Check this out: how did The Witcher go from book to game to screen to worldwide fame? This is one of those stories that starts out quietly and then explodes.
It all started with a Polish writer who wanted to be a storyteller, went on to a game that won the hearts of gamers and, to top it off, it became a successful series on Netflix.
Want to know how this saga became gigantic? Let's go!
The birth of the wizard
So, back in the 80s, Andrzej Sapkowski (yes, try saying that name fast three times) decided to take part in a fantasy short story contest.
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First, the guy created Geralt of Rivia, a monster-hunting witcher who makes a living killing bizarre creatures in a sinister medieval world.
So, people liked it so much that he ended up writing a series of books about this crazy universe. But wait, at that time, The Witcher wasn't a worldwide hit yet.
Things got more serious when a small Polish company, CD Projekt Red, looked at the books and thought: “Hey, we could turn this into a cool game!”.
And that's how the wizard began to make his way to becoming a phenomenon. The cool thing is that the books already had a different feel: no cliché fantasy, but moral dilemmas, philosophical questions and lots of blood.
And this vibe was well used in the games and, later, in the series. Thus, The Witcher went from book to game and from screen to worldwide fame, gaining more and more fans over time.
From indie game to game of the year
In 2007, CD Projekt Red released 'The Witcher', the first game in the franchise. It was cool, had a cool story, but the gameplay was a bit weird and full of bugs.
Even so, people enjoyed it and the game was successful enough to warrant a sequel. Then came 'The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings' in 2011, which arrived with a sinister upgrade.
Beautiful graphics, much more polished combat and a story that would keep anyone in front of the PC for hours. Things are getting good, right? But hold on: it was still nothing compared to what was to come.
2015 arrives and BAM!'The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt' just destroyed everything! Huge open world, jaw-dropping story and insanely good gameplay.
The game became one of the most awarded in history and turned Geralt into a gaming idol. It was at this point that The Witcher went from book to game and from screen to worldwide fame.
Seriously, if you've never played it, get it now!
Netflix, Henry Cavill and the insane hype
So, after all this success, the question arose: “Why not turn this into a series?” And Netflix went ahead and did it! In 2019, 'The Witcher' premiered with Henry Cavill as Geralt.
And, my friend, the hype was real! The first season arrived bringing action, monsters and a story full of intrigue. Some people complained about the confusing timeline, but nothing that stopped the series from becoming an incredible success.
Suddenly, everyone is singing “Toss a Coin to Your Witcher” and memes about the witcher are spreading across the internet.
With the second season, the story became more linear and focused on the relationship between Geralt and Ciri. The special effects became even better, and the series gained more fans.
The Witcher has gone from book to game to screen to worldwide fame without stopping, and now the universe just keeps growing.
The Wizard's Legacy
In fact, today, The Witcher is a global phenomenon. The books are spread around the world, the games continue to sell like hotcakes and the series already has confirmed sequels.
Plus, the crazy thing is seeing how each medium helped tell this story. The books provided the foundation, the games brought a new perspective, and the series put Geralt on the radar of an even wider audience.
All of this together made The Witcher go from book to game and from screen to worldwide fame in an absurd way.
Of course, it wasn't all sunshine and roses. The changes to the series caused controversy, Henry Cavill's departure left fans furious, and there are always those people who don't like adaptations.
But in the end, The Witcher's legacy is already written in pop culture.
How 'The Witcher' Went From Book to Game
So there you have it: from an unassuming Polish tale to one of the biggest phenomena in geek culture, The Witcher has come an insane way.
How The Witcher went from book to game and from screen to worldwide fame is one of those stories that show how good storytelling can span generations and formats.
See more information about the series and the game:
- Netflix (Play Store | App Store)
- Steam (store)