders. The tracks' structures are also dangerous, as vehicles can do a hop that, if done at the wrong time, can lead them to smash right into a building or platform. Players can also spin out other racers by timing their boosts just right. While the racing is fun, that's all there is to the game. Winning races earns you money to access new races and vehicles, but that's about it. There's no online play, but there is split-screen multiplayer. In a way, Fast Fusion seems barebones, but then it dawns on you that it's only $15. This is one of those games to purchase if you feel an urgent need to play an arcade racing game with superfast speeds. Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster One of the few games that's truly an upgrade for the Switch 2 launch titles is Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster. Square Enix remastered the 2012 3DS game Bravely Default and, while it's a big improvement, it's still a remaster, meaning it's not doing anything particularly huge with the original game. Bravely Default HD Remaster is a turn-based JRPG that has a unique job system. A character can change from one job to another, bringing the skills they learned to the new job, such as having a monk know black magic or a red mage able to trap monsters like they're Pokemon. It's developing those character job combos that make the game so interesting to play, even though its storyline has the typical fantasy plot found in many JRPGs. Because it's a remaster, this version of Bravely Default has upgraded visuals from the 2012 Nintendo 3DS game, making it look more modern. There's also reorchestrated music, voice cutscenes and some quality-of-life improvements over the original, like autosaves and an in-game glossary to understand everything about the game. The Switch 2 also helps in making the game a bit snappier when loading and going in and out of menus. But if you want the original 3DS experience, there is a "Legacy Mode" that takes you back to 2012. With a price of $40, Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster is an easy pickup for anyone in need of a JRPG to play. Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess If there is a truly unique game, it's Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess. Not just because of how much it draws from Japanese folklore but also because it's an interesting take on the tower defense formula. In Kunitsu-Gami, players control Soh, who is a warrior defending a maiden with the help of villagers. The gameplay involves placing villagers in certain positions to fend off waves of monsters while, at the same time, Soh has to go around attacking the enemies directly with typical hack-and-slash gameplay. After battles, players do a bit of strategizing by leveling up the villagers and Soh to face the next day's onslaught of enemies. The fun comes down to having to actually think about what's going on at all times, instead of sitting back like in a typical tower defense game or just mindlessly button-mashing. Capcom As for graphics, Kunitsu-Gami is not a visual giant, but the game has a charm to it. The cel-shaded look and lighting give it a fantastical look, which works for the game's folklore roots. As it's not so graphically intensive, you get plenty of time playing the game before the Switch 2 battery empties, too. For $40, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a game to pick up for those who want an action game with a change of pace. For those willing to wait, it is likely that publisher Capcom will drop the price by the time the holidays roll around. Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening Let me make this very clear for those unfamiliar with this series: Nobunaga's Ambition is the driest of strategy games. There are some high-profile samurai games set in feudal Japan, such as Assassin's Creed: Shadows and the upcoming Ghost of Yotei, but do not get it twisted. This game isn't about recruiting samurai to take down a warlord; it's about figuring out the right amount of rice is needed so your people won't starve. Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening is one of the oldest turn-based strategy video game franchises. It originated in Japan in the early '80s and made its way to the US on the NES. Players step into the role of a daimyo and have to expand their lands while also being diplomatic with other leaders. There is no "action" in the game. You will have to read a lot and figure out the best strategy to win. It's a very slow and complex game, which, funnily enough, longtime fans of the franchise will say is more streamlined and dumbed down from previous entries in the series. There aren't really any "visuals" other than world maps, character portraits and so many menus. Your fingers will get numb from constantly turning pages to read everything. If you love methodical, turn-based strategy games and are super interested in feudal Japan, Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening is likely worth the $60. If that description doesn't fit you, steer clear.
