Witcher 3 PC Retail copy information

[stevie lee]

There has recently been some new information on how the PC Retail version of Witcher 3 will get updates, the free DLCs and digital backup versions

http://forums.cdprojektred.com/threa...PC-Version-FAQ

A lot of you have been asking about the GOG.com code being in the boxed version of the game. The answer is YES! Please check below for more details regarding this fact.

Q: Do I need Internet access to install the retail PC version of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt?
A: The initial, pre-premiere retail PC batch of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt needs to download a file from our servers to allow play. This file will either be downloaded automatically during installation process or you can choose to download it manually from a dedicated website. Since we have no DRM in the game, this is a security measure we needed to incorporate so the game doesn’t leak during the production process. No worries, the file will not be big. Copies of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt produced after launch will not contain this security feature.

Q: Will there be any sort of serial number provided in the retail PC box?
A: The game does not require any serial code to install or play. However, each retail PC copy of Wild Hunt will contain an additional GOG.com game code for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. See below for details.

Q: What is the GOG.com game code found in the box used for?
The game code grants you access to a digital backup copy of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on GOG.com. You will also receive full software support, i.e. future updates, as well as all the additional content like the 16 Free DLCs, the FLAC & MP3 soundtrack, comics, wallpapers, art book, all voice over packs and more.

Q: Can I install and play the game without the GOG.com game code?
A: Yes you can install and play the game without the game code.

Q: Will I be able to install updates and the free DLCs without using the GOG.com game code?
We decided to offer software support, DLCs, and extra goodies only to gamers who confirm their purchase with the provided game code on GOG.com. This is the only way for us to differentiate between you, honest gamers who bought our game, and pirates who snatched it from the Internet.

Q: Do I need to become a GOG.com user to play the game I just bought?
A: You can install and play the game without becoming a GOG.com user.

main thing of note is the first batch of discs will need to download an activation file to be able to play from the disc.
this is either done as part of the installation or can download it from a website (not mentioned which website) then activate it later.

so you can install it on a non-internet PC but you will need a file to activate it for play

this ONLY applies to the first batch of discs, so pre-orders and initial in store copies will be affected.

if you don't want the activation, then you will need to wait until the second batch is printed, no idea how you'll tell which is the second batch or not though.

___________________________________________
EDIT
___________________________________________

Download PC retail activation patch for offline use : links active at 1am CET 19th may.

from here http://play.thewitcher.com/

or

https://www.gog.com/downloader/listi...er_3_wild_hunt


or just update through launcher or gog galaxy to download everything. theres another 3gb of 'extras' just popped on recently

[Saracen]

All that looks fine to me, except the bit about software support.

If, as is often the case with game releases, the game 'out of the box' is riddled with bugs and not really stable until at least a patch or two (often huge, I might add) are applied, then it could be argued that, absent those patches, it's not if SoGA "satisfactory quality".

Offering extras, be it DLC, extra music, etc, for GOG users, fine. You want 'em, join up. But the original game, as per the box, must (IMHO) either stand up on it's own, or have fixes available to retail buyers without requiring them to join 3rd party sites.

Otherwise, don't offer the game retail in the first place. Make it GOG-only.

[jonathan_phang]

I read recently that CDPR have been on various torrent sites telling pirates that they will still be able download updates and play the game (but asking them to buy it for real natch(

http://wccftech.com/witcher-3-leaked...rates-support/

Not sure how legit that is, but I've seen that article on a number of sites now, and within the release the CDPR representative seems to play.thewitcher3.com and DL a patch. I've tried to go to that and it doesn't seem to be active or official, but if it was, there was no mention that there would need to be a signup to get it, and unless it redirects to GOG for an account, then it sounds like you might be able to get it account free.

On a side note - I can't find a W3 thread, but just got it from GOG and as I own the other 2, its only cost £36 and the extras are quite nice Cant wait for it tbh.

[kalniel]

A little confusing, but essentially the day 0 patch method, with a little more honesty around the reasoning.

[jonathan_phang]

I wonder if it literally is just for day 0, or for ongoing patches in the future too.

[kalniel]

I wonder if it literally is just for day 0, or for ongoing patches in the future too.

If I remember rightly, TW2 patches through the game launcher needed registration, but were also available standalone - proviso was that you needed a minimum game version to be able to use the patches, so presumably that rules out pre-day 0 patch versions.

Both TW1 and 2 had fairly messy patch routes, especially with the EE changes, to the point it was easier to just download it all fresh from GoG.

That's probably what they're going for here as well, given we all get a GoG version as well as retail.

[stevie lee]

now that the pre-downloads are available on steam/gog there's some more information:

you can download nearly the entire game. its just missing 3ish GB language files (per language) as well as the unlock file and day 1 patch.

once downloaded via gog galaxy or gog downloader, you can copy the files wherever you like and install, the play.exe just throws up an error at this point in time.


still unconfirmed:
patches appear as though they'll be available to download separately via gog. as separate files instead of rolled into one of the partxxx.rar files.
steam will just update itself - may need to do a 'verify files' though

still unsure of how the activation patch is going to be handled,
for all other patches you'll need a gog account, or find another trusted website where someones re-uploaded them

[stevie lee]

Download PC retail activation patch for offline use : links active at 1am CET 19th may.

from here http://play.thewitcher.com/

or

https://www.gog.com/downloader/listi...er_3_wild_hunt


or just update through launcher or gog galaxy to download everything. theres another 3gb of 'extras' just popped on recently.