CD Projekt Red made waves at Gamescom Opening Night Live with the announcement that The Witcher 3 Remastered will launch on September 29, 2025. In an unprecedented move that has delighted fans worldwide, the Polish game developer confirmed that the remastered edition will be completely free for anyone who already owns The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, or PC. Even more remarkably, owners of the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One versions will also receive the upgrade at no additional cost. Nintendo Switch owners aren’t left behind either, as they’ll be able to claim a free copy of the remaster for Switch 2. To sweeten the deal further, both existing expansions—Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine—are now free for all base game owners, making this one of the most consumer-friendly upgrade programs in gaming history.
The Legacy of The Witcher 3: A Gaming Milestone
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt originally launched in May 2015 and quickly established itself as one of the greatest role-playing games ever created. Developed by CD Projekt Red, the game is based on the fantasy novel series by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski and follows the story of Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter known as a Witcher. The game received universal critical acclaim, winning numerous Game of the Year awards and selling over 50 million copies worldwide. Its two expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, were praised for offering substantial content that rivaled many full-length games, with Blood and Wine alone providing over 30 hours of additional gameplay in the beautiful region of Toussaint.
The game already received a next-generation update in December 2022, which added ray tracing, faster loading times, and various visual enhancements for modern hardware. However, this new Remastered edition promises to go significantly further, with comprehensive improvements to graphics, combat mechanics, movement systems, and mount handling. The development team has also added new enemy behaviors, additional finishing moves for Geralt, a completely revamped skill tree, and an armor transmogrification system that allows players to maintain their preferred aesthetic while using the stats of different equipment pieces.
Platform-Specific Upgrade Instructions
For Nintendo Switch 2 owners, the upgrade process varies depending on whether you own a digital or physical copy. Digital owners can preorder the remaster for free through the Nintendo eShop immediately. Physical copy owners will need to wait until the September 29 launch date to claim their free upgrade, according to CD Projekt Red’s official communications. For those who don’t yet own the game, the original Switch version can be purchased digitally for $39.99 from retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.
PlayStation users have perhaps the simplest upgrade path. If you own The Witcher 3 for either PS4 or PS5, the remastered version will automatically become available for free on launch day. It’s worth noting that the two expansions have been temporarily delisted from the PlayStation Store, but they’re expected to return shortly as free content or be included automatically in a Complete Edition upgrade for base game owners. Budget-conscious gamers can currently find used physical copies of the base game at GameStop for as low as $6.99, making this an incredibly affordable way to access the remaster if you have a PS5 with a disc drive.
Xbox and PC Upgrade Pathways
Xbox Series X|S owners can download The Witcher 3 Remastered for free from the Xbox Store starting September 29. In excellent news for this platform, both expansions are already available for free download right now. Even Xbox One owners can claim the free expansions if they own the base game, though the Remastered edition itself will only run on Series X|S hardware. Savvy shoppers can pick up used Xbox One copies at GameStop for just $4.99, insert the disc, update to the current version, and be ready for the remaster’s arrival.
Steam users will notice that their library now shows The Witcher 3 – Complete Edition, which includes the base game and both expansions regardless of what version they originally purchased. The standalone base game and individual expansions have been delisted from Steam, with only the Complete Edition remaining available. On September 29, this edition is expected to update automatically to the Remastered version. Additionally, the game is coming to Battle.net, where purchasers will receive a special Geralt-inspired skin for use in Diablo 4.
Looking Ahead: Songs of the Past and The Witcher 4
Beyond the Remastered edition, CD Projekt Red also unveiled a new trailer for an upcoming expansion called Songs of the Past. While no specific release date has been announced, the DLC is targeting a 2027 launch window. This expansion holds particular significance for the franchise’s future, as it will serve as a narrative bridge between Geralt’s story and that of Ciri, who will star as the protagonist in The Witcher 4. That highly anticipated sequel is currently targeting a 2028 release, meaning fans have several years of Witcher content to look forward to. The decision to provide such generous free upgrades appears to be part of CD Projekt Red’s strategy to rebuild goodwill with the gaming community and generate excitement for the franchise’s next chapter.
Expert Opinion: CD Projekt Red’s decision to offer free upgrades across all platforms represents a masterclass in consumer relations and long-term franchise management. By eliminating barriers to entry and rewarding existing customers, the studio is strategically building an engaged audience ahead of The Witcher 4’s 2028 launch. This approach, combined with the narrative bridging content in Songs of the Past, suggests CD Projekt Red has learned valuable lessons from past controversies and is positioning The Witcher franchise for sustained success in the next generation of gaming.