The Star
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
'The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt' heads to the orchestral stage in Singapore
After touring North America and Europe, the concert arrives in Singapore this November to mark 'The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt' game's 10th anniversary. Photo: Ethan Lindhout Wind's howling – and soon, so will the cheers of fans at The Witcher in Concert, when the acclaimed fantasy franchise makes its Asian live debut this November. For the first time in the region, audiences can experience the haunting world of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt through an immersive orchestral performance at Marina Bay Sands' Sands Theatre in Singapore on Nov 29 and 30. Marking the 10th anniversary of the critically acclaimed game, the 120-minute concert (with intermission) will feature a live orchestra, cinematic visuals, and the Polish folk metal band Percival Schuttenbach – co-creators of the game's distinctive soundtrack. Under the musical direction of co-composer Marcin Przybyłowicz, specially arranged tracks will bring Geralt of Rivia's journey to life, from fierce battle themes to haunting lullabies. In Singapore, the concert will also feature Slavic folk melodies, with a primal edge. Photo: Ethan Lindhout Presented by Base Entertainment Asia and produced in collaboration with CD Projekt Red, Gea Live, and RoadCo Entertainment, the show takes audiences through the war-torn lands of Velen, the stormy shores of Skellige, and the deeply personal quests of the White Wolf himself. Originally a series of novels by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher became a global phenomenon following the release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in 2015, which has sold over 60 million copies and won more than 250 Game of the Year awards. The franchise also inspired a popular Netflix series, introducing characters like Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri to a wider audience. At the upcoming Singapore concert series, audiences will watch gameplay footage and cinematic scenes projected on a large screen, synchronised with every note of the live score to heighten the drama and emotion. It promises to be an unforgettable experience for fans of the game, the series, or orchestral fantasy music. The concert also reflects a growing global trend: music from video games is increasingly finding a place in concert halls, from Final Fantasy and The Legend Of Zelda to Halo and Elden Ring.
Express Tribune
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
The Witcher 4 dev shares concern over meeting expectations set by The Witcher 3
CD Projekt Red's upcoming release The Witcher 4 is facing high expectations, and the studio acknowledges the pressure of following up one of the most critically acclaimed RPGs of all time. In a recent interview with GamesRadar+, narrative director Philipp Weber admitted that the development team is aware of online discussions questioning how the next game will match the success of The Witcher 3. Weber responded to this by saying, 'I'm like 'yeah, how are we going to do that?'' He added that while expectations are high, the team remains committed to the creative principles that guided the previous title. 'The way we want to do justice to the legacy of The Witcher 3 is to take the philosophy we had during The Witcher 3 – how to make a game, how to really care about these things, how to tell stories – and keep that philosophy.' He also explained that the goal isn't to replicate the previous game, but to create a new experience that honours its foundation. 'This is supposed to feel like a true sequel, not just redoing what we did before,' Weber noted. Although the game is still in early development, it has been confirmed that The Witcher 4 is set in Kovir and will use Unreal Engine 5. CD Projekt Red has not yet announced a release date.
