Many players are currently playing a 10-year-old RPG on Steam. It is likely due to the Game Awards, which have sparked the hype for a sequel.
What game is it? Almost exactly 10 years ago, CD Projekt Red released one of the best RPGs of all time. With over 95% positive reviews on Steam, The Witcher 3 became a masterpiece for many players.
The game was so well received that it also led to new expansions and a series centered around Geralt of Rivia, the main character from The Witcher 3. Now the game is experiencing a new peak, likely due to the Game Awards.
Here you can watch the Cinematic Trailer for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt:
Hype for The Witcher 4
Why are players returning to the game? The RPG has frequently been on sale over the years. Since its release almost exactly 10 years ago, the game has maintained a loyal player base of about 15,000 to 30,000 players. Recently, in June 2024, there was a new hype around the game when new mod support was released.
However, the new hype for The Witcher 3 is likely caused by the announcement of the sequel, The Witcher 4. The new installment was announced at the Game Awards 2024, which immediately triggered an increase in player numbers for the third part of the series.
The peak in December reached over 46,000 players on Steam, which is 20,000 more than in the previous month. In November, there had only been 26,000 players at the same time (via SteamDB). The game didn’t hit its peak upon release but five years later with the launch of the first season of the series.
The game is currently on sale again for €5.99, which likely contributes to the player numbers, but it shouldn’t be the sole reason for the hype given the frequency of discounts. The game was discounted about a dozen times in 2024 (via SteamDB).
What about The Witcher 4? It was expected that the new installment of the series would create hype, but there are also critical voices. These mainly concern Ciri, the new protagonist in the fourth installment. While some fans celebrate her leap into the spotlight, others express their concerns about the balance of power.
The developers have received so much feedback and concern from their fans that they have responded. Something has happened between parts 3 and 4 that players are unaware of: “We have great respect for the lore”: Studio behind The Witcher 4 promises that there is a reason why Ciri is no longer as strong
