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Witcher 3 Exceeds 1 Million Pre-Orders

Just one more week to go until The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt arrives.

338 Comments

CD Projekt Red's upcoming open-world role-playing game The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has eclipsed 1 million pre-orders, the Polish studio announced on Monday. The game launches next week.

No Caption Provided

CD Projekt Red didn't specify how that figure breaks down between platforms or physical/digital.

Although The Witcher 3 doesn't arrive until next week, the game is already on sale at some stores in the United Arab Emirates.

Gameplay footage from early copies of the game has appeared on Twitch, but the streaming site is having none of it. Streams featuring the game before May 19 will be taken offline.

In other recent news about The Witcher 3, comedian Conan O'Brien played the game and explored its sexy, unicorn-filled world.

The Witcher 3 officially launches on May 19 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. Digital copies of the game unlock at 1 AM CET, meaning gamers in the United States can actually start playing in the evening on May 18.

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maghdie

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Are people actually asking "Why would you pre-order if there will still be stock available on the day?" and "I simply do not believe in ever buying pre-orders" lol...

I pre-ordered because I'll get the game the same day you do, for 10 dollars less than you paid.


That's a good enough reason to pre-order.

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deathtripp1355

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@maghdie: you pay $10 for the pre-order and then you pay for the rest of the game when you pick it up....

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twiiddd

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@deathtripp1355: No, You digital pre order on xbox one and it cost $10 less and you get it straight on your xbox at midnight......

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HappyCamper1979

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How many of those preorders are from April 7th when steam mistakenly posted that the game was already released? I know that is why I preordered it. In the age of digital deployment we don't need to worry about not getting a copy because it is sold out. It's solely for the game devs to see how many people are interested, which is why every game has some sort of bonus when you preorder.

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SOul_FUNk

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It will never be out of stock and sold out will never happens, then what is the reason to pre order?

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deathtripp1355

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@SOul_FUNk: people seem to like getting the extra stuff you get for pre-ordering. but some games eventually release that stuff for everyone anyway. haha or maybe its because some stores give you gift cards for pre-ordering games.

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GandoSpot

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Hype train Hype train any one others plzzzz.

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deathtripp1355

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@gandospot: all aboard!!

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RockmasteR-_-

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Pre-load started on Steam and GOG, good thing I have unlimited Bandwidth from 11 PM to 7 AM :D

the pre-load states it's 24 GB, is this the full size? or just a part of the preload??

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Psionacles

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@RockmasteR-_-: full size

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Yumiinu

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Hi! for buy the game : << LINK REMOVED >>

G2A The best of vidéo games

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H20-XCV

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@yumiinu: Haha! Worst impression ever. You buy game!

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jenovaschilld

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I simply do not believe in ever buying pre-orders as .... Well I mean it has been a decade or more since a game came out that didn't have enough copies on sale launch day, it is not like 5th gen FF games. Also with the hype machines publishers now use and out right lies like Ready At Dawn Studios made regarding 1886 - I find it wiser to take a wait and see approach. Take D3 that was literally unplayable for weeks because of servers problems, or many games that have come out with game breaking glitches.

OF course CD red is not like other publishers or developers in that they have had an unbelievable history of quality.

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Gankstar_VX84

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@jenovaschilld: no.. they have a good rep cuz they're good people, but their games always ALWAYS have so many bugs and unfinished code 6 months later they re release it.

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davisjack

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when can we pre-load on GOG?

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Bienio11

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Right Now.

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4love10

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i just pre-load mine right now on steam

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so_hai

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That many pre-orders and they still had the gall to whine about Green Man Gaming's discount? For the gamer my ass...

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XIntoTheBlue

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@so_hai: But is GMG for the gamer or are they using the cheap price (and the means to afford that) as a tactic in grabbing customers from other retailers to line their own pockets?

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so_hai

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@XIntoTheBlue@so_hai: I don't know what GMG's philosophy is, but CD Projekt Red is the one saying that they're for the gamer. Are they or aren't they? Also, GMG is just a reseller, so what they do is their own business.

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deactivated-5cf3bfcedc29b

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I'm glad there is not a pre-order bonus. Yay CDPR!

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BusterFriendly

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I sure hope it doesn't suck after all the hype.

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LordCrash88

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@busterfriendly: With enough hype everything will suck. That's the nature of the hype...

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deactivated-5d495083aed2b

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@LordCrash88@busterfriendly: In your head maybe...

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LordCrash88

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Sadly I'm one of them.

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so_hai

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@LordCrash88: Why 'sadly'?

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deactivated-5dd711115e664

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Good thing all these people are pre-ordering this game. Since nobody has ever heard of witcher before, and past games barely sold, stores probably won't order very many copies. Best way to avoid the rampant problem this industry has with game shortages is to pre-order. *cough*sarcasm* On a serious note, if you aren't pre-ordering to get an early download you are dumb. Pre-ordering a game beyond that is a scam that only benefits game sellers by encouraging developers to take content out of a game, lock it, and then only make it available via pre-order to keep places like Gamespot happy and making money.

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Damnation_6

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@ZIMdoom:
Oh yes the previous games BARELY sold.


Witcher 1:
and counting digital distribution and retail sales the original game and the Enhanced Edition sold around 2 million copies as of 2010

Witcher 2
"The game was a critical and commercial success, selling more than 1.7 million units for the PC and Xbox 360 as of May 2012"


A lot of people also preordered because of the way CDPR treats it's customers...but lets throw that out of the window too while we are at it.

