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[Afro]

General Info

· Release Dates:

PS4 & Windows: Jan 26 | Xbox One: Sep 13 | iOS: TBD​

· Price: $39.99 / €36.99 / £29.99
· 900p / 60fps on PS4

Humble Store (10% of the price goes to the Against Malaria Foundation.)

Steam | Teaser | Jonathan Blow Interview | 8-Year Dev Timeline | Voice Actors

Q&A (Spoiler-Free)

Q: Seriously though, what are these puzzles all about? (Very, very mild spoiler in this answer.)

Each puzzle introduces an idea that will be needed to solve other puzzles throughout the world. Puzzles involve tracing a path through designs embedded on panels scattered throughout the game. Some puzzles may require looking through a web of broken branches to determine the correct tracing path, or knowing that black and white colored tiles must be separated. Later panel puzzles will be used to do more complicated things, like operate machinery and open doors. Players must determine this on their own; there is no verbal communication during the game.

Q: What if I get stuck?

Blow has embraced non-linear design. When a player gets stuck in any particular area, they have the freedom to run to a different area, a different set of puzzles, and try to solve those instead.

Q: VR Compatibility?
A: Yes. VR compatibility on PC, no support for PSVR. Don't shoot the messenger.

Q: Physical boxed release?
A: No.

Q: Got any more words of wisdom from the almighty prophet Jonathan Blow?

I try to make puzzles in The Witness as simple as they can be. You just don't get it. It's not only that you don't get it, but you don't feel like there's anything to tell you how to get it. It's as much of a brick wall as possible, with no red herrings or anything. So eventually, when you manage to stick your head through that brick wall and see what's past it, it's the most magical. I'm designing to optimize the experience of having those miniature epiphanies over and over again.

Review Thread

Kotaku:

A meditative masterpiece of virtual architecture and puzzle design.

VideoGamer:

I'm so caught up inside the world of The Witness that it's hard to think about anything else. It is one of the best games I've ever encountered.

Telegraph:

The Witness is a game that will genuinely have you punching the air or laughing out loud, just from correctly drawing a line on a grid. If that isn’t the mark of a truly special game, I don’t know what is.

GameSpot:

In both structure and detail, The Witness is an original, difficult, and ultimately rewarding puzzle game.

Hardcore Gamer:

Asking The Witness to be a traditional video game is essentially asking the impossible.

IGN:

The Witness has a power and pull that carried me throughout the more than 40 hours it took to complete it for the first time, and that, even now, beckons me back to confront the mysteries I left unsolved.

PCWorld:

The Witness has taken hold of my brain, both waking and sleeping.

We Got This Covered:

The Witness is not only a masterpiece of game design, but one that truly inspires and amazes, without relying on traditional tutorials or restrictive hand-holding.

PlayStation LifeStyle:

It’s a brilliant, beautiful, masterfully crafted work, and the more you discover, the more apparent it is.

Eurogamer Podcast #1:

You learn how to learn during this game.

Destructoid:

Don't go to The Witness. Let The Witness come to you...

 

[maxcriden]

Beautiful OT. Kudos. Very eager to jump in once I get a PS4.

 

[Guevara]

You did the thing! With the thread title!

neat.

 

[Afro]

Beautiful OT. Kudos. Very eager to jump in once I get a PS4.

Thanks, really appreciate it. Had this avatar for years.

 

[Guy LeDouche]

Congrats, Mr. Blow. It's seems like you've done it again.

I can't wait to experience it.

 

[Eklesp]

Fantastic

 

[CheesecakeRecipe]

Gorgeous OT. Can't believe we're a few hours away from The Witness finally being in our hands.

 

[toythatkills]

I bought a PS4 at launch specifically for N++ and The Witness.

Now, over two years later, my purchase is finally almost warranted.

(Great OP, great title)

 

[mario_O]

day juan.

 

[Jb]

Fantastic OP. Thanks dude.

