Home Gaming Here’s why Witcher 3 console saves won’t work with the Game of the Year Edition

Here’s why Witcher 3 console saves won’t work with the Game of the Year Edition

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Witcher3_12

The Witcher 3’s complete Game of the Year edition is coming at the end of this month. It gives those who’ve yet to enjoy the last digital trials and tribulations of Geralt of Rivia the perfect opportunity to jump in, and have everything that was released for the game available in one handy package.

Unfortunately as we’ve already told you, grabbing the GOTY edition on console means that your existing game saves won’t be compatible – so you’ll have to start the game afresh. Noting that this isn’t an issue on PC, CD Projekt RED’s Marcin Momot clarified why the issue exists, along with suggestions for those who were planning to buy the GOTY edition for the extra content.

“Your game saves will work,” he assured PC gamers. “…this is because of a more open system architecture of the PC. However, if your only goal is to acquire the expansions, you might consider buying the Season Pass, as it will be the more economical option. Content-wise, you will have the same stuff as the person who will have purchased the GOTY Edition. Of course, if you really want to support us, we will not mind if you get another copy of The Witcher 3 in the form of the GOTY Edition. Thank you in advance for your generosity.”

As for console users who already own the base game, his suggestion is the same. Buy the Season pass. It’ll give you exactly the same content and even end up being cheaper.

“Our suggestion is to buy the Season Pass instead. Should you buy the GOTY Edition, game saves from your base game will unfortunately not work because the system treats the GOTY Edition as a different product. This is beyond our control and results from the technical aspect of how games work on consoles. Sadly, we are unable to make any workarounds here.”

As has been noted, this is CDPR and if they could feasibly make it work, they probably would. Those who’ve yet to play the game at all? The GOTY edition is a lower-priced package that includes every bit of content, making it the perfect starting point. To people interesting in doing just that, Momot had a simple message:

“We love you and we are humbled that you want to buy and play The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Thank you!”

It’s out on August 30 on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. If you’re picking it up on PC digitally, get it on Steam. Gog Galaxy isn’t as mature as it should be.

Last Updated: August 18, 2016

47 Comments

  1. Pariah

    August 18, 2016 at 08:07

    GoG Galaxy is only a year old though isn’t it? Has it even come out of beta yet?

    I mean that doesn’t change that you should buy it on Steam, but still.

    Reply

    • Geoffrey Tim

      August 18, 2016 at 08:14

      Yeah, it’s a fledgeling software, but it’s should be more mature than it is. Steam made many of the same mistakes all those years ago, but they’re mistakes that others should have learned from by now

      Reply

      • Pariah

        August 18, 2016 at 08:24

        Valve aren’t exactly all about sharing. Perhaps some mistakes can’t be learned from just observation? I don’t know, I don’t use Galaxy, because I have Steam. If I want to download a GoG game I go to their site and grab the install files and keep those for later.

        Reply

        • Geoffrey Tim

          August 18, 2016 at 08:29

          Your tune would likely change if you used Galaxy. ;P

          Reply

          • Kromas GG

            August 18, 2016 at 08:30

            Galaxy is the sole reason why Witcher 3 will never be installed on my PC again.

          • Pariah

            August 18, 2016 at 08:31

            Fair enough. It’s not like uPlay though – I’ll never be forced to use it. 🙂

          • Kromas GG

            August 18, 2016 at 08:32

            uPlay is better than GoG and everyone knows my hate for Ubisoft.

          • Captain JJ off track

            August 18, 2016 at 08:33

            Agreed. And I feel the same about UbiKak

      • Captain JJ off track

        August 18, 2016 at 08:27

        I double-dipped with W3 just to be able to have it on Steam instead. Galaxy is still iffy at best. It was a bad decision to release a game as big as Witcher 3 on that client imo. Luckily it can work DRM-free, but let’s be honest, most of us want to be connected and have the game up to date at all times.

        Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        August 18, 2016 at 08:29

        It is mature, you poopy-face!

        Reply

        • Pariah

          August 18, 2016 at 08:29

          I know you are but what am I?

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            August 18, 2016 at 08:29

            I’m rubber & you’re glue!

    • Kromas GG

      August 18, 2016 at 08:26

      Origin is now like 5 years old and still has Beta writting on its main page.

      Reply

      • Pariah

        August 18, 2016 at 08:27

        Yet Origin is more lightweight and smoother than Steam to use. Sure it has a MUCH smaller install base and library, but it’s actually a nicer storage system to use.

        Reply

        • Captain JJ off track

          August 18, 2016 at 08:29

          For all the bad that EA is and for how much I hate them, Origin has never given me problems and the EA customer service is quite good, compared to Steam’s non-existent customer service.

          Reply

        • Kromas GG

          August 18, 2016 at 08:29

          The new update is terrible. Memory usage has tripled. It does look cleaner but steam still has better additions to it. Also steam backups is the one thing that Origin NEEDS to steal from them.

          Reply

          • Captain JJ off track

            August 18, 2016 at 08:29

            I haven’t opened Origin in months now, looks like I haven’t missed anything.

          • Pariah

            August 18, 2016 at 08:30

            What do you mean backups?

            I keep the files the same for both platforms. Installing them again is easier on Origin too. I just did that 3 months ago when I installed a fresh OS on a new drive.

