The Witcher 3 Remastered: Key Features of the Upcoming Free Upgrade

After 11 years, The Witcher 3 is set to receive a new story expansion and a remaster. CD Projekt Red has unveiled The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered, scheduled for release in 2026, and it will be a free upgrade for all existing owners of the game. This remaster isn’t just a technical refresh; it includes updates to combat, the skill system, and even transmogs!

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered is launching on September 29, 2026, just a month after its announcement, which is a nice surprise! This reveal came right before the teaser for the upcoming expansion, Songs of the Past, which is set to arrive in 2027.

When the remaster goes live in September, it will replace the current “Complete Edition” on digital storefronts. Additionally, anyone who owns the base game will receive this upgrade for free. The original expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, will also be available for free to all base game owners on the same day as the remaster announcement.

Chances are, you might already have those expansions if you picked up the Game of the Year edition or the Complete Edition, which has been the standard version available since 2022. If not, they’re now yours to enjoy!

At Gamescom in August, a preview of The Witcher 3 Remastered and the Songs of the Past expansion was showcased, and discussions with CDPR revealed insights about the upgrades.

Jakub Kutrzuba, CDPR’s executive producer of external projects, shared that the team focused on how The Witcher 3 would feel if it were launching in 2026.

“We dedicated a lot of time to enhancing gameplay,” Kutrzuba explained. “This includes improvements to the animation system, camera work, quality of life enhancements, accessibility features, and adjustments to enemy behavior in combat, among other areas that could be frustrating.”

The team thoroughly examined these aspects and asked themselves, “What can we improve without starting from scratch?” The result is a game that plays more smoothly, with fewer immersion-breaking issues.

At the end of the announcement trailer, CDPR highlighted numerous changes coming with the remaster. While many of the technical terms relate to graphics enhancements that will make the game visually stunning, some updates are more minor, like “improved motion blur.”