Anyone who's spent a long time waiting for a specific game is sure to be pleased when that game finally "goes gold," i.e. when development stops, and the game's manufacturer starts cranking out physical copies. This event usually occurs a few weeks before the game's established release date. Going gold means that the game exists somewhere out there in a final, playable state; it also means that delays are highly unlikely.

For fans of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, a game that's seen its fair share of delays, the news should be equal parts exciting and relaxing; The Witcher 3 has been a long, long time coming. Players still have to wait over a month before getting their hands on the game, but it's almost here. All these little steps matter.

Adam Badowski, managing director of The Witcher's developer CD Projekt RED, took to the official Witcher website to discuss development, and detailed just how much time and effort was put into making Geralt's final adventure.

We worked so damn hard over the past three years to bring you this game. From the corrupt nobles in Novigrad to ancient monsters lurking in deep forests, to the bustling cities, colorful ports and breathtaking vistas; all the people, all the places -- we literally spent tens of thousands of hours to turn all that into an adventure that will kick your ass and make you want to come for more.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has gone GOLD and will soon be yours!

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With a multi-year development cycle, over 200 hours worth of content, and a ton of planned DLC - including two full-on expansions - Badowski's claim that the CD Projekt RED team spent "tens of thousands of hours" on The Witcher 3 probably isn't hyperbole. While the game can be rushed through in about 25 hours, raising concerns about its difficulty, a speed-through probably isn't the best way to enjoy all that The Witcher 3 has to offer. With The Witcher 3, players will get more out of it if they take their time.

Incidentally, around the time of The Witcher 3's release, Dragon Age: Inquisition's Jaws of Hakkon DLC will arrive on PS3, PS4 and Xbox 360. Open-world RPG fans will either be incredibly grateful, or upset about having to choose which one to play first. Maybe watching the above trailer, as well as the most recent gameplay trailer, will help them make up their minds.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is due out on May 19, 2015 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

Source: CD Projekt RED