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Avatar image for deactivated-5dd711115e664
deactivated-5dd711115e664

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@damnatiin_6 I was being sarcastic. The original point of preorders was to avoid a game selling out before you could get a copy. When was the last time a game literally sold out? So preorders now are just a scam as retailers try to get exclusive content. Preorders do nothing to support CDPR that buying the game new any other day doesn't. The only difference is now their PR team can put out a press release.

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XIntoTheBlue

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@ZIMdoom: Back in pre-digital days, securing a copy was a thing, sure. In The Witcher 3's case, the developer did offer good discounts for preordering, especially if you already owned the previous installment of the series. I doubt you'll see the game sold for $40 after the game goes live.

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blacksheperd

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@ZIMdoom: I will always pre order from CDPR. No one else though.

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deactivated-5dd711115e664

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@blacksheperd. What difference does it make? When you buy a game new or digitally, the company gets your money regardless.

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Metallinatus

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@ZIMdoom: Watch_Dogs; Assassin's Creed Unity....

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chuckles471

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@ZIMdoom: Is this the new thing people are going to parrot from the self appointed consumer champions on youtube. I'm sick of it already.


Everybody knows the risk of pre orders but some people like to support the companies they like. Nothing wrong with that.

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deactivated-5dd711115e664

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@chuckles471. No, nothing wrong with that at all. But what does that have to do with preorders? And I'm not parroting anything, just speaking fact. I can go to any store and buy witcher 3 and CDPR has no idea whether the money they get is from me or you. Assuming I'm buying the game at full price and not waiting for some kind of Greatest Hits version or something. They get paid either way.

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GSGuy321

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That's great. They deserve the love.

Although as a general policy I am against pre-orders. But if anyone deserves love it's CDPR.

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Hurvl

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It'll perhaps be much more than 1 million which will play the game without giving CDPR any money, but even their usual pathetic excuses are made meaningless because of how CDPR promotes and creates their games. Can't wait to add it to my "will play on my next PC when goty edition is on sale, because I've got a huge backlog"-list.

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StillMindz

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@Hurvl: You summed them up nicely.

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Supremtin

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@Hurvl: ok

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Hurvl

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@supremtin@Hurvl: Yep, that's right.

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deactivated-5b1fecf308e18

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A million preorders! Still, people haven't learnt a thing!


We live in an age of digital, the game CANNOT run out of copies. The whole idea of preordering was to guarantee a copy because once upon a time they used to actually run out.


I just don't get it!


Let's hope it dosent flop for any reason huh.


You know nothing Jon Snow!

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Armyboy5

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@kalibore: Honestly I just pre-order to support a company. That's why I pre-ordered directly from GOG

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deactivated-5b1fecf308e18

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@Armyboy5@kalibore:

Fair comments thank guys.

Yeah I understand, to support the company, to get the soundtrack/stickers/etc and simply to 'play as fast as possible'.

But my point is that SOO many broken/buggy/misleading/DLC fest/half finished and down right terrible titles have been released in the last couple of years or so.

It was NEVER like this before. I've been gaming for 25 years nearly.

It's disgusting that not only do people not return broken games, they EXPECT them!

Personally if I want the physical game (which I always will on a console for resale value) I will wait 1 day, 24 mere hours and not get stung again. I have waited 2 years or more usually for certain games, wait 24 hrs later and not getting caught out is fine with me.

Yes CD Projekt have some good games and solid releases etc, BUT so DID Bungie, EA,Capcom, 2K, Turtle Rock, Ubisoft, I could go on.


If people don't pre-order it will put a MASSIVE amount of pressure on the publishers to make sure the games are great, day 1, or they will loss serious money very very fast.


Just my 2 cents anyway.


I nver have been into pre-paying for anything until I see it finished, games or otherwise.

Last game I actually (rare it was) pre-ordered a game was Destiny (w/o season pass). Will not get stung again.

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deactivated-5b1fecf308e18

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@kalibore@Armyboy5:

Because of online capabilities - They can release an unfinished game and just patch away at thier leisure.

Sorry I don't think that is good enough. More devs/publishers should be beta testing thier games.

The games have changed so much, they are so much more complex they should all be mass beta tested before release if they have online features/multiplayer.

The standard and practice needs to change

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StillMindz

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@kalibore: You are right, but its different for this game. Unlike most games these days, physical copies of The Witcher 3 come with a physical game map, stickers, and the official TW3 soundtrack. So, there is incentive to get a physical copy. Of course this still doesn't justify pre-ordering since these goodies come regardless of pre-order, but people want to play the game on Day 1 with their physical copy, so they pre-order.

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Hurvl

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@kalibore: The idea of preordering is also to play it as fast as possible, that's why there is the option of pre-lodaing it.

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Darkhol0w

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Well deserved..I have faith in CDPR based off their record that they will deliver us a great product.

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eva02langley

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My 4k rig is ready.

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EatMyCakeBae

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@eva02langley: my Xbox is ready to pump out some insane 900p...lol. Still going to be awesome no matter the platform but you can't deny how nice it will be on a maxed out PC. If only I could go back 4 years and spend my $5 K on building a sick PC and not buying an over priced Mac Pro.

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