Witcher 3 Update: Hearts of Stone on Xbox One and PS4 getting BIG gameplay changes

The Witcher 3 will introduce new gameplay mechanics

THE WITCHER 3 update, Hearts of Stone is set to get its first trailer very soon, with developers CD Projekt RED teasing they have something big planned for this week

UPDATE TWO: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's Hearts of Stone DLC expansion will include some big changes to how gameplay works in the Northern Realms.
According to the new information supplied by developer CD Projekt RED today, HoS will introduce Runewords, something the devs say will help shape new tactics for fans.
"Each Runeword will impact a different aspect of in-game mechanics and will allow the players to experiment with various strategies," a statement from CD Projekt RED reads.
"Hearts of Stone packs over 10 hours of new adventures and introduces new characters, powerful monsters, unique romance, and a brand new storyline shaped by gamer choices."
Community manager, Marcin Momot has also confirmed that the new missions being released with Hearts of Stone are ideally tackled when your character has reached level 30+.
They will be playable to everyone but will certainly prove a test for those of lower level.
Many fans are now trying out the newly released New Game Plus Mode, which has also been revealed to work with the quests in Hearts of Stone.
Momot told fans on Twitter: "You can play it after/during the main story. The HoS quests will be level 30+ though."
Adding: "Quests in HoS will scale up for NG+, yes."

The Hearts of Stone teaser trailer for Witcher 3 has gone live

UPDATE ONE: As predicted, The Witcher 3 has launched its first teaser trailer for its paid-for expansion, Hearts of Stone, today.
The DLC is set to be released over all platforms on October 13 and will add at least ten hours of new gameplay to the Wild Hunt.
The official description of HoS reads: "Step again into the shoes of Geralt of Rivia, a professional monster slayer, this time hired to defeat a ruthless bandit captain, Olgierd von Everec.
"This expansion to “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt” packs over 10 hours of new adventures, introducing new characters, powerful monsters, unique romance and a brand new storyline shaped by your choices.
"The expansion lets you choose your own path through an experience that includes recruiting a crew of break-in artists, spending a night partying with a ghost, and outsmarting the most bizarre creatures Geralt has ever faced."
New Gwent cards will be available in Hearts of Stone, while developers are also planning to release a limited boxed version of Hearts of Stone which comes with a digital code and two physical Gwent decks that have a manual explaining the game's rules.

You asked - we listened :) #teamGwent #ExpansionWithCards http://t.co/G9OiGPJMz8 pic.twitter.com/nvXGfTQp2u

— RafalJaki(@JakiRafal) September 8, 2015 Hearts of Stone will add at least ten hours of new gameplay and takes place in the wilds of No Man’s Land and the nooks and alleys of Oxenfurt.
The story revolve around a mysterious contract from the Man of Glass, which has teased new adventures, gear and foes, while Shani from the original Witcher looks set to make a return.
Community manager Marcin Momot has been dropping new hints this week that a trailer for the update could be launched very soon.
Responding to fans in several forum posts, Momot explained that there will be bigs news for fans in the near future.
"At the moment I'm working on something really important for tomorrow," he told one group, before adding to another thread: "On the real though. You might be getting a teaser way sooner."
Projekt RED have confirmed that HoS will premiere in October, with studio co-founder, Marcin Iwinski, explaining: "Both our expansions offer more hours of gameplay than quite a few standalone games out there.

Witcher 3 update will include changes for upcoming expansion and...

“While we’re offering the Expansion Pass now, we want to make one thing clear: don’t buy it if you have any doubts. Wait for reviews or play The Witcher and see if you like it first. As always, it’s your call."
Momot also verified what Projekt RED have planned for in-game modding, telling fans that a new update for the MODkit would be with them soon.
"As we mentioned before, at this moment we are 100% focused on delivering both expansion packs for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The MODkit is the only modding support there is for Wild Hunt. We have no plans to releasing anything else.
"We will however continue to update it - there's a new, updated version coming out quite soon actually. It will be available on our forums and on Nexus."
Hearts of Stone will be followed by another paid-for expansion, Blood and Wine.