Witcher 3 Remastered announced free for existing owners at Gamescom

CD Projekt Red closes Gamescom with a landmark double announcement

CD Projekt Red closed out Gamescom Opening Night Live on Tuesday evening with two major updates for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: a full Remastered edition launching on 29 September 2026 and a first look at Songs of the Past, the RPG's long-awaited third expansion. The announcements were made on stage with host Geoff Keighley, and came with an immediate gift for anyone who already owns the game.

The Remaster arrives more than eleven years after Geralt of Rivia first rode onto screens in 2015, and CD Projekt Red is positioning it as considerably more than a resolution bump or a handful of quality-of-life tweaks. The studio describes it as a full modernisation of the game across visuals, performance, combat, movement, progression, customisation, and modding — a scope that far exceeds the next-gen update the game received in 2022.

What's actually been overhauled

On the visual side, the Remaster brings path tracing, DLSS 4.5, and FSR 4 support, alongside denser foliage, improved lighting, better HDR, and a broader rendering overhaul. The gameplay changes are equally extensive: enhanced combat, improved traversal and movement, new Witcher Signs effects, revamped mount handling, enhanced monster behaviours, a skill tree revamp, transmogrification, expanded photo mode, new finishers, and cross-platform mod support.

Crucially, existing save files remain compatible and Cross Progression continues to function, so no one is being asked to start from scratch.

The Remaster is being co-developed with Yigsoft, a Hungarian support studio that previously worked on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition and Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty.

Free for existing owners — and the expansions are yours right now

For UK players, the most important detail is straightforward: if you already own The Witcher 3 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (via Steam, GOG, or the Epic Games Store), or the original Nintendo Switch, the Remastered upgrade is free when it launches on 29 September 2026.

CD Projekt Red went further still. As an additional surprise announced on stage, all existing owners of the base game received its two original paid expansions — Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine — for free immediately, without waiting for September. Digital owners will find the expansions already in their library. Disc-based players can claim them free from the relevant store. Xbox One owners are included in the expansion giveaway, according to confirmed details from the announcement.

Blood and Wine, the last expansion, was released in May 2016 to critical acclaim. UK players who only ever bought the base game now have access to both expansions at no cost.

Switch 2: a first-ever native release

The Remaster is also coming to Nintendo Switch 2, and this marks the first-ever native release of The Witcher 3 on a Nintendo Switch platform — not a cloud-streamed compromise, but a full local version. If you own the game on the original Switch, the Nintendo eShop listing confirms you will be able to claim the Switch 2 Remaster for free on 29 September. A free pre-order is already available via the eShop.

New Switch 2 buyers picking up the game for the first time will pay $59.99 in the United States; a UK sterling price has not yet been confirmed by CD Projekt Red.

A new platform partnership: The Witcher comes to Battle.net

CD Projekt Red also announced a partnership with Blizzard Entertainment to bring The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered and Songs of the Past to Battle.net, broadening the game's PC reach considerably. Players who purchase Songs of the Past on Blizzard's platform will unlock a Geralt-inspired skin in Diablo IV, with further details due when CD Projekt Red attends BlizzCon in September.

Songs of the Past: the third expansion, a decade on

The Gamescom showcase also delivered the first proper footage of Songs of the Past, the third expansion for The Witcher 3. First announced on 27 May 2026, it is being co-developed with Fool's Theory — a studio led by veterans of the original game — and is due to launch in 2027 as a paid expansion on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. An exact 2027 release date and UK pricing have not been confirmed.

Players will once again take on the role of Geralt of Rivia, this time journeying to a brand new region called Letten — described as a seemingly idyllic land hiding a dark secret beneath its peaceful surface. Geralt arrives equipped with new abilities and a new weapon, the chain, and will face new foes, reunite with old friends, and navigate choices with meaningful consequences. Doug Cockle reprises his role as the voice of Geralt.

CD Projekt Red is openly positioning Songs of the Past as a bridge to The Witcher 4, which has been announced and is targeting a 2028 launch window. Songs of the Past is now available to wishlist ahead of its 2027 release.

How to follow along this week

CD Projekt Red is hosting guided presentations at Gamescom in Hall 8.1, and special REDstreams will be broadcast on YouTube and Twitch throughout the event. UK fans unable to attend in Cologne can follow along online for further detail on both the Remaster and the new expansion this week.