The Witcher
Image: CD Projekt Red

Earlier this week, CD Projekt Red announced that a remake of The Witcher in Unreal Engine 5 is currently in development.

The Polish studio Fool's Theory is developing the project, with CD Projekt Red stating it will provide full creative supervision on the title to provide the "utmost care and attention to detail".

This will likely be welcome news to those fans who joined the series with 2011's The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings or 2015's The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and have since struggled to get to grips with the original game.

As many have noted time and time again, the original Witcher title is far less approachable than its sequels, due to its click-based combat and confusing user interface and inventory management.

Nevertheless, it's still a superb title that holds a great many surprises in the form of some excellent environmental storytelling and brilliant quest design. The hope is that this new remake will lower the barriers and let more Witcher fans experience those features, without some of the frustrations experienced elsewhere.

Adam Badowski, head of studio at CD Projekt Red and head of Art on the original game, wrote in a statement on the site:

“The Witcher is where it all started for us, for CD PROJEKT RED. It was the first game we made, ever, and it was a big moment for us then. Going back to this place and remaking the game for the next generation of gamers to experience it feels just as big, if not bigger.

Collaborating with Fool’s Theory on the project is just as exciting, as some of the people there have been previously involved in The Witcher games. They know the source material well, they know how much gamers have been looking forward to seeing the remake happen, and they know how to make incredible and ambitious games. And although it will take some time before we’re ready to share more about and from the game, I know it’ll be worth the wait.”

We'll keep you updated as more info becomes available, but for now, it's worth mentioning that the Enhanced Edition of the original is currently only £1.04 on Steam. It's certainly worth a punt if you can look past some of its rougher edges.

Are you excited about this news? Let us know in the comments!

[source thewitcher.com, via twitter.com]