A new rumour this week has connected The Witcher 3 to a surprise release on the Nintendo Switch.
As many Nintendo gamers will already know, the Switch console is versatile in its design but doesn’t offer much in terms of firepower.
Not seen as the equal of the PS4 and Xbox One in terms of processing power, the Nintendo Switch isn’t something expected to run the more high-spec releases.
But a new report out this week suggests that a version of The Witcher 3 is coming to the console.
Shared on Reset Era and sourced from China, the report includes news on the game being launched in 2019.
According to a new report from the Asia region, The Witcher 3 will arrive in a few months and will be fully playable.
“Breaking! Witcher 3 GOTY edition is coming to Switch in September,” the message reads.
The idea of a game like The Witcher 3 appearing on the Switch has fans sceptical, especially when you consider how demanding it is.
CD Projekt Red has said nothing on the subject so far, meaning we have to take this latest rumour with a big pinch of salt.
It would be possible to port The Witcher 3 over to the Nintendo Switch but it’s unclear just what tough compromises would be needed to make it adequately.
The Game of the Year Edition would also be expected to include all of the DLC packages released after the base game was launched back in 2015.
And some fans believe they may know how a game like this could be featured on the Switch.
Other titles like Resident Evil 7 and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey can be played on the Nintendo Switch, if you live in the right region.
A cloud streaming version of both games can be found in Japan but isn’t a service currently available in the UK or Europe.
This would explain how The Witcher 3 could launch on the Nintendo Switch, although it wouldn’t explain the boxart currently found online.
One user commented on the rumours, writing: “I would bet it’s streaming if it’s true at all.
“But I actually want to see it running on normal Switch hardware. Just out of curiosity to see what compromises have to be made to make it run.
Another adds: “Skyrim was ported by Iron Galaxy which is arguably the best porting studio on Switch (I’ve been more impressed by their work than by Panic Button’s work for example). Hopefully, if a port of Witcher 3 happens, they’ll be the ones handling it.”
“I see people saying that this could be a cloud version. Why would a cloud version be sold at retail? I can’t remember any of the cloud versions for Switch getting a physical release. Kind of doubtful about the whole thing right now.”
Some fans have also pointed out that The Witcher 3 might be something being planned for a new upgraded Switch console being released at a later date.
But even if that was the case, there is no way that a new Pro Nintendo Switch console will be revealed during E3 2019.
Nintendo has already ruled this out and is focusing solely on software announcements.