Sources: CDPR Official Announcement, Gamescom ONL 2026
At Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026, CD Projekt Red officially unveiled a major announcement: the definitive edition of their iconic open-world RPG, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered, is set to launch globally on September 29, 2026. Designed as the ultimate way to experience Geralt’s legendary journey, this release packs comprehensive overhauls across both graphics and core gameplay systems.
At the same time, CD Projekt Red announced a brand-new expansion, ‘Song of the Past‘. Note that unlike the remastered edition, this DLC must be purchased separately. [Click here for details].
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The most anticipated detail—the upgrade path—is now officially confirmed: existing owners of the original game can upgrade to the Remastered edition completely free of charge. This policy covers GOG, Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and original Nintendo Switch players moving to the Switch 2. Eligible players on these platforms will receive an automatic update upon launch.
Notably, the free upgrade isn’t limited to the base game; it also bundles both acclaimed expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. Even if you only own the original base game and never purchased the expansions, you will get the complete story content at no extra cost.
Platform-wise, The Witcher 3 Remaster is making its debut on two new platforms: Battle.net and the Nintendo Switch 2, both now open for global pre-orders. Note that because Battle.net is a brand-new storefront for the game with no existing player purchase history, it does not qualify for the free upgrade and requires a fresh purchase. All other mainstream platforms retain full upgrade eligibility.
Far beyond a simple visual patch or the minor tweak set seen in the 2022 next-gen update, this 2026 release is a ground-up system rework developed in partnership with Yigsoft, a technical studio with deep Witcher development roots.
The engineering team overhauled global illumination, textures, and foliage rendering while enhancing ray-tracing performance. Mechanics have been rebuilt from scratch, featuring a revamped skill tree, smoother combat mechanics, updated monster AI, a new armor transmog system, fresh execution animations, and an expanded photo mode.
Additionally, quality-of-life features like Roach’s handling, quest tracking, and the interaction UI have all been refined for a seamless experience.
Platform-specific performance optimizations are built into every build. The PC version introduces deep DirectX 12 integration to boost stability and frame-rate efficiency. On consoles—PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2—the game utilizes advanced dynamic resolution scaling alongside high-speed SSD storage to deliver drastically reduced load times.
Alongside the remaster, CDPR unveiled a new paid story expansion titled Songs of the Past. Slated for a 2027 release, this expansion serves as the final chapter of Geralt’s saga, bridging his story to the next mainline Witcher entry. Co-developed by Fool’s Theory—a team founded by Witcher 3 veterans—the expansion promises a substantial, authentic addition to the franchise.
According to CDPR, Songs of the Past will equip Geralt with an exclusive new weapon type—the Chain—and send him into Letten, a brand-new region steeped in folklore and dark secrets. As a standalone paid expansion, this content is separate from the free remaster upgrade and must be purchased independently.
Finally, CDPR confirmed that existing save files are fully compatible with the Remastered version. Returning players can seamlessly carry over their progress and pick up Geralt’s journey right where they left off, complete with all the new visual and gameplay upgrades.
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