Free Witcher 3 Remaster
CD Projekt Red announces massive Witcher 3 remaster featuring a free upgrade for 2027.
Anonymous
Key Points
1
All Witcher 3 expansions will be included with The Witcher 3 Remastered (not just Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine), ensuring players get the full expansion lineup bundled with the remaster.
2
Remastered adds deeper technical upgrades beyond visuals, including a new shading model, subsurface scattering, global lighting rework, a tone mapper, and transmogrification.
3
The remaster brings new combat refinements and finishers, along with enhanced monster behaviors.
4
Songs of the Past is the third expansion for The Witcher 3, described as similar in size to Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, planned for 2027, and will include more Gwent content.
CD Projekt Red announced The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered at Gamescom on August 25, 2026, with a September 29, 2027 release date. Metro reported the remaster will be free for all PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S owners, plus it includes the two existing major expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, at no extra cost.
The overhaul goes far beyond prettier graphics. Gaming Bolt confirmed the remaster features a new shading model, revamped combat with fresh finishers, completely reworked horse riding, a redesigned skill tree, ray tracing, HDR support, and cross-platform mod tools. A third expansion called Songs of the Past is planned for 2027, with The Witcher 4 targeted for 2028.
Massive Visual and Technical Upgrades
The remaster rebuilds the game's foundation with advanced lighting techniques. Head Topics detailed that upgraded textures and refined character models work alongside a new tone mapper and global lighting rework. Ray tracing, HDR, and enhanced subsurface scattering create depth that the 2015 original never had. The expanded photo mode lets players capture every visual improvement.
These are not just cosmetic tweaks. The technical improvements include a fresh shading model and transmogrification effects that transform how light bounces across environments. Support comes for PS5 Pro and Xbox Series X|S, ensuring the game takes full advantage of current hardware power.
Combat, Riding, and Exploration Completely Redesigned
CD Projekt Red overhauled how Geralt moves and fights. New combat finishers, refined traversal mechanics, and improved monster behaviors make encounters feel fresh. Horse riding received a complete redesign with better handling and smoother animation. The skill tree got restructured, letting players build characters in new ways without starting over.
The updated quest tracker and UI refinements cut through old-game clunkiness. Accessibility options expand the audience—players with different abilities can now enjoy the full adventure. These changes show CDPR's commitment to modernizing core gameplay, not just slapping on new graphics.
Songs of the Past Bridges Geralt to Ciri's Story
The third expansion, Songs of the Past, sizes up to match Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine—major content drops that add 15-20 hours of gameplay. Inven Global confirmed the expansion launches in 2027 and introduces a new region called Letten. Doug Cockle, the original voice of Geralt, returns to voice the protagonist one final time.
This expansion serves as Geralt's farewell. Inven Global reported that CDPR developers said 'This is Geralt's last adventure before we pass the torch on to Ciri,' and more Gwent card content is included. The story ties directly into The Witcher 4, where Ciri takes the lead role when that game launches in 2028.
Free Upgrade Launches Across Six Platforms
Game Rant confirmed September 29, 2027 as the remaster's official release. Existing owners on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S get the upgrade for free—no purchase required. Nintendo Switch 2, Battle.net, and Xbox Play Anywhere all launch on the same day, giving new players multiple ways to jump in without spending anything.
This strategy keeps The Witcher 3 alive and relevant as CDPR pivots toward The Witcher 4's development. A revitalized 2027 version keeps players invested for another year while the studio finishes its next flagship title. Pre-purchases on new platforms already opened, building momentum toward launch.
Sentiment
Mostly PositiveNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
46
Articles
14
Reach
60
A
AnonymousAuthor
