Summary (tl;dr)

CD Projekt Red has announced a new "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Remastered" edition, set to launch on September 29, 2026, as a free upgrade for existing owners, featuring significant visual and gameplay enhancements, alongside the inclusion of its expansions at no extra cost and new platform releases.

Essential Background

"The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt," a critically acclaimed open-world role-playing game developed by CD Projekt Red, was originally released in 2015. In December 2022, the game received a "Next-Gen Update" which provided graphical and performance improvements for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, offering features like faster loading times and ray tracing support, and was a free download for owners of the original game.

The Full Story

"The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Remastered" was officially unveiled by CD Projekt Red during Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026, with a release date slated for September 29, 2026. This new "Remastered" version represents a more comprehensive overhaul than the 2022 next-gen update, introducing extensive improvements to visuals, combat mechanics, traversal, monster behaviors, and a completely reimagined skill tree. Current owners of the game on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S will receive this significant upgrade entirely free of charge. Furthermore, all existing owners of the base game will also gain free access to both "Hearts of Stone" and "Blood and Wine" expansions. The remastered edition will also mark the game's native debut on the Nintendo Switch 2 and be available on Battle.net. Alongside this announcement, a first look at a new expansion titled "Songs of the Past" was shared, scheduled for release in 2027, with "The Witcher 4" targeting a 2028 launch.

Why It Matters

This development is crucial as it revitalizes a highly regarded game with substantial enhancements, offering a complimentary upgrade that adds considerable value for its extensive player base. The bundling of the major expansions for free further enriches the experience for existing owners. The expansion of the game to new platforms, including the Nintendo Switch 2 and Battle.net, will broaden its accessibility to new players and leverage advanced hardware capabilities. Moreover, the concurrent announcements of a new expansion and the eagerly anticipated "The Witcher 4" signal CD Projekt Red's robust long-term vision for the Witcher franchise, generating widespread enthusiasm and setting future expectations for the series.

Geographic Location

• Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (Announcement at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026)
• Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland (CD Projekt Red headquarters, developer of the game)