CD Projekt Red initially considered implementing Geralt of Rivia's signature silver chain weapon in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt more than a decade ago, but technological limitations at the time made the concept unfeasible. The weapon is now set to debut in the forthcoming Songs of the Past expansion.
Jakob Rokosz, Game Director for Songs of the Past, revealed that the idea of a playable chain weapon was discussed during the original development of The Witcher 3. "We were talking about implementing the chain even during the original Witcher 3," Rokosz told BBC News. "But it was impossible to do at the time for various technological reasons and challenges."
While Rokosz did not elaborate on the specific technical hurdles, it is speculated that they involved the complexities of the chain's animations and the game's physics engine. "A few things had to click together, because we were actually able to address those challenges and issues," Rokosz explained, noting that these advancements were made during the remastering process for The Witcher 3. This allowed the team to implement the weapon in a way that "feels natural and very fluid and basically realises the fantasy you either read in the books or have seen in the trailer." MAGE1: url= | alt=Geralt's silver chain, partially wrapped around his arm, lashes out at a trio of undead enemies as they approach him on a gloomy night. | dimensions=1920x1080
The inclusion of the chain weapon is not solely due to technological advancements; it also aligns with the narrative themes of the Songs of the Past expansion. Senior quest designer Despoina Anetaki highlighted that the weapon "fits with the new enemies that work with the chain," specifically mentioning new adversaries called "swarmions." These enemies require crowd control tactics, a role the chain weapon is designed to fulfill. Anetaki also suggested the chain will serve as an alternative to, or a replacement for, the crossbow, offering a "very cool weapon for players who might be sick of the crossbow by now."
Earlier previews of the chain weapon indicated that, similar to the crossbow, it can slow down time when used and allows players to target specific body parts. The Songs of the Past expansion is also set to focus on Geralt's relationship with Dandelion and introduce a new region that aims to feel more dynamic than those found in the base game and previous expansions.