 

[FelipeMGM]

And the perfect name was chosen

Great OT, cant wait to play it tomorrow

 

[eot]

Nice subtitle

 

[d00d3n]

Does the game support 21:9 aspect ratios on PC?

 

[Remembrance]

Nothing else to look forward to but the game itself now!

Almost unreal.

 

[Movalpolos]

Brilliant!

 

[Venom Fox]

Nice OT! Not long to go now!

 

[R3TRO]

Odd that there isn't a preload on Steam.

 

[cilonen]

Nice one Afro. Great OT

 

[Afro]

Nice one Afro. Great OT

Thanks, bud.

 

[Savantcore]

Was gonna hold off but lord knows I'm a sucker for hype. I see one 10/10 review even if it's from BiogamergirlU or whatever and I'm there minute one.

 

[modernmalady]

Wow! It's here!

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

So ready for this! Can't wait.

 

[Gacha-pin]

──────●

 

[Cornbread78]

I'm missing an in-joke somewhere with that title, lol...

 

[Sblargh]

I'm interested. But with everything advising a media blackout... I'll media blackout it until I play. :X

 

[Philippo]

Oh man that title, brilliant!

 

[dc89]

A beautiful OT for what seems to be a beautiful game.

 

[Sephiroth_VII]

Amazing title. For the people just now joining us in our wait:

@Jonathan_Blow Can you tell us when The Witness will be out in the EU? Are we getting it 00:00 EST 26/01, or do we have to wait for the US?

@Sephiroth_VII I believe release on Europe PSN is simultaneous with US PSN, or is supposed to be, but given that these are both big technical systems with lots of stuff happening on both sides, I dunno what that means in reality!

IOW, don't expect it to be out at 00:00 in your timezone.

 

[aravuus]

I know nothing about this game, but I might give it a try just because it's so pretty

 

[More_Badass]

8 years in the making and less than 24 hours to go

Don't have classes tomorrow, so I got a good 8 hours to dedicate to The Witness.

 

[StoveOven]

Can't wait to dig into this game tomorrow. Great OT

 

[maxcriden]

Thanks, really appreciate it. Had this avatar for years.

It's my pleasure, and I remember you did, so I'm glad the game is finally coming to fruition for you. I'll be vicariously enjoying it through you and everyone else here till I get a PS4.

 

[kAmui-]

Good choice for a title and great OT!

Man this wait is killing me. It's already tuesday here too.

 

[Afro]

Oh man that title, brilliant!

Credit goes to JaseC for the subtitle.

 

[Fireblend]

Great OP. I think I may be joining in the fun sooner than expected. I doubt I'll be able to resist all those glowing reviews, and I did cancel my Paper Jam preorder the other day...

 

[hydruxo]

Great OT!

Can't believe this game is almost out after all these years.

 

[Icyflamez96]

Tomorrow is gonna be hype as hell.

 

[rafaelr]

great OT, can´t wait to dive in tomorrow!

 

[mrklaw]

Does the game support 21:9 aspect ratios on PC?

Curious about this too.

 

[Messofanego]

That's one of the most minimalistic and beautiful OTs, well done Afro!

 

[Kozi]

Very nice OT! Hoping for a physical copy sooner than later!

 

[Hoho for breakfast]

I don't understand the title, but at least it sticks out. Can't wait to start throwing my controller in beautiful frustration.

 

[Matt Attack]

Fantastic OT title. I'm really excited for this to finally release, hopefully I'll be able to lose myself in it!

 

[Stoze]

Been perusing the other threads all day, I'm incredibly excited. OT looks slick as hell.

 

[Stumpokapow]

this is going to own

 

[cyba89]

The long wait is finally over!

Spoiler

almost

 

[sappyday]

cant wait

 

[STEaMkb]

Hard to contain my excitement with this one.

EDIT: Large picture of the Island.

 

[Exterminieren]

Gorgeous OT for a gorgeous-looking game.

Cannot wait to dive in. I know almost nothing.

 

[dragonflys545]

I'm not a puzzle fan... But I'm really interested in picking this up because of the reviews and hype.