The Witcher 3 AI remake turns classic RPG into photorealistic showcase, dividing opinion

The Witcher 3 'AI-Slop Remake' actually looks pretty impressive

As far as game development and gaming are concerned, AI is well and truly here. From AI tools like DLSS and FSR used to enhance image quality and performance, to generative AI used to speed up development, ideation, art, design, and coding. Now, when it comes to the world of fake AI videos that take popular things to generate interest (or clicks), the term "AI slop" is used as a catch-all for everything. The Witcher 3 AI Reimagining, image credit: YouTube/Aillusory. And even though the consensus is that generative AI being used liberally for any form of entertainment, be it movies, music, or games, is bad, here's an interesting one. YouTube creator Aillusory has posted a new video titled 'The Witcher 3, but it's AI slop - Reimagined by AI.' The goal here was to capture cinematic and gameplay footage from CD Projekt Red's The Witcher 3 and then use AI to remaster and "reimagine" the game with new photorealistic visuals. And here's the thing: aside from the odd-looking (read, AI-looking) character and facial animations, the results are pretty impressive. Especially when it comes to the lighting and environment detail, with several of the game's iconic locations taking on a definite 'photorealistic' quality. In motion, you can notice quite a bit of artifacting with things like grass and moving objects. Still, the result is impressive enough that the majority of the comments on the video are not only positive, but many are thinking about how what we're seeing here could become a tool for remastering classic games and presenting them in a new light. Kind of like an automatic version of NVIDIA's RTX Remix platform for modding, which includes generative AI tools for remastering assets. "Being able to 'remake' a game with realistic graphics or in a totally different art style would be really cool and one of the best possible uses of AI in gaming," @RayzaNC writes. "AI will first become the best Reshade filter, before it's used to make games," @misapheonix adds. With @HeretixAevum commenting on the video's title with, "This is pretty good quality slop, honestly."

'AI Will Become The Best Reshade Filter': The Witcher 3 AI-Slop Remake Feels Anything But

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly becoming a key component across many industries, and video game development is certainly not absent from this trend. While several publishers are accelerating the push to integrate AI tools into their studios, the inconsistent results and the associated concerns over job displacement for human artists and developers continue to make this push highly controversial. However, with the right approach, AI can deliver some frankly impressive results in video games, as highlighted in a new video showcasing an AI remake of the beloved The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. This AI remake was created by Aillusory, who titled their project "The Witcher 3 but it's AI slop - Reimagined by AI." Despite the creator's self-deprecating label, this fan project utilized AI to generate photorealistic visuals from footage captured from the original game, overhauling nearly every visual element -- from environments to characters. The results are not perfect, but it's undeniable that this AI remake looks impressive more often than not. It largely retains the original game's recognizable art style for both environments and characters while enhancing them in a fairly credible, photorealistic fashion. The end results are so impressive that users are consistently praising them. "AI will first become the best reshade filter, before it's used to make games," said YouTube commenter misapheonix, a sentiment that is easy to share, considering the quality of this AI-powered remake. Regardless of potential AI enhancements, an official, CD Projekt RED-developed remake of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is likely years away. The original game has aged quite well, and its visuals continue to improve thanks to the dedication of the modding community. Known modder Halk Hogan announced last month that a new version of their HD Reworked Project is scheduled to launch in 2026. Despite the lack of an immediate official overhaul, we will see more of Geralt of Rivia in the future. Besides hopefully appearing in The Witcher IV, the White Wolf will return in the complete remake of the first entry in the series. Developed by Fool's Theory, this remake promises to breathe new life into one of the most iconic RPGs released in the early 2000s, complete with improved visuals powered by Unreal Engine 5 and a host of other enhancements. The official release window for this remake remains unknown.