If Witcher fans didn't go on a Netflix binge over the weekend, they certainly went back to playing The Witcher 3. | Source: Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP
Players are flocking back to The Witcher 3 thanks to a surge of interest attributed to the Netflix show.
According to SteamDB, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt drew in a peak of 48, 366 concurrent players over the weekend . You’d need to go back to May 2016 and the release of the acclaimed Blood and Wine DLC to narrowly beat that figure with 48,413 concurrent players.
As for a higher peak player base, the game hasn’t passed the 48k mark since the weeks after release in May and June 2015 when it hit 92, 268, or roughly twice this weekend’s numbers.
As of writing, there are roughly 33, 000 people frolicking across the Continent channeling their best Henry Cavill in search of coin. And, Mr. Cavill has a lot to do with the renewed interest in CD Projekt Red’s open-world RPG.
The Netflix show has garnered mixed reviews from the press, but the consensus among viewers is clearly positive, with many lured back to the game to continue their adventures as Geralt of Rivia.
For my part, I’m only four episodes in, and already my dusty copy of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt beckons me for another play through.
As for attracting new players, the Netflix adaptation of the Andrzej Sapkowski books seems to have sparked interested from those unacquainted with the game.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt- Game of the Year Edition is the top global seller on Steam currently, aided in part by a generous 70% discount as part courtesy of the Steam Winter Sale.
It was bound to happen sooner rather than later, but an enterprising soul has cooked up a PC mod that allows you to replace Geralt and Yennifer’s faces with those of Henry Cavill and Anya Chalotra .
The results are a bit rough around the edges, but commendable for the turnaround given the series only released three days ago.