The Witcher 3 Remastered: What’s New and Who Gets It Free
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is receiving another major overhaul. Announced at Gamescom 2026, The Witcher 3 Remastered launches on September 29, 2026 as a free upgrade for existing owners on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The update goes far beyond a simple visual refresh. It modernizes combat, movement, systems, and presentation while also making the two original expansions free for everyone who already owns the base game.
Here is a clear breakdown of what is new and exactly who qualifies for the free upgrade.
Release Date and Platforms
The Witcher 3 Remastered arrives on September 29, 2026.
Supported platforms include:
- PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and for the first time Battle.net)
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox Series X|S
- Nintendo Switch 2 (native version)
On PC, PS5, and Xbox Series the Remastered version is delivered as a free update to the existing game. On Switch 2 it launches as a native version, with owners of the original Switch release able to claim it free when they move to the new hardware.
Who Gets the Free Upgrade
Existing owners of The Witcher 3 on PC (Steam, Epic, GOG), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S receive the full Remastered version at no extra cost. The update is treated as a patch to the current game rather than a separate product, so progress carries over.
In addition, CD Projekt Red made both original expansions — Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine — free for all current owners of the base game starting from the day of the announcement. Digital owners receive them automatically in their library. Disc owners can claim them from the relevant store.
New players who buy The Witcher 3 Remastered after September 29 will get the base game plus both expansions included.
Major Gameplay Improvements
The Remastered version makes meaningful changes to how the game feels to play.
Combat
Combat has been modernized with smoother animations, improved targeting, an adaptive camera, and new finishing moves. The goal is to make fights feel more precise and responsive while keeping the weight and fantasy of Geralt’s swordplay intact.
Traversal and Movement
Geralt’s movement and general traversal have been refined. Climbing, parkour-style sections, and general navigation around the world feel more fluid.
Mount Handling
Roach’s behavior and handling have been improved. Riding should feel less frustrating and more reliable than in previous versions of the game.
Monster Behavior
Enemy AI and monster behaviors have been enhanced so encounters feel more dynamic and less predictable.
Skill Tree Revamp
The ability system has been completely reworked to offer greater flexibility. Existing skill points are reset when the update lands so players can immediately redistribute them according to the new tree.
Armor Transmog
A transmogrification system has been added, letting players change the appearance of their gear without losing stats. This is one of the most requested quality-of-life features from long-time fans.
Other Systems
Additional improvements include refined animations, better quest tracking, a looting rework, immersive meditation, an expanded photo mode, UI updates, and new accessibility options.
Visual and Technical Upgrades
On the technical side the Remastered version brings a substantial visual leap. Changes include updated textures, improved lighting and global illumination, better foliage shading, subsurface scattering, a new tone mapper, enhanced HDR, improved ray tracing, and support for modern upscaling technologies (DLSS 4.5, FSR 4, XeSS 2.0). Path tracing and ray reconstruction are also supported on capable PC hardware.
PlayStation 5 Pro support is included, along with Xbox Play Anywhere functionality. Console mod support arrives with the Remastered version on day one.
What About Saves and Progress?
Because the Remastered version is delivered as an update to the existing game on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series, your current save files carry over. Achievements and trophies already unlocked remain unlocked. The only major reset is the skill tree, which is intentional so players can engage with the new ability system immediately.
Looking Ahead: Songs of the Past
The Remastered update arrives well ahead of the next major content addition. The new expansion, Songs of the Past, is scheduled for 2027 and will introduce a new region called Letten along with new story content focused on Geralt. The Remastered foundation is designed to support that expansion when it launches.
Final Thoughts
The Witcher 3 Remastered is one of the most generous major updates a classic RPG has received. Existing owners on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series get a free overhaul that modernizes combat, movement, systems, and visuals. Both original expansions are now free for current owners as well. New platforms such as Switch 2 and Battle.net expand the audience further.
For anyone who has been waiting to return to the Continent, or for players who never finished the expansions, September 29, 2026 is an ideal moment. The game that many still consider one of the greatest open-world RPGs ever made is about to feel new again — and for most owners, the price of admission is simply downloading the update.
What makes this Remastered version particularly meaningful is how it respects the original vision while quietly fixing the things that have aged least gracefully. The core story, characters, and sense of place remain untouched, yet the act of moving through the world, fighting its monsters, and managing Geralt’s build now feels closer to modern expectations without losing the rough-edged charm that defined the game in 2015. For many players this will be the definitive way to experience The Witcher 3 — not because it reinvents the adventure, but because it finally removes the small frictions that used to pull you out of it.
September 29 release also creates a perfect entry point for anyone who has never finished the full journey. With both expansions now free and the entire experience running on a modern technical foundation, there has never been a lower barrier to starting a new playthrough or returning to an old save. Whether you last left Geralt in White Orchard or already stood in the streets of Beauclair, the Remastered version invites you to step back into the Continent with fewer compromises and a clearer sense that the game is ready for another decade of players.
Perhaps the most telling detail is how little CD Projekt Red needed to change the heart of the game for it to feel current again. The writing, the side quests, the moral weight of Geralt’s decisions — none of that required reinvention. What the Remastered update really delivers is permission for a new generation of players to experience those strengths without the technical and mechanical friction that once came with them. In that sense, the free upgrade is less a nostalgia exercise and more a quiet statement that The Witcher 3 still belongs in the present conversation about great open-world role-playing games.