CD Projekt Red dropped one of the biggest surprises of Gamescom Opening Night Live: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is getting a full Remastered edition, launching September 29, 2026. Even better for anyone who already owns the game on Steam, the upgrade arrives completely free.
The Remastered version promises substantial visual and gameplay overhauls. CD Projekt Red has not shared every technical detail yet, but the studio confirmed a new rendering engine, upgraded character models, improved lighting, and modernized combat mechanics. The announcement trailer showcased a noticeably sharper Kaer Morhen and denser foliage across Velen, suggesting the graphical uplift goes well beyond a simple resolution bump.
Perhaps the most welcome surprise is what happened before the Remastered even ships. As of August 25, every existing owner of the base game automatically received both major expansions — Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine — at no additional cost. The standalone expansion listings have been delisted, and the original base game has been replaced on storefronts by a Complete Edition that bundles everything together.
Steam Deck owners are not left out of the conversation either. CD Projekt Red has publicly stated that the Remastered version should run comparably to the original on Valve’s handheld, which is encouraging news for anyone who plays Gwent on the go. The studio is expected to share specific performance targets closer to launch.
There are a few platform nuances worth noting. Nintendo Switch 2 and Battle.net are listed as pre-purchase destinations rather than free upgrades, since The Witcher 3 has never been available on either storefront before. Meanwhile, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One owners will receive the free expansions but not the Remastered build itself, as the upgrade targets current-generation hardware exclusively.
For Steam players, this is straightforward: if you own The Witcher 3, mark September 29 on your calendar. You will receive the Remastered upgrade and both expansions without spending a penny. For those who have never played what many consider the greatest RPG of the past decade, the Complete Edition now offers the full package in a single purchase, making this the ideal entry point before the revamped version arrives.
Sarah Chen searches the quieter corners of PC gaming for remarkable ideas that bigger releases leave behind. She covers indie games, platform updates, and overlooked releases for SteamGamer.net. If a strange little game has twelve reviews, an unforgettable mechanic, and absolutely no marketing budget, Sarah has probably already finished it—and is explaining why everyone else should care.
