Steam Year in Review 2023 Takes Shot at Witcher Netflix…

Summary

Steam's Year in Review subtly makes fun of the Witcher TV series for replacing Henry Cavill with Liam Hemsworth, implying it was a major downgrade.
The write-up references Cavill's dedication to staying accurate to the books, which he felt the Witcher writers were not honoring in later seasons.
Despite leaving the Witcher series, Cavill has other fantasy projects in the pipeline, including the Warhammer 40,000 TV adaptation and a reboot of the '80s movie Highlander.

Steam has put out its 2023 Year in Review for all players using the platform, and there's a slightly subtle diss towards Netflix in its brief write-up for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. In the yearly recap that all players get, having The Witcher 3 on one's list sees Steam poke fun at a certain major shake-up that The Witcher TV series had gone through.

The Witcher fans, especially those following the TV adaptation on Netflix, know that big star Henry Cavill had dropped out of the series after three seasons of playing protagonist Geralt of Rivia. Replacing him is Liam Hemsworth, the younger brother of Marvel star Chris Hemsworth, and someone who had previously auditioned for the show. A lot of fans didn't take kindly to the big change, seeing it as a major downgrade after Cavill had portrayed Geralt perfectly.

The Strongest Weapons in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Many players are returning to The Witcher 3 once again, and here is a rundown of some of the best weapons that players can find in the game.

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Steam's 2023 Year in Review writeup made reference to Cavill's dedication to staying accurate to the books, which he reportedly felt the Witcher writers were not honoring in its latter seasons. This decision to take more creative license with the source material is what some claim spurred the DCEU star to ultimately leave the series. Redditor SporeMoney spotted the little dig as they were going through their recap—in its summary for those who had played The Witcher 3 for a substantial amount of time this year, Steam says, "Much like Henry Cavill, you know what Geralt of Rivia is all about."

Another possible reason is one offered by director Marc Jobst, who claims that Henry Cavill likely also considered the physical nature of his Witcher role to be too demanding, especially as he had just turned 40 earlier this year. As a self-described geek turned athletic leading man, Cavill is highly committed to roles, especially when they're of the fantasy genre, but staying in top shape and physical condition can lead to burnout.

That doesn't mean that Cavill fans won't see him in another beloved fantasy franchise. In fact, he's already working on the much-anticipated Warhammer 40,000 TV adaptation for Amazon, which he's producing himself as a major fan of the tabletop game. He's also taken on an upcoming reboot of beloved '80s fantasy movie Highlander, which sees him in a role that's pretty similar to Geralt. The Witcher may have lost its biggest star over valid concerns about its accuracy to the source, but fans still win with Cavill's many projects in the pipeline.

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The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Tag Page Cover Art

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RPG

Action

Adventure

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OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Avg: 93 /100 Critics Rec: 95%

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Released: May 19, 2015
ESRB: M for Mature: Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content
Developer(s): CD Projekt Red
Publisher(s): CD Projekt Red
Engine: REDengine 3
Cross-Platform Play: yes
Cross Save: yes

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You are Geralt of Rivia, mercenary monster slayer. Before you stands a war-torn, monster-infested continent you can explore at will. Your current contract? Tracking down Ciri — the Child of Prophecy, a living weapon that can alter the shape of the world.

PLAY AS A HIGHLY TRAINED MONSTER SLAYER FOR HIRE
Trained from early childhood and mutated to gain superhuman skills, strength, and reflexes, witchers are a counterbalance to the monster-infested world in which they live.
Gruesomely destroy foes as a professional monster hunter armed with a range of upgradeable weapons, mutating potions, and combat magic. Hunt down a wide variety of exotic monsters, from savage beasts prowling mountain passes to cunning supernatural predators lurking in the shadowy back alleys of densely populated cities. Invest your rewards to upgrade your weaponry and buy custom armor, or spend them on horse races, card games, fist fighting, and other pleasures life brings.

EXPLORE A MORALLY AMBIGUOUS FANTASY OPEN WORLD
Built for endless adventure, the massive open world of The Witcher sets new standards in terms of size, depth, and complexity. Traverse a fantastical open world: explore forgotten ruins, caves, and shipwrecks, trade with merchants and dwarven smiths in cities, and hunt across the open plains, mountains, and seas. Deal with treasonous generals, devious witches, and corrupt royalty to provide dark and dangerous services. Make choices that go beyond good & evil, and face their far-reaching consequences.