The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered launches September 29, 2026, and existing owners on qualifying platforms will not have to buy the game again. CD Projekt Red is releasing it as a free upgrade on GOG, Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Owners of the original Switch version can also claim the native Nintendo Switch 2 release.

This is broader than another resolution and frame-rate patch. The remaster changes combat, movement, progression, monster behavior and several systems that still show the game's age.

What the remaster changes

Geralt in The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt Remastered
The remaster changes combat, progression, visuals and movement rather than stopping at higher-resolution assets.CD Projekt Red

CD Projekt Red lists upgraded environment, character and monster textures, denser foliage, reworked lighting and rendering, and expanded ray tracing. Combat receives revised animations, new finishers and an adaptive camera, while the skill tree has been rebuilt to offer more flexibility.

The update also includes improved traversal, movement, witcher-sign effects, mount handling and monster behavior. Cross-platform mod support, transmogrification, an expanded photo mode and a revised meditation system are part of the package.

Both expansions are included

Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine are included with Remastered. CD Projekt Red has also made both expansions available at no extra cost to current owners of the base game, so players do not need to wait until September 29 to claim them.

Platforms and ownership

  • Free upgrade: GOG, Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
  • Nintendo Switch owners can claim the native Nintendo Switch 2 version when it launches.
  • New purchases are also available through Battle.net and Nintendo Switch 2.

The exact meaning of a qualifying platform still matters for anyone who owns an older physical copy or uses multiple storefronts. Check the official upgrade page for the account and platform you plan to use before assuming every license transfers.

Worth returning for?

For existing owners, the price makes the decision easy: update the game and see whether the revised combat and movement fix the parts that now feel dated. New players should wait for technical testing before buying specifically for ray tracing or Switch 2 performance, because CD Projekt Red has described the upgrades but independent results are not available yet.

The free upgrade is the important part. CD Projekt Red is changing enough systems to justify another look without asking existing players to pay for the same campaign again.