Summary
Steam has put out its 2023 Year in Review for all players using the platform, and there’s a slightly subtle diss towards Netflix in its brief write-up forThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. In the yearly recap that all players get, havingThe Witcher 3on one’s list sees Steam poke fun at a certainmajor shake-up thatThe WitcherTV series had gone through.
The Witcherfans, especially those following the TV adaptation on Netflix, know that big star Henry Cavill had dropped out of the series after three seasons of playing protagonist Geralt of Rivia. Replacing him is Liam Hemsworth, the younger brother of Marvel star Chris Hemsworth, and someone who had previously auditioned for the show. A lot of fans didn’t take kindly to the big change, seeing it as a major downgrade after Cavill had portrayed Geralt perfectly.
Steam’s 2023 Year in Review writeup made reference to Cavill’s dedication to staying accurate to the books, whichhe reportedly felt theWitcherwriters were not honoringin its latter seasons. This decision to take more creative license with the source material is what some claim spurred the DCEU star to ultimately leave the series. Redditor SporeMoney spotted the little dig as they were going through their recap—in its summary for those who had playedThe Witcher 3for a substantial amount of time this year, Steam says, “Much like Henry Cavill, you know what Geralt of Rivia is all about.”
Another possible reason is one offered by director Marc Jobst, who claims that Henry Cavill likely also consideredthe physical nature of hisWitcherrole to be too demanding, especially as he had just turned 40 earlier this year. As a self-described geek turned athletic leading man, Cavill is highly committed to roles, especially when they’re of the fantasy genre, but staying in top shape and physical condition can lead to burnout.
That doesn’t mean that Cavill fans won’t see him in another beloved fantasy franchise. In fact, he’s already working on themuch-anticipatedWarhammer 40,000TV adaptation for Amazon, which he’s producing himself as a major fan of the tabletop game. He’s also taken on an upcoming reboot of beloved ’80s fantasy movieHighlander, which sees him in a role that’s pretty similar to Geralt.The Witchermay have lost its biggest star over valid concerns about its accuracy to the source, but fans still win with Cavill’s many projects in the pipeline.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
WHERE TO PLAY
You are Geralt of Rivia, mercenary monster slayer. Before you stands a war-torn, monster-infested continent you can explore at will. Your current contract? Tracking down Ciri — the Child of Prophecy, a living weapon that can alter the shape of the world.PLAY AS A HIGHLY TRAINED MONSTER SLAYER FOR HIRETrained from early childhood and mutated to gain superhuman skills, strength, and reflexes, witchers are a counterbalance to the monster-infested world in which they live.Gruesomely destroy foes as a professional monster hunter armed with a range of upgradeable weapons, mutating potions, and combat magic. Hunt down a wide variety of exotic monsters, from savage beasts prowling mountain passes to cunning supernatural predators lurking in the shadowy back alleys of densely populated cities. Invest your rewards to upgrade your weaponry and buy custom armor, or spend them on horse races, card games, fist fighting, and other pleasures life brings.EXPLORE A MORALLY AMBIGUOUS FANTASY OPEN WORLDBuilt for endless adventure, the massive open world of The Witcher sets new standards in terms of size, depth, and complexity. Traverse a fantastical open world: explore forgotten ruins, caves, and shipwrecks, trade with merchants and dwarven smiths in cities, and hunt across the open plains, mountains, and seas. Deal with treasonous generals, devious witches, and corrupt royalty to provide dark and dangerous services. Make choices that go beyond good & evil, and face their far-reaching consequences.
