- The world has 36 final states three possible epilogues (each one hour long)

- You can import your save game to determine which characters appear and how they act towards Geralt, but the backstory won't be affected.

- You can buy horses or tame a wild ones by using Axii, one of The Witcher's spells.

- Geralt can now jump and climb things.

- You can hunt wild animals for their fur, claws and so forth by tracking down colour-coded traces in the world itself.

- The main storyline is 50 hours long.

- Towns are more reactive - citizens will summon the guards if they catch you thieving, and will observe daily routines.

- There's a new combat mechanic that's comparable to VATS in Fallout 3, letting you target different parts of your quarry in slow motion.

- There are no more QTEs. Hurrah!

- Geralt can level up to 60.

- The console versions have their own, bespoke UIs.

- You gain experience points only by completing quests, but hunting will earn you money and crafting materials.

- There are two new minigames: axe-throwing and cards.

- The economy is affected by your actions. Trade away loads of one type of good in a particular area, and prices will fall.

- There's a day-night cycle, as before, plus a new weather system that partly determines which areas can be accessed and where/when monsters appear.

- You can set things on fire using the Ignii spell, now a jet of flame rather than a single blast, and toy with the environment in other, unspecified ways.

- You can ride around in boats.

- Geralt will get to explore the world's capital Novigrad, the Skellige Islands, and "the war-ravaged wasteland".