The Witcher 3 gets a full remaster on 29 September, free if you already own it

The Witcher 3 gets a full remaster on 29 September, free if you already own it

• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remaster arrives 29 September 2026 as a free update for existing owners

• It covers PC on Steam, Epic Games Store and GOG, plus PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S

• Owners of the base game also get Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, and those land immediately rather than in September

• The game reaches two new platforms, Nintendo Switch 2 and Battle.net, though there it is a separate purchase

• Announced 25 August at gamescom Opening Night Live, alongside the first trailer for the Songs of the Past expansion

A free update, not a paid upgrade

CD Projekt Red could have sold the upgrade for the price of a couple of pints and it would have shifted without effort. Instead it announced the remaster as a free update for anyone who owns the game on PC, PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S. It arrives 29 September 2026, eleven years after the original.

There is a second gift on top. Owners of the base digital version receive both story expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, at no cost. According to Miles Tost of CD Projekt Red these should be available to download immediately, on whichever platform the game was bought, rather than waiting for the remaster itself.

This is the deepest intervention in the game since the next-gen patch of December 2022, and this time the changes do not stop at the visuals.

The technical side

On PC the remaster adds path tracing alongside an updated rendering system, plus a full set of high resolution textures.

Official recommended specs have not been published in full. The minimum configuration for 1080p, drawn from CDPR's support pages, runs to an Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600, 12GB of RAM, a GeForce GTX 1660 6GB or Radeon RX 5500 XT 8GB, and 70GB of SSD space. Requirements for path tracing will be considerably higher.

Gameplay changes

This is where it gets interesting, because the remaster is not purely a visual pass:

• a rebuilt combat system and improved movement for Geralt

• an entirely new skill tree

• reworked Witcher Sign effects

• revised Roach controls, the point that has irritated players since 2015

• improved monster behaviour

• transmogrification, letting you change the look of gear without losing its stats

• new finishers

Two new platforms, two different models

Worth separating these, because they work differently.

Nintendo Switch 2. The game debuts in a native version on 29 September, a considerable step up for anyone who only knew the heavily compressed port on the original Switch. Owners of The Witcher 3 on first-generation Switch get the upgrade free. Pre-orders are already open.

Battle.net. Separate copies go on sale the same day on Blizzard's platform, under a new partnership between the two companies. It is an unusual move, since Battle.net barely distributes titles outside Blizzard's own portfolio. There is no free update here, it is a standard purchase.

The partnership comes with a wink for fans of both franchises: buying the expansion through Blizzard's store unlocks a Geralt-inspired skin in Diablo 4. More detail is due in September at BlizzCon.

One catch: save files

CD Projekt Red has not confirmed full compatibility with existing saves. With systems changed this deeply, particularly the entirely new skill tree, starting fresh may be necessary to see everything. Worth knowing if you were planning to return to an unfinished campaign.

Songs of the Past: what gamescom actually showed

The third story expansion is not news in itself. The studio confirmed work on it back in May 2026. What gamescom brought was the first trailer and concrete detail.

The expansion takes Geralt to Letten, a seemingly peaceful and picturesque region that happens to be Dandelion's homeland. Its people live comfortably, enjoying rich harvests and lavishly celebrated festivals, but beneath the idyll sit old secrets, local legends and a dark curse.

It promises an extensive story built on difficult decisions, memorable characters and consequences that follow your choices. Geralt will face enemies not seen before.

It launches in 2027 as a paid expansion on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2. No specific date has been given, but it can already be wishlisted.

What this means for the franchise

The logic is transparent. Rather than let the brand cool off ahead of the next saga, CD Projekt Red keeps The Witcher in circulation, and does it with a gesture that costs the studio money but buys something no marketing campaign can.

It is also worth noting what the studio chose to do with a game that already had a next-gen version. Going a step further sends a clear signal about where the bar is being set for the next chapter.

FAQ

How much does the remaster cost?

Nothing, if you already own The Witcher 3 on PC, PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S. On Battle.net and Nintendo Switch 2 it is a separate purchase, though owners of the first-generation Switch version get the upgrade free.

When does it launch?

29 September 2026, across all platforms at once.

Do I get the expansions free?

Yes, if you own the base digital version. Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine should be available to download straight away.

Will my old saves work?

Not confirmed. With the new skill tree, a fresh playthrough may be needed to see all the changes.

When does Songs of the Past release?

In 2027, without a specific date. It is a paid expansion for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2.

Where is the expansion set?

In Letten, Dandelion's homeland, described as an idyllic region hiding a dark secret.

In short

• Title: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remaster

• Release: 29 September 2026

• Price: free update for owners on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S

• New platforms: Nintendo Switch 2 and Battle.net, as separate purchases

• Included: the base game plus Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine for digital owners

• Next step: Songs of the Past in 2027