Witcher 3 designer says it wasn't easy to convince players its NPC simulation wasn't 'just fakery': 'People nowadays are interested in those kinds of details, and it really came to haunt us'

In the world of game development, balancing detail and believability is a delicate art. CD Projekt Red's Philipp Weber, speaking to Edge Magazine, explained that while players enjoy uncovering hidden intricacies in their favorite games, they can also become suspicious if the illusion is too shoddy. Weber recounted how players would often question whether NPCs in The Witcher 3's villages were genuine or merely programmed fakes.

The designer noted that while it's now possible to create a village with eight houses in a matter of hours, the game's early development lacked the depth and detail that modern players have come to expect. A notable example was the way NPCs reacted when players engaged in combat. Instead of displaying a more nuanced response, many would simply drop what they were carrying and flee, even mothers abandoning their babies.

Weber explained that giving NPCs meaningful actions and unpredictable routines was crucial to maintaining immersion. To achieve this, the developers didn't assign specific paths to NPCs but rather provided them with various points of interest, allowing the NPCs to independently navigate to the most opportune location. This approach, although not always perfect, significantly enhanced the overall believability of the game's world.

Weber also drew parallels between The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, highlighting the value of meticulously crafted NPC moments. While systems-driven simulation plays a significant role in creating believable digital characters, the designer emphasized that the gap between handcrafted NPCs and those driven by AI is substantial.