Digital Trends
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
I never thought I'd say this, but I like gaming on a Mac just as much as my PS5
As widespread and ubiquitous as gaming is in 2025, most of the conversations still revolve around the current console leaders: PS5, Xbox Series X, Switch 2, and powerful gaming PCs. While those are big names, it excludes other viable platforms like mobile and Mac from the discourse. I figure this is just a holdover from initial impressions of these platforms as being the home of cheap and casual games. Or, in the case of Mac, simply not having games at all. I admit that I fell victim to that thought process myself for many years. Only in the last three or four years have I completely changed my views on the mobile market and see it as one of the most creative markets for games. Now, I finally gave Mac gaming that same opportunity to change my opinion by playing Cyberpunk 2077 on a MacBook Pro. Not only did it not disappoint, but it might offer the best aspects of consoles and PC. Chrome up, choom My initial impressions of Cyberpunk 2077 weren't as bad as they could've been since I at least played the launch version on PS5 and not PS4, but it was far from good. I put the game down until reviewing the Phantom Liberty DLC that launched with the 2.0 update and had a substantially better time revisiting Night City. It is impossible for a game to make a second first impression, but this reworked, revamped, and improved version of the game was enough to draw me back into the dark and dystopian cyberscape that is Cyberpunk 2077. Recommended Videos I'm no pixel counter or frame rate snob, but my base PS5 ran Cyberpunk 2077 great in performance mode after the 2.0 update. I could spot a few FPS dips here and there when things got intense, but it felt like a mostly solid 60 as I soaked in the atmosphere and took on a gig here and there. I turned on the RTX mode to test that out, and while the city really comes alive visually in this mode, the massive hit to the FPS made it something I only flipped on if I wanted to snap a picture. Seeing the neon lights accurately bounce off the puddles in the street never ceases to amaze, but not at the cost of a smooth gameplay experience. I am aware that a high-end PC can achieve both of these benchmarks with no compromises, but I have neither the time nor the money to invest in getting a rig capable of doing that up and running. Whether it is a pro or a con, one of the main selling points of a Mac is its ease of use. They cost a pretty penny, no doubt, but they have always struck me as the consoles of the PC world — you can trust it will do what you need it to without any tinkering. That's what keeps me firmly planted as a console gamer, and why I was interested in seeing if that same level of convenience applied to gaming on a Mac. And what better game to test my theory on than the newly launched Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition on the Mac App Store? Again, I'm no technical wizard, so I can't say how the specs of this Mac compare to other gaming PCs or the PS5, but I did do all my testing on a MacBook Pro M4 Max using my DualSense controller and wearing AirPods to test out the head tracking spatial audio for the first time (this is available on other platforms as well, but I didn't have the proper headphones to take advantage of it). Right off the bat, I jumped into the settings to find the game had defaulted to the new 'For this Mac' graphical presets. I understand that many people — especially hardcore PC gamers — love tinkering with all these toggles and sliders to find that perfect balance of visual fidelity and performance for their rig, but that just isn't me. The For this Mac preset feels tailor-made for console-gaming converts who just want to boot up the game and play. That said, nothing is stopping you from messing with all the available settings to prioritize whatever type of performance you want. With this preset, the benchmark ran at a nearly locked 60FPS with visuals that, to my eye, looked at least on par with what my PS5 was pushing on my OLED. It was only when the benchmark got up close and personal with a puddle that I spotted anything that looked a little off, but that's to be expected since RTX is off in this preset by default. I opted to skip ahead to where the Phantom Liberty DLC becomes available rather than begin a fresh file to more quickly return to the open world. Even though I got a tease of the visuals in the benchmark, Night City still took my breath away all over again. Smoke wafted in the air, taillights streaked red across the streets, and vibrant billboards cast a pale, depressing light over the citizens. Hopping on Jackie's bike to race over to Afterlife, the world looked even better in motion. Arriving at the bar, I was given a stern reminder of how far ahead CD Projekt Red was in its character models and animations. The head tracking spatial audio wasn't as transformative as I was expecting, but I think my expectations were a little high. It works, don't get me wrong, and does add a nice layer of immersion while walking down the street or passing by NPCs chatting at the bar, but the illusion breaks a bit when I deliberately turn and twist my head. Namely, when V was on a call with someone and turning my head meant that V's voice suddenly moved to one side, which was a strange disconnect between myself and my player character. Once I stopped messing around and played naturally — keeping my head lined up with V's — it all clicked. It isn't a reason to play the entire game all over again, but is a feature I found myself missing in other games after putting Cyberpunk down. As of now, the For this Mac preset is only available for Cyberpunk 2077. The library of Mac games is already stacked with big titles like Assassin's Creed: Shadows and Death Stranding, but I almost feel like this new preset is a bigger selling point for people like me. With portable gaming being on the rise — especially in terms of cost — Macs offering a gaming experience on par with the PS5 in terms of performance and ease of use on a range of laptop models could fill a hole in the market. At the very least, it helped open my eyes to Mac as a viable gaming platform in 2025.
