The Witcher 3 is getting a free remastered version on September 29th
CD Projekt Red will release a remastered version of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on September 29th, the studio confirmed today alongside a trailer. The new edition will be available as a free upgrade for anyone who already owns the original game on GOG, Steam, the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, or Xbox Series X / S. (The Verge)
A remaster is an updated version of an older game, typically with improved graphics and sometimes with changes to how the game plays. In this case, the remaster brings improvements to both visuals and combat, along with a reimagined skill tree — the system that determines how your character grows and gains new abilities as you play. CD Projekt Red has not yet shared full technical details about the visual upgrades, though the trailer offers a first look.
The game's two expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, are included in the remastered package. Expansions are large add-on adventures released after the original game, and both of these were substantial additions widely regarded as some of the best downloadable content ever made. Bundling them means players upgrading from the base game will receive the complete package at no additional cost.
The free-upgrade offer applies across all five listed platforms. Notably, the announcement does not mention PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, the older consoles the original 2015 release ran on. The platform list is limited to current-generation hardware and PC storefronts.
This is not the first time CD Projekt Red has offered free upgrades for The Witcher 3. In late 2022, the studio released a free update for current-gen consoles that added ray tracing — a technology that makes lighting in games look more realistic by simulating how light actually behaves. That update also included items inspired by the Netflix Witcher television series. Whether this new remaster replaces that earlier update or sits alongside it as a separate product was not explained in today's announcement.
The reimagined skill tree is the most interesting change. In the original Witcher 3, the system for developing your character was functional but widely criticized because most players ended up with very similar character builds, choosing either a magic-focused or melee-focused path. A redesigned system could address that directly, though the specifics remain undisclosed.
For a game that has sold over 50 million copies, a free remaster is an easy way to bring back a huge existing audience. Including both expansions makes it even more appealing for players who never bought them separately.
What remains unclear is how much the remaster will cost for new buyers who do not already own the game, whether it will be sold on its own at retail, and whether any features will be exclusive to specific platforms. The trailer and accompanying details focus on the upgrade path for existing owners.
The September 29th release gives the remaster a clear runway into the holiday shopping season, positioning it as one of the higher-profile titles in a typically crowded end-of-year window.
In my view, giving this remaster away for free to existing owners is a smart move that removes the single biggest obstacle — paying again for a game you already own — and the inclusion of both expansions makes the offer even more generous. Whether the gameplay changes run deep enough to pull players back for another full playthrough will depend on details the studio has not yet shared.