          • Captain JJ off track

            August 18, 2016 at 08:32

            I must say, Steam’s backup and restore function is way easier imo.
            I’ve had Origin games fail a few times after trying to back them up.

          • Pariah

            August 18, 2016 at 08:34

            Why go through that trouble?

            Copy library from HD a to HD b. Remove HD b, delete from HD a. Done. Reverse when ready to play again.

          • Kromas GG

            August 18, 2016 at 08:35

            Not that simple if the games you do it with is BF3 BF4 ME1/2/3.

          • Pariah

            August 18, 2016 at 08:35

            I did it with ME1-3. I did exactly that. I don’t understand?

          • Kromas GG

            August 18, 2016 at 08:38

            DLC fails and redownloads every time you do that.

          • Pariah

            August 18, 2016 at 08:39

            It didn’t. The Origin games I restored: DA:I, Sims 4, ME 1 – 3. Not one issue.

          • Captain JJ off track

            August 18, 2016 at 08:40

            Yea, I’ve also had DLC redownload each time.

          • Captain JJ off track

            August 18, 2016 at 08:40

            What trouble?
            I’m not following. Steam’s backup is three clicks and you’ve got a compressed backup.

          • Pariah

            August 18, 2016 at 08:42

            But backing up files is a click & drag.

          • Captain JJ off track

            August 18, 2016 at 08:47

            Hehe. We’re arguing per-click efficiency. While the poor console sods are still trying to figure out how a 1TB HDD can be a real thing 😛
            In all honesty. I only use Origin if I really have to, which is rare since there aren’t many good EA games imo. Haven’t used it in months.

          • Pariah

            August 18, 2016 at 08:51

            hahaha yeah it’s a bit ridiculous isn’t it? XD

            Yeah man, I play the Sims mostly on it from time to time. But NMS is my new “dead mind” game. When I get there though, Path of Exile has me addicted AF!

          • Kromas GG

            August 18, 2016 at 08:53

            I just log into Origin for a ME3 MP binge every now and then. 🙂

            Still can’t believe after all these years that there are still plenty peeps playing.

          • Captain JJ off track

            August 18, 2016 at 08:54

            I want to get Sims sometime, when it hits a decent sale. I picked Deus Ex MD over NMS, so now I’m just waiting for the release.

          • Kromas GG

            August 18, 2016 at 08:32

            OH … last time I check you needed to copy and paste the files all over the place and stop Origin and resume downloads. Steam is a literal 2 button click and you have a compressed backup stored in a location that is easy to manage.

          • Pariah

            August 18, 2016 at 08:33

            Compressing? I haven’t done that in a LONG time. Compressing has caused issues everywhere. If it’s not a .zip or .rar, then it doesn’t get compressed. Simple as. I’ve always had issues when you uncompress. Always. That’s irrespective of Steam or simple work files or even a fucking word doc.

          • Kromas GG

            August 18, 2016 at 08:34

            You can leave the files uncompressed just means it is a 3 button click instead of 2. Still better than Origin.

          • Pariah

            August 18, 2016 at 08:35

            I don’t understand. Why not just copy the files from location a to b? That’s the same for both platforms, and in both cases restoring is as easy as copy files back, install game, and it detects existing files and patches them. Done and done.

            Only the location for Origin files is MUCH easier to find.

          • Kromas GG

            August 18, 2016 at 08:37

            You are literally the only person I know that has not had issues on steam or Origin using that method.

            I have had to redownload Arma 2 several times because that method failed at verification. ME2 pretty much never works properly anymore cause the DLC fails every time and wants to redownload.

          • Pariah

            August 18, 2016 at 08:39

            O_o

            I’ve literally never had issues. Except when using Steam while having multiple locations for libraries. Then it gets messy. And yes, it’s quite common to do that with multiple storage drives. 🙂

          • Kromas GG

            August 18, 2016 at 08:40

            Once I did that to my ME2 and it went so bad I had to call EA in america to get my account reverified for ME2 and all itsw DLC. What a fun day that was.

      • Captain JJ off track

        August 18, 2016 at 08:27

        That’s because EA only releases beta products.

        Reply

  2. Pariah

    August 18, 2016 at 08:08

    Side note: Budget in both cash and time is scarce enough that I’ll probably never get this unless it comes as part of the Humble Monthly. XD

    Reply

  3. HairyEwok

    August 18, 2016 at 08:24

    I was patiently waiting for the GoTY edition… Finally my time has come to enjoy the game at its fullest.

    Reply

    • miaau

      August 18, 2016 at 10:58

      Yeah, me too.

      I will buy GOTY or Season pass, whichever is cheapest WHEN I buy

      Reply

  4. Kromas GG

    August 18, 2016 at 08:24

    So basically.

    #PCMasterRaceFTW!

    Reply

    • Pariah

      August 18, 2016 at 08:26

      The same advice went out to everyone though, regardless of platform. “If you own the base game, get the season pass rather.”

      So basically, if you don’t own the base game (the target market for this GOTY edition) then the saves don’t matter one bit.

      Reply

  5. Captain JJ off track

    August 18, 2016 at 08:25

    Because de tek is too hi fir de konsol!

    Reply

    • Pariah

      August 18, 2016 at 08:26

      It’s more like Software package 1 isn’t software package 2, and they can’t mingle. It’s softwarist at its purist.

      Reply

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