The Witcher 3 Remastered Launches September 29: Free Upgrade, Switch 2 Features and What Changes

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered launches September 29, 2026, giving one of gaming’s best-known open-world RPGs a substantial modernization rather than a simple resolution bump. For many existing owners, the biggest news is the price: the Remastered upgrade is free on qualifying platforms, and owners of the base game also gain access to Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine at no additional cost.

With launch only days away, here is what players should know before returning to the Continent.

When does The Witcher 3 Remastered release?

CD PROJEKT RED has confirmed a September 29, 2026 release for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2. The game is also coming to Battle.net for the first time.

Existing owners on GOG, Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S qualify for the free Remastered upgrade. Players who own The Witcher 3 on the original Nintendo Switch can also claim the Remastered version on Nintendo Switch 2.

Official The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt Remastered Nintendo Switch 2 promotional image
Official promotional imagery courtesy of CD PROJEKT RED.

What actually changes in Remastered?

CD PROJEKT RED describes Remastered as a broad update to visuals, performance, gameplay and progression. Confirmed changes include:

  • Upgraded visuals: improved environment, NPC and monster textures, enhanced foliage, reworked lighting and rendering, and ray tracing.
  • Reworked combat: revamped animations, new finishers and an adaptive camera designed to make fights feel more fluid.
  • A redesigned skill system: the character progression tree has been overhauled to offer more flexibility in builds.
  • Cross-platform mod support: supported platforms gain access to custom content across platforms.
  • Transmogrification: players can change Geralt’s appearance without being locked to the visual style of equipped gear.
  • Expanded photo mode: additional poses, camera controls, frames, filters and other options are included.
Official The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt Remastered gameplay promotional image
Official CD PROJEKT RED promotional imagery for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered.

Nintendo Switch 2 gets platform-specific controls

The Switch 2 edition is more than a straight port of the current-generation version. CD PROJEKT RED says it uses several of the system’s dedicated input features.

Motion controls can be used to cast Witcher signs, fire the crossbow, throw bombs, drink potions and control Roach. Gyro aiming provides another precision option, while mouse controls offer an alternative input method.

Touch-screen support extends to the map and menus — and, appropriately, can also be used while playing Gwent.

Official The Witcher 3 Remastered Nintendo Switch 2 gameplay image
Official promotional imagery courtesy of CD PROJEKT RED.

Your existing save still works

Players do not need to abandon an existing playthrough. CD PROJEKT RED’s official FAQ confirms that existing save files remain compatible and that cross-progression continues to function.

Achievements and trophies are also unaffected, including those tied to Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine.

The two existing expansions are now included

One of the most consumer-friendly changes is how the older DLC is being handled. Owners of the base game receive Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine at no additional cost, and both expansions are included with Remastered.

On digital storefronts, the standalone expansions are being delisted and the base game is being replaced by the Complete Edition. CD PROJEKT RED says previous-generation PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions otherwise remain unchanged, with the two expansions becoming free downloads.

And Geralt’s story is not finished

Remastered is separate from Songs of the Past, a newly announced third expansion scheduled for 2027. That adventure takes Geralt to Letten, a new region described as an idyllic land with a darker secret beneath the surface.

That distinction matters: Songs of the Past is not part of the free September 29 Remastered upgrade.

What to know before September 29

If you already own The Witcher 3 on a qualifying current-generation platform, there is little reason to repurchase the game solely for Remastered. Check your existing ownership first and update the game when the upgrade becomes available.

For Nintendo Switch owners moving to Switch 2, the free upgrade path makes September 29 especially notable: it adds a native Switch 2 version plus new control options without requiring existing owners to buy the game again.

Images: Official promotional assets supplied by CD PROJEKT RED through its press center. CD PROJEKT RED and The Witcher are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of CD PROJEKT RED S.A.

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