CD Projekt Red announced The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered on September 29, 2026, delivering a free visual and gameplay upgrade for existing owners. Revealed at Gamescom Opening Night Live, the update brings combat overhauls, traversal enhancements, and two free expansions, alongside a brand-new 2027 expansion titled Songs of the Past.
The Witcher 3 Remastered Lands September 29 With Free Upgrade Path
Eleven years after its initial 2015 debut, The Witcher 3 expansion Songs of the Past is joining a massive modernization effort. CD Projekt Red announced that Witcher 3 Remastered is coming September 29 as a free update for all existing owners across GOG, Steam, the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, as reported by Notebookcheck. The refreshed version will also launch independently on Battle.net and the Nintendo Switch 2.
Unlike the 2022 next-generation update—which focused primarily on real-time ray tracing, faster loading times, and integrated community mods—this new version targets underlying mechanics and historical pain points. Level design lead Miles Tost detailed the graphical overhaul during the showcase.
Combat Refinements, Skill Trees, and Transmogrification
Beyond texture work and path tracing, the remaster introduces deep mechanical changes. CD Projekt Red is not simply giving The Witcher 3 a visual refresh, incorporating redesigned systems to modernize the core experience. Combat receives an overhaul featuring new finishers, new animations, and an adaptive camera system designed for precision.
Traversal and horse handling also receive targeted fixes. Roach’s notoriously temperamental controls have been improved, alongside monster behaviors and movement. Players gain access to a reimagined skill tree that offers greater flexibility, a new photo mode, cross-platform mod support, and a transmogrification system that lets players alter gear appearances without sacrificing underlying stats.
All Owners Receive Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine Free
In addition to the remaster, CD Projekt Red is bundling the game’s two acclaimed story expansions. All current owners of The Witcher 3 will today gain access to its original two expansions — Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine — for free, as announced on stage by Gamescom Opening Night Live host Geoff Keighley. For newcomers purchasing the remaster, both expansions come included out of the box.
The studio also confirmed a publishing partnership with Blizzard Entertainment. Those who purchase the expansion on Battle.net will unlock a special Geralt-inspired skin in Diablo 4, with further details arriving at BlizzCon in September.
Songs of the Past Explores Dandelion’s Homeland in 2027
Looking beyond the September remaster, CD Projekt Red provided a first proper look at The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Songs of the Past expansion, which is scheduled to launch in 2027. Co-developed with Fool’s Theory—a studio featuring Witcher 3 veterans in leadership roles—the expansion takes Geralt to Letten, the rural homeland of Dandelion.
The region is described as steeped in rural tradition and folklore, hiding an ominous curse beneath its surface. Trailers show Geralt battling a warped tree monster and wielding a new weapon: a chain. CD Projekt Red noted on stage that the chain resembles the one Geralt uses in the original Witcher 1 trailer against the Striga Princess, creating a narrative bridge to the franchise’s roots as the studio simultaneously develops The Witcher 4 for a planned 2028 release.
Developer Scaling and Community Questions Ahead
The sheer scale of CD Projekt Red’s current operations underscores how far the studio has traveled since releasing the base game in 2015. Yet the decision to return to Geralt’s adventures with both a sweeping remaster and a paid 2027 expansion raises questions about pricing and community reception.
Analysts note that while the free upgrade path for existing owners softens potential friction, debate surrounding the cost of new DLC for an eleven-year-old game will likely shape the discourse as the 2027 launch approaches. For now, guided presentations and developer streams hosted throughout Gamescom Hall 8.1 aim to demonstrate how Yigsoft and Fool’s Theory have rebuilt the classic title for modern hardware ahead of its September arrival.
