While every one’s been caught up in the next-gen console war, there’s one platform that remains free from the fray. That’s right, the master race are winners once again as CD Projekt RED’s CEO Marcin Iwinski assures Rock Paper Shotgun that The Witcher 3 will release DRM –free on GOG on day one.
As reported last week, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will be subject to Microsoft’s DRM policies on the Xbox One, and not even the developers of the game will be able to play it on the Xbone at launch, but that doesn’t mean that CDP has changed their anti-DRM stance.
“A lot of people on forums are saying, ‘No, but you guys are anti-DRM,’” Iwinski admitted during an interview with RPS. “And we really are anti-DRM. But at the same time, there are people who’ll be fine with [Xbox One’s online-heavy DRM]. They’ll buy the console and just want to play. Why should we not give them this option?”
“That’s our approach, but at the same time, we don’t know what the final policies are. Things might be changing. There’s a lot of heat right now. From our perspective, we’ll always choose the most gamer-friendly solution. And on the platform where we have control – which is PC – we’ll release on GOG day one and DRM-free.”
Iwinski also told RPS that the DLCs and updates for the game will be free. “It’s too early to talk specifics, but definitely all the DLCs and updates will be free,” he said. CDP plans on delivering the same experience to gamers across all platforms. “Of course, we’ll see what the platform holders will allow – what we can do for free [on next-gen consoles]. I mean, there are different business models on consoles. From our standpoint, we’ll definitely do everything we can to deliver the same experience across all platforms.” Iwinski continued.
Even though Witcher fans in countries like Poland won’t be able to play the game on Xbone at launch, I don’t think it’ll chip into the franchise’s fan base too much. CDP’s efforts to do right by gamers as much as they can are sure to maintain the community. CDP is one of the few studios still developing for gamers, and not just for profit.
Last Updated: June 19, 2013
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
June 19, 2013 at 11:21
Bravo! DRM free = Winning!
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
June 19, 2013 at 11:22
YAY!!!
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
June 19, 2013 at 11:23
You know its win when Picard smiles like that!
Yolanda Green
June 19, 2013 at 11:25
You know you’ll win if you’re a PC gamer 😉
Slade Boender
June 19, 2013 at 11:34
ermergherd, merstehr rehs!
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
June 19, 2013 at 11:42
Oh how we have missed you!!
Brady miaau
June 19, 2013 at 11:42
There is something about settling in front of the TV, on a couch, with a controller in hand that I like. I can, I suppose, connect my laptop to the TV and a controller to my laptop, but not the same for me.
Yolanda Green
June 19, 2013 at 11:44
If you’re smart, you can have all the comfort a console gamer has. For example, in our house, we can play games from our bed, on a big screen, with a controller. Only it’s a PC game 😛
Rinceyouropinion
June 19, 2013 at 11:51
How does a mouse work on bedding covers? 0-o
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
June 19, 2013 at 11:51
serving tray pappie, serving tray
Rinceyouropinion
June 19, 2013 at 11:54
Then what’s the point, may as well hold a controller! Serving tray, electronic mouse and keyboard? May as well get out of bed trololo!
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
June 19, 2013 at 11:55
I believe she said controller. In any case, not in my house, bed is for sleeping and fornicating, not for gaming
Rinceyouropinion
June 19, 2013 at 11:57
That will never catch on. How are you supposed to use the new VR glasses with that erotic game in your kitchen? Bed would be best!
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
June 19, 2013 at 11:58
Forever alone…
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
June 19, 2013 at 11:58
Why are you gaming in the kitchen?
#DoingItWrong
😛
Rinceyouropinion
June 19, 2013 at 12:01
How else am I to get a pizza while gaming. Next you’ll tell me some popular pizza company has teamed up with what USED to be a popular company to offer you take away services while you break out a move to Han Solo: Dancing Queen 14.
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
June 19, 2013 at 12:03
ROFL @ HS Dancing Queen
Yolanda Green
June 19, 2013 at 11:53
I should mention, said PC is way at the other end of the house. But in any case, mousemats on a harder surface work fantastically.
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
June 19, 2013 at 11:54
mousemat you say?
Yolanda Green
June 19, 2013 at 12:11
Indeed, I heard that they’ve been made especially for mice 😮
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
June 19, 2013 at 12:01
How are you connecting PC to said display? I am thinking of somehow getting my PC out of the lounge area but I still want it connected to my TV
Yolanda Green
June 19, 2013 at 12:07
Just plug the HDMI cable into your gfx card, it should have a port for that. My better half fed a long cable from the living room through the roof to our bedroom.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
June 19, 2013 at 12:09
I didn’t realise HDMI allowed such long lengths of cable to be run. That’s why I asked. I honestly thought HDMI had a very short max length. If it’s that simple then I shall have to do it!
Yolanda Green
June 19, 2013 at 12:11
heh just consider the length though, I’m not sure, but I think he used a 20m cable. I don’t know if it’ll always work, but definitely works for us.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
June 19, 2013 at 12:11
Sweet. Will do some research in to this.
Thats_how_I_Troll
June 19, 2013 at 15:58
http://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Extension-Extender-200-Feet-HDMI-EXTC/dp/B001PT1A7C Is a good solution if you have big distances
Edit: Or get hold of a company called linkqage. They have similar products
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
June 19, 2013 at 17:32
Sweet dude. Thanx. Very cool idea this
Thats_how_I_Troll
June 20, 2013 at 15:11
Glad to be of assistance. I used them for Advertising displays as well as in some of the products we manufacture. Works awesome. I think you can go up to 10 or 15 m for HDMI before requiring an amplifier (also dependant on device). Plus it is just plain easier to route a CAT 5 or 6 cables and then just connect up the RJ45s…
Johan du Preez
June 19, 2013 at 13:10
You get a wireless keyboard with a mouse trackball on it goes for under R245
John Ambitious
June 19, 2013 at 11:51
Have the same setup at home
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 19, 2013 at 11:55
WHAT IS THIS CRAZY TALK FROM THE FUTURE?
