Score a Free Digital Copy of The Witcher 3 Remastered on Switch 2 by Borrowing an Old Physical Copy!

The Witcher 3 Remastered has officially launched today across all platforms, delivering a significant 2.0-style update for this beloved RPG. Best of all, it’s completely free for anyone who already owns the original Witcher 3. If you have the original Switch cartridge, you can upgrade to the remaster on Switch 2 without needing to purchase the game again. Just pop in that old cartridge, and you’ll soon have a shiny digital version of the remastered game, allowing you to retire the physical copy.

Released on September 29, the remaster is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2. This extensive overhaul enhances the visuals significantly, though you might want to disable the bloom effect for a better experience. If you own the game digitally on any of these platforms, you automatically gain access to the remastered version, which is a nice bonus. Even more exciting, as noted by a savvy user, players have discovered that inserting the original Switch Witcher 3 cartridge into the Switch 2 allows them to download the remastered version.

A Reddit user shared their experience of inserting an old Witcher 3 cartridge into the Switch 2, obtaining the free remaster, and then letting a friend borrow the cartridge, who was able to do the same. Others have confirmed this method works as well. You don’t need to keep the original cartridge to enjoy Witcher 3 Remastered; just ensure you update the game, launch it, and upgrade from within the game itself.

This means you could borrow a copy from a library, insert it into your console, get the new version of The Witcher 3, and return it for someone else to enjoy. Alternatively, you could buy a copy, perform this trick, share the cartridge with friends, and then sell it afterward. It’s unlikely that this method will be patched out anytime soon.

So, dig out that old Switch copy of The Witcher 3 and dive back into the adventure!