CD Projekt Red confirms Witcher 3 remaster is free, attributing new expansion to 'happy accidents'

Key points

• CD Projekt Red joint-CEO Michał Nowakowski stated that charging for the remaster was 'never a thought' and that the free upgrade aligns with the company's ethos.
• The remaster, launching September 29, 2026, includes visual upgrades, revamped combat, and improved enemy behavior, and is available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2.
• The new expansion, Songs of the Past, is a paid add-on set for 2027 release, featuring a new region called Letten and new mechanics like a chain weapon and DNA mutagens.
• Existing owners of The Witcher 3 will now receive the previous expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, for free.
• The remaster will carry over existing saves and achievements, avoiding the issues faced during the 2022 next-gen update.

Background

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, originally released in 2015, has sold over 65 million copies and won over 250 Game of the Year awards. CD Projekt Red had previously indicated that The Witcher 3 was a 'closed book' and that they would not return to it. The announcement of the remaster and new expansion follows the delay of The Witcher 4 to 2028 and the cancellation of a planned The Witcher 1 remake, which was delayed due to technology dependencies with The Witcher 4.

How outlets are covering it

Eurogamer highlights CD Projekt Red's decision to make the remaster free as a reflection of the company's values, while also noting that the expansion Songs of the Past was a result of 'happy accidents' involving a partnership with Fool's Theory. The Guardian focuses on the narrative of Songs of the Past, emphasizing Geralt's return from retirement and the new region of Letten, while also addressing the concern that Blood and Wine felt like a natural conclusion to Geralt's story. CD Projekt Red's official press release details the technical improvements in the remaster and the partnership with Blizzard Entertainment for a Battle.net release. Kotaku addresses player concerns about save data and achievements, confirming that these will carry over to the remastered version, unlike the 2022 next-gen update.

Why it matters

The free remaster and new expansion of The Witcher 3 demonstrate CD Projekt Red's commitment to enhancing a classic title and engaging with its fanbase. The decision to make the remaster free, along with the inclusion of previous expansions, could influence how other studios approach remasters and expansions. The new expansion, Songs of the Past, adds to the Witcher universe and provides a bridge to The Witcher 4, which is set for 2028.

What to watch

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered will launch on September 29, 2026, on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. The expansion Songs of the Past is set for release in 2027. CD Projekt Red is also working on The Witcher 4, which is scheduled for 2028. The company will provide more details about the partnership with Blizzard Entertainment at BlizzCon in September 2026.