The Witcher 3's griffin is a menacing mix of ferocious cat and giant bird

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt developer CD Projekt Red today released an image of one of the creatures you'll encounter in the game--the griffin--and it is truly a sight to behold. Here is the Polish studio's official description, via the company's Facebook page.

"The griffin looks like a combination of a ferocious cat and a giant bird. It usually inhabits primeval highlands and builds its nests on unreachable mountain summits. The griffin preys on large mammals and, being a highly territorial creature, fiercely defends its hunting grounds."

A griffin is a mythological creature that is often depicted in media as having the body of a lion and the head and wings of some kind of eagle. CD Projekt Red's interpretation is one of the most impressive depictions of the legendary beast that I've ever seen.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was originally expected to launch this year for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC, but CD Projekt Red delayed the game recently to a release in February 2015. Its delay does not affect development on the studio's other main project, Cyberpunk 2077.