Go ahead and reinstall The Witcher 3, because a free mod could make the RPG feel more realistic than ever in 2026. Halk Hogan has showcased new details of the HD Reworked Project NextGen Edition 2026, including a wind simulation meant to bring the world to life.
The Witcher 3 remains a “safe space” for many players – a game they revisit every so often because it feels like a special place, even after multiple playthroughs. If you’re one of them, here’s one more reason to come back: in 2026, the RPG could be permanently transformed by HD Reworked Project NextGen Edition 2026, an update to the well-known visual mod that promises major upgrades, including objects that move realistically in the wind.
The wind will move objects in The Witcher 3 realistically
Halk Hogan, the creator of the original mod that many consider essential, has shared a second video highlighting some of the most interesting parts of this update. The key change is that objects and fibers will no longer look static, thanks to a realistic wind simulation.
In the original RPG, Geralt’s hair and the grass reacted to wind and player movement (and hair movement on PC depended on an option), but now armor fur, straw bales, and shopkeepers’ cloth will sway based on the wind itself. In a storm, that motion becomes stronger and more erratic under the wind’s violent force, and it’s something you’ll be able to see on NPCs too, not just on Geralt. That’s because the characters have been fully remodeled and updated. On top of that, all of Geralt and Roach’s gear – from swords and armor to saddles – is being refreshed with a higher level of detail than the original, strengthening immersion in CD Projekt’s world. In fact, clothing and fabric texturing has been changed across almost every object in the game.
The Witcher 3 HD Reworked Project NextGen Edition 2026
Beyond that, the remaining improvements aim to add an extra layer of realism to the game’s textures. As with the base mod, the 2026 edition increases texture resolution and, in some cases, reworks the texture itself so it better matches the other elements on screen. Tessellation has also been boosted to improve how light and shadows are handled.
The modder stressed, however, that these upgrades represent only part of what’s planned for HDRP NextGen Edition 2026, which is still set to arrive sometime this year on an unspecified date. If it does land and the rumors prove true, it could release alongside a new DLC for the base game, appearing ten years after Blood and Wine. Take that with caution, though: some chatter points to an expansion set in Zerrikania, while other speculation suggests it could expand the Northern Kingdoms with Kovir and Poviss, acting as a bridge toward The Witcher 4.
Source: 3djuegos