Rinceyouropinion
June 19, 2013 at 11:57
I agreed. This stuff is for Star Trek, and Lord of the Rings, MAGIC I say!
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
June 19, 2013 at 11:58
PC talk is from the now you blerrie console peon 😛
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 19, 2013 at 12:15
Pffftt! I’m a PC gamer. Look, I just played Minesweeper (collects his PC gamer card)
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
June 19, 2013 at 12:16
Actually, you aren’t a complete gamer unless you have played Minesweeper 😛
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
June 19, 2013 at 12:23
You aren’t a complete gamer unless you have FINISHED Minesweeper
Sir Twakkus
June 19, 2013 at 13:09
So true. No gamer can call himself a gamer without beating expert at least once. Can remember on varsity we held a competition, where the winnings was always a bottle of Tas, of who can beat Minesweeper the fastest. Usually the competition coincided with exams lol.
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
June 19, 2013 at 12:20
BACK TO BED!!!
Yolanda Green
June 19, 2013 at 12:03
I believe it’s called “PC’s are better than consoles” 😛 I kid!
Johan du Preez
June 19, 2013 at 13:08
Get a proper chair for your pc ….. dont sit on your plastic garden chair when playing pc games ….
Gareth L
June 19, 2013 at 11:26
Well played CD Projekt RED, well played.
Happy Hamster
June 19, 2013 at 11:27
Ma Grand Pappie says ima not allowed to play them Witcher 3 as them church going folk in Alabama willa be burning me at the stake
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 19, 2013 at 11:39
I tip my hat to you CD Projekt Red, may you never loose your way!
ElimiNathan
June 19, 2013 at 11:43
PC FTMFW, and ye hats off to these guys
Willem Swanepoel
June 19, 2013 at 11:47
I will buy 2 copies from them just to say thanks. Anyone want the 2nd one ? 🙂
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
June 19, 2013 at 11:52
LOL you troll you 🙂
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 19, 2013 at 12:23
I’ll take your one, and then I’ll buy two as well, and give those to others who do the same, and in turn… SALES WILL BE OVER 9000!
Rinceyouropinion
June 19, 2013 at 11:48
This is what it’s all about! No DRM BS. If they think they can turn a profit, why can’t the rest of the industry? What are they doing that is so special?
John Ambitious
June 19, 2013 at 11:51
Free DLC? Shouldn’t it just be “a full game”.
Joe Bold
June 19, 2013 at 21:26
Dear sir, you’r probably the victim of EA & Co.’s money making version DLC machinery.
If a company like CDPR talks about DLC, this content will not be cut from the game in advance to be sold later on – It will be more like a classical addon. DId you ever played THe enhanced editions of The Wichter I or II?
John Ambitious
June 20, 2013 at 07:36
Yea, that was just a joke. But you’re quite right, EA is the one that made us lose faith in this. I’ve bought some great DLC’s for some of my other favourites the past few years and some of the guys out there really do make some effort to improve the value of the game with it over it.
HvR
June 19, 2013 at 12:06
Just sit back and watch
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 19, 2013 at 12:14
LOL!
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
June 19, 2013 at 12:20
WHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
June 19, 2013 at 12:21
Oh man, what an epic picture!!!
Tateboetie Malaaitie
June 19, 2013 at 12:42
Is nice, I like.
Jakster
June 19, 2013 at 12:20
“and not even the developers of the game will be able to play it on the Xbone at launch” << So how are the developers making the game for the Xbone? o_0
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 19, 2013 at 12:21
On those PCs (running Windows 7) that Microsoft was trying to convince everyone were xbones – at E3…
matthurstrsa
June 19, 2013 at 12:30
Some hope left in the world. Such good news.
Ryanza
June 19, 2013 at 12:41
I will support anti DRM by buying The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 from gog.com.
But with games like The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, I want to own the disc based product, And the disc based products will have Steam DRM. Sad. 🙁
OVG
June 19, 2013 at 12:45
By a Poland company who cannot access the XBOX ONE to play their own fucking game. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Iblis Bane
June 19, 2013 at 12:48
I haven’t played any of these, but I swear I’ll buy this one just to support this kind of strategy by developers.
Natty Dave
June 19, 2013 at 19:23
my thoughts exactly, makes me want to take a look at the earlier games in the franchise as well
Skyblue
June 19, 2013 at 12:56
Header win, CD Project RED Win, lots of win all round
I want it now!
June 19, 2013 at 12:57
I’ve played through The Witcher 2 4 times to see what would have happened if I chose differently, to find all those secrets I missed, to complete those puzzles I didn’t manage before, to test out the different difficulties and fighting tactics and to find out everything about the world there was left to discover. Not one time was I bored, and there was always something new and exciting in each playthrough.
And this game … it’s … it’s 35 times bigger! And not in the Skyrim way, but bigger with an actual living world, interesting quests, characters, story, unique locations and a lot more! Man, if they screw this up, I’ll still buy the game because these guys are just too cool to not support.
Gareth L
June 19, 2013 at 13:30
Very well put, bud!
TLee
October 30, 2014 at 19:15
The Witcher 3 with no DRM and free DLC. Watch it still gets pirated like crazy.