The Witcher 2 goes gold

It's nearly time for PC gamers to get hexed. Polish development shop CD Projekt Red has announced that it has finished development on The Witcher 2--the sequel to the acclaimed original--and that the game disc in now on its way to mass production.

Formally titled The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, the dark fantasy game has gone gold ahead of its May 17 date with the PC crowd. The game will be available on that date in both a $50 Premium Edition and a $130 Collector's Edition.

The Witcher 2 is a direct sequel to the events of the 1.5-million-unit-selling original and picks back up with professional monster slayer Geralt following a failed assassination of Temerian royalty. Geralt then sets out on a quest to track down the king's attempted killers, while also continuing to pursue those responsible for murdering other witchers.

CD Projekt Red has crafted an all-new game engine for The Witcher 2 and, in the process, has redone many of the tools that the developers used to create the game. As a result, CD Projekt Red hopes to create a smoother play experience with faster combat and a more engrossing feel.

For more on the upcoming title, check out GameSpot's most recent hands-on preview with The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings.