Home
Breaking News

Witcher 3 Crossover: Geralt & Co. Playable in Sword of Convallaria

Witcher 3 Crossover: Geralt & Co. Playable in Sword of Convallaria
Geralt, Yennefer, Triss, and Ciri from The Witcher 3 in pixel art within Sword of Convallaria tactical RPG

Gaming's tactical RPG landscape has been dramatically reshaped as Sword of Convallaria: For This World of Peace, the critically acclaimed tactical RPG from XD Games, officially launches a monumental collaboration with CD PROJEKT RED's legendary open-world RPG, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. This highly anticipated crossover, now live, introduces Geralt, Yennefer, Triss, and Ciri as fully playable characters, weaving their epic tales into Sword of Convallaria’s meticulously crafted war story. Gamers worldwide can dive into exclusive collaborative quests and narratives, marking a pivotal moment for both franchises.

The Unlikely Alliance: How it Began

The genesis of this dream collaboration stems from a shared passion for rich storytelling and immersive RPG experiences. Sword of Convallaria, which captivated Western audiences with its August '24 release (a year after its East Asian debut), draws heavy inspiration from genre classics like Tactics Ogre and Final Fantasy Tactics. The groundwork for the Witcher 3 crossover began informally, with XD Games Director Guo Lei expressing a personal admiration for The Witcher 3 to CD PROJEKT RED's China team. This connection solidified at Tokyo Game Show 2024, where Lei's profound love for The Witcher 3 and a concrete proposal set the wheels in motion. What followed was nearly a year of dedicated development from both studios, culminating in the seamless integration players are now experiencing.

Witchers Go Tactical: Crafting the Crossover Experience

Bringing the gritty, realistic 3D world of The Witcher 3 into Sword of Convallaria's beautiful pixel art realm was no small feat. Bartosz Sztybor, Franchise Creative Director at CD PROJEKT RED, highlighted the studio's "hands-on approach" and commitment to storytelling authenticity. "For our partnership with Sword of Convallaria, our Franchise Creative team worked closely with developer XD International to craft a story that captures the essence of The Witcher universe," Sztybor explained. CD PROJEKT RED’s Japan Country Manager, Satoru Homma, a self-professed fan of Sword of Convallaria, championed the vision of seeing Witcher characters rendered in stunning pixel art within a tactical RPG. Both teams meticulously collaborated on lore, ensuring the new content felt genuinely "grounded and authentic."

XD Games Director Guo Lei, whose favorite Witcher characters are Geralt and Yennefer, spoke to the intricate design process. The narrative was designed to integrate smoothly without compromising Geralt's core beliefs against national conflicts. Instead, it offers a "down-to-earth story" centered around:

  • A Leshen from The Witcher 3 causing chaos in Convallaria's world.
  • Geralt and his companions teaming up with the Leader (player character) to confront the beast.
  • Exploration of human malice and moral dilemmas, as locals unfairly blame those from different backgrounds—a conflict Geralt and Yennefer intervene to resolve.

Translating the iconic characters into pixel art was a labor of love for designers, who focused on expressive movement and subtle details, such as clearly distinguishing between Geralt's silver and steel swords.

New Quests, Iconic Heroes: What to Expect

Players can now recruit and command Geralt, Yennefer, Triss, and Ciri in tactical battles. Beyond their unique abilities, the collaboration introduces exclusive character skins inspired by memorable moments from The Witcher 3:

  • Geralt's Father-Daughter Skin: Depicts the emotional reunion with Ciri, showcasing a softer side of the monster hunter.
  • Triss's Garden Date Skin: Recreates the romantic atmosphere of her date with Geralt during a skipped dance party.

These thoughtful additions, along with the new "Lord of the Forest" quests, promise to deepen the immersive experience for fans of both games.

A Global Vision: Expanding the Convallaria Universe

The collaboration is targeted globally, with Sword of Convallaria supporting four languages: Chinese, Japanese, English, and Korean. XD Games explicitly stated a keen interest in expanding its English-speaking fanbase, hoping The Witcher 3's immense popularity in these regions will draw new players to Sword of Convallaria. Following a successful first anniversary and overcoming initial challenges, Sword of Convallaria is set to launch its 2.0 story arc, promising adventures beyond the character Iria and a continued focus on protecting peace in its vibrant world.

A Passion Project: Developer Insights

The developers from both studios emphasized the profound sense of true collaboration throughout the project. Guo Lei called it a "wonderful experience" and a testament to the power of shared passion. "What’s necessary when collaborating with other artists is love for the work," Lei stated. "Only when we have a strong love for the work can we create something that satisfies our collaborators." This genuine appreciation for each other’s creations is evident in the polished result, inviting players new and old to experience this unparalleled cross-over event.