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Steam’s May 18, 2015 date refers to the original release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, not its 2026 remaster. CD PROJEKT RED says the remastered edition launched on September 29, 2026, as a free upgrade for qualifying owners. The game’s Steam Deck Verified status has an important date caveat: SteamDB records its compatibility test as March 27, 2026, before the remaster launched. And a black-screen report from 2018 concerns one player’s Proton 3.16 setup, not a confirmed problem with the current release.
Why does Steam show a 2015 release date?
The Steam store’s May 18, 2015 date is the release date of the original game on that storefront. SteamDB records the corresponding release time as May 18, 2015, at 22:00 UTC. Neither date identifies when the remastered edition became available.
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| 1 |
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NAMCO - CD Projekt Red - The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt - Complete Edition, Playstation 5 [English Edition] | $39.87 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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CD PROJEKT RED announced that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered was available on September 29, 2026. The publisher describes it as a free upgrade for current owners on GOG, Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. It also describes a free upgrade path for owners of the original Nintendo Switch version moving to Nintendo Switch 2. CD PROJEKT RED’s launch announcement has the platform and eligibility details.
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What does the remaster include?
According to CD PROJEKT RED, the remaster includes both Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, including for owners who previously had only the base game. The publisher also highlights visual and performance enhancements, path tracing on PC, an overhauled skill system, improved combat and animations, a refreshed UI, and cross-platform Mod.io support. These are publisher-described features, not independent performance measurements.
#1 Best Overall
- 1205504
- High-quality material
- Durable
- robustness
Does the Steam Deck Verified badge cover the remaster?
The badge has a history, but its date matters. CD PROJEKT RED announced that the game had been Steam Deck Verified on March 11, 2022. SteamDB currently lists its compatibility category as Verified and records a test timestamp of March 27, 2026. That test date is earlier than the remaster’s September 29, 2026 launch, so the listing does not establish that the remastered build received a post-launch compatibility test.
Verified is useful compatibility information, not a guarantee of identical performance on every Steam Deck model or every game version. SteamDB’s listing also notes that using an external Bluetooth or USB controller requires manually switching controller layouts. SteamDB is a third-party database; its timestamp and notes should not be mistaken for a newer Valve retest.
Rank #2
- Value for money
- Good product with exc\
- Perfect puzzling: Puzzles slowly increase in complexity enabling seamless progression and rewarding exploration.
What was the 2018 Proton issue?
In a November 18, 2018 report on Valve’s Proton issue tracker, a user described a black screen with no sound while running the game under Proton 3.16 on a GTX 850M. The report, titled “Witcher 3 (292030) – black screen :/,” documents that person’s configuration at that time. It does not show that Linux users generally—or players using the 2026 remaster—will encounter the same issue.
A separate September 2018 Steam Community discussion described a different launch problem. The poster said the game had stopped launching after a Windows file-system repair on a game installed on an NTFS drive, and reported that deleting the Proton prefix and allowing Steam to recreate it restored launch. That is one player’s account, not a generally established fix for current Proton or remaster issues.
Rank #3
How to read the dates and compatibility evidence
| Evidence | What it establishes | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Steam listing: May 18, 2015 | The original game’s Steam release date. | The remaster’s launch date. |
| CD PROJEKT RED announcement: March 11, 2022 | The publisher announced Steam Deck Verified status on that date. | A post-remaster Deck compatibility test. |
| SteamDB test timestamp: March 27, 2026 | SteamDB lists a compatibility test before the remaster launched. | Comparative performance across Deck models or a post-launch retest. |
| Proton issue report: November 18, 2018 | One user reported a black screen without sound on Proton 3.16 and a GTX 850M. | A general Proton defect or evidence about the current remastered build. |
The dates answer different questions: the Steam date tracks the original storefront release, the publisher’s date identifies the remaster’s availability, and the compatibility records describe earlier Verified status and a pre-remaster test. The historical Proton posts are configuration-specific anecdotes rather than current compatibility findings.
Quick Recap
Sources
- Steam store listing for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- CD PROJEKT RED: The remaster is out now
- CD PROJEKT RED: Steam Deck Verified announcement
- SteamDB game and compatibility information
- ValveSoftware/Proton issue: “Witcher 3 (292030) – black screen :/”
- Steam Community discussion: “Steam Play: Witcher 3 worked fine this morning and now it won’t launch”
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
