The Witcher 3's 'Gwent' mini-game is quite a card

The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt will feature a card game within the open-world RPG, CD Project Red revealed. "Gwent" is a "fast-paced card game" invented by dwarves that includes four factions. Players duel with other characters using over 150 playing cards with multiple combat styles, heroes and spells. Gwent represents a "clash of two armies locked in mortal struggle on a battlefield," in which players' decks act as their forces.

The developer also revealed the inclusion of bonus physical goodies for the Xbox One Collector's Edition of The Witcher 3. In addition to the 200-page artbook, medallion, steelbook and cases, limited edition Xbox One owners will receive a a cloth map of the game's world and two physical Gwent card decks. Best Buy, GameStop and Walmart listings peg the Collector's Edition at roughly $150. The Witcher 3 will launch on February 24, 2015 for PS4, Xbox One and PC.

[Image: WBIE]

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CD PROJEKT RED, the developer of the critically acclaimed Witcher series of games, is excited to announce Gwent, a card game experience embedded within the upcoming open world fantasy RPG--Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The studio is also thrilled to reveal the inclusion of additional physical content in the Xbox One Collector's Edition of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

About Gwent

Gwent is a fast-paced card game that can be played within The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on every platform. Invented by dwarves and perfected over centuries of tavern table play, Gwent is a game of initial simplicity and ultimate depth, something beloved by both road-weary travelers during long nights around the campfire and elegant nobles looking to liven up dragging dinner parties. The game is about the clash of two armies locked in mortal struggle on a battlefield where the players are the leaders and the cards their forces. With four different factions offering unique combat styles and endless paths to victory, Gwent is every adventurer's first choice when it comes to one-on-one card-based dueling. Take risks and think on your feet, strategize and deliver cunning combos, use potent magic and mighty hero cards and be the last one standing on the field of honor!

Key Features:
Over 150 unique playing cards.
4 distinct factions: the mighty and cunning Nilfgaardian Empire, the brave Northern Realms and their siege weapons, the agile and devious Scoia'tael, and the brutal monsters of No Man's Land.
Powerful spells allow players to control the weather and affect units on the battlefield.
An array of combat styles caters to individual playstyles: close range with heavy knights, long range with skilled archers or artillery with powerful siege weapons.
Powerful hero cards, unique to each faction.

The studio has also announced the inclusion of additional physical content in the Xbox One Collector's Edition of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt--Gwent, a highly addictive card game, and a unique cloth map of the in-game world.

The Xbox One Collector's Edition of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt now contains:
The standard edition of the game, containing: the official soundtrack, a beautiful and detailed map of the in-game world, unique stickers, and the developer-created "Witcher Universe - The Compendium"
A giant, 33x24x26 cm, 100% hand painted, Polystone figure of Geralt of Rivia battling a Griffin
An exclusive, collector grade Witcher medallion
A one of a kind SteelBook™
A two-hundred page artbook, containing breathtaking art from the game
A cloth map of the game world
Two Gwent card decks
Huge outer and inner Collector's Boxes you can store your Witcher merchandise in!

"Gwent is an amazing game and we're really happy to be able to bring it to the physical realm with Microsoft's help. Now we've got Gwent in every copy of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt as an in-game experience for free on every platform, and a physical version in the Xbox One CE, how awesome is that?" said Marcin Iwiński, CD PROJEKT RED Co-founder and Joint CEO.

Gwent will be available as an in-game experience for everyone who purchases and plays The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The physical representations of two in-game decks are exclusive to the Xbox One Collector's Edition of the game.

You can pre-order The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt here.

About The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a story-driven, next-generation open world role-playing game, set in a graphically stunning fantasy universe, full of meaningful choices and impactful consequences. In The Witcher, you play as Geralt of Rivia, one of a dying caste of monster hunters, and embark on an epic journey in a war-ravaged world that will inevitably lead you to confront a foe darker than anything humanity has faced so far-the Wild Hunt.
The world burns as the Empire of Nilfgaard pierces through the heart of the kingdoms in the north. Geralt of Rivia is pursued by an enemy devoid of mercy-the Wild Hunt, a mythical cavalcade of ghastly riders, harbingers of doom and destruction, capable of destroying entire settlements overnight. Driven by a deeply personal agenda, Geralt must navigate a maze of hostile forces to find and protect the one described in an ancient prophecy. Gritty and merciless, the world the adventure plays out in sets new standards in terms of size, ecosystem complexity and meaningful non-linearity. Experience realistic day and night cycles, observe weather changes that influence gameplay, and conquer the lush environment using arcane witcher lore.
Evolve unique witcher skills to tailor gameplay to your liking; hunt bloodthirsty monsters and develop your signature fighting strategies; use potent battle magic, and slay your way to victory in a truly limitless open world. Stroll, swim, ride and sail; embark on legendary quests and collect epic bounties. Take control: go anywhere, do anything!