The Witcher 3 Remastered: What Owners Get for Free

The September 29, 2026 release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered is a free upgrade for existing owners on GOG, Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. It also brings the game to Nintendo Switch 2 as a native release, which original Switch owners can claim at no extra cost. The remaster includes Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. 1814

Who gets the free upgrade—and where?

If you own the game on GOG, Steam, Epic Games Store, PS5 or Xbox Series X|S, the remastered version is available as a free upgrade within the same platform ecosystem. The game is also being released on Battle.net, a new PC storefront for The Witcher 3. 21423

For Nintendo players, owning the original Switch game makes you eligible to claim the Switch 2 edition for free. But it is a separate product: you need to find and download the remastered version from the Switch 2 eShop rather than expect the old Switch installation to turn into the new edition automatically. 3613

What changes in the remaster?

The upgrade covers visuals, performance and gameplay—not just a resolution bump. CD Projekt Red’s published improvement list includes enhanced textures for environments, characters and monsters, improved foliage, and changes to lighting, rendering and ray tracing. 820

Gameplay refinements include combat and skill-system changes, alongside other adjustments to the game’s mechanics. The available reports describe broad improvements rather than a single new campaign or a replacement for the original adventure. 1820

The two previously released expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, are included in the remastered edition. 18

Switch 2 features and mod support

The Switch 2 release is a native version rather than simply the original Switch port running through backward compatibility. Alongside the updated presentation, it offers platform-specific controls: touch-screen support, gyro aiming and Joy-Con mouse control. 62028

Early technical coverage from IGN Greece reported a 720p resolution in handheld mode, 1080p docked, and no ray tracing on Switch 2. Those figures are from that outlet’s early coverage, not a direct comparison across every platform. 28

An early OpenCritic review roundup also notes integrated mod support. The available reporting does not establish that PC mods are available on consoles or Switch 2, so it is safest not to assume that feature carries across platforms. 19

What early reviews say

The first reviews were favorable overall. Metacritic listed a score of 94 based on 10 critic reviews at the time of its snapshot. That is a small early sample, and review assessments can change as more critics publish. 18

Switch 2-specific impressions were less settled: Nintendo Life’s review roundup noted that coverage of that version was still limited. Positive early reaction to the remaster generally should not be treated as a definitive verdict on Switch 2 performance. 4

How it fits with Songs of the Past and The Witcher IV

Songs of the Past is a separate upcoming expansion scheduled for 2027; it is not one of the two expansions included in the free remaster. CD Projekt Red announced the remaster and gave the new expansion a first look as separate releases. 18

The announcements cited here connect Remastered with the return of The Witcher 3 and the upcoming expansion, but they do not establish a firm The Witcher IV release date or a direct gameplay link between that game and the remaster. 18