With The Witcher 3 release date firmly pegged at February 25 next year, developer CD Projekt Red keeps the hype up by confirming 16 DLC packs for the game, offered absolutely free.

DLC packs are common in current releases, but these usually come with strings attached, such as loyalty to a certain platform or bundled with preorders. CD Projekt Red has expressed their sentiments on DRM and DLC in earlier interviews, and is now backing up their stand with a DLC program for all platforms, absolutely free.

The Witcher 3 release date has been announced early in development (although pushed to February 2015), and developer CD Projekt Red is transparent with the progress. The game is massive, with side-quests to the main arc to boot. The title also ends the story arc of the protagonist Geralt.

The latest Witcher 3 trailer is the game's actual opening cinematic, also reveals hints of the gameplay. What's in store for fans when the game launches? DLC bundles with two expansions per week, content, quests, and customization options included. Two DLC bundles are confirmed at the moment:

"The first bundle will contain the Temerian Armor Set and a Beard and Hairstyle Set for Geralt. The second bundle will contain an additional quest and an alternative look for one of the game's main characters--Yennefer of Vengerberg."

CD Projekt Red insists the DLC bundles are available by default, regardless of platform, whether the purchase is preordered or part of a special bundle (Collectors' Edition).

Co-founder Marc Iwinski justifies CD Projekt Red's move for free DLC bundles, which is seldom expected in the current trend of games marketing.

"As gamers, we nowadays have to hold on tight to our wallets, as surprisingly right after release, lots of tiny pieces of tempting content materialize with a steep price tag attached. Haven't we just paid a lot of cash for a brand new game?" (gamespot.com)

Details on The Witcher 3 release date, trailer, and gameplay are regularly updated at the official site.