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The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered launched on September 29, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. It is a broad update to the game, not just a graphics bump: CD PROJEKT RED lists changes to visuals, combat, progression, menus, and mod support. If you already own the game, check your platform store before buying again; qualifying owners can upgrade for free within the same platform ecosystem.
What The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered changes
CD PROJEKT RED describes Remastered as a modernization of the decade-old RPG and its two expansions. Its launch materials list visual and rendering updates alongside gameplay, interface, and mod features. These are the developer’s feature descriptions, not independent performance test results.
Visuals and rendering
The publisher highlights enhanced environmental, NPC, and monster textures; improved foliage; reworked lighting and rendering; and ray tracing. PC also gets path tracing. The technical notes specify native DirectX 12 rendering with multithreading, an improved shading model, updated tone mapping, optional ground-truth ambient occlusion, ray-traced local shadows, and updated screen-space reflections and shadows. The announcement does not establish that every feature is available on every device.
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For PS5 Pro, CD PROJEKT RED says PSSR enables 60 frames per second with ray tracing, while performance mode offers up to 90 frames per second with VRR. Those are publisher specifications; no independent, controlled comparison across platforms is provided here. The studio also lists dedicated PS5 Pro support.
#1 Best Overall
- Trained from early childhood and mutated to gain superhuman skills, strength, and reflexes, witchers are a counterbalance to the monster-infested world in which they live.
- Built for endless adventure, the massive open world of The Witcher sets new standards in terms of size, depth, and complexity.
- Take on the most important contract of your life: to track down the child of prophecy, the key to saving or destroying this world.
Combat, progression, and presentation
The update reworks the skill tree and rebalances abilities, revises combat animations, adds finishers, and introduces an adaptive camera. It also updates movement and traversal, Geralt and Roach animations, menus, and notifications. Photo mode is expanded, and transmogrification is included.
Mods and Nintendo Switch 2 controls
Mod.io integration is intended to support cross-platform mod discovery and play. The official feature account also lists Switch 2 motion, gyro, mouse, and touchscreen controls. Availability and the experience may vary by platform; check the relevant store and game options for what is offered on your device.
Rank #2
![NAMCO - CD Projekt Red - The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt - Complete Edition, Playstation 5 [English Edition]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51dWUfwFl5L._SL160_.jpg)
- 1205504
- High-quality material
- Durable
- robustness
Platforms, editions, and free upgrades
Remastered is available for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. CD PROJEKT RED says it replaces the Complete Edition on supported platforms and includes Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. The studio says owners of the base game also receive both expansions as part of the upgrade.
| Where you own the game | Upgrade information from CD PROJEKT RED |
|---|---|
| PC: GOG, Steam, or Epic Games Store | Free upgrade for existing owners in the same platform ecosystem. |
| PlayStation 5 | Free upgrade for existing owners in the same platform ecosystem. |
| Xbox Series X|S | Free upgrade for existing owners in the same platform ecosystem. |
| Original Nintendo Switch | Owners can claim the Nintendo Switch 2 version; the free offer is unavailable in Russia and Belarus. |
The launch announcement also says the edition is available to purchase on Battle.net and the Microsoft Store as an Xbox Play Anywhere title. A purchase on one platform does not, by itself, grant the game on another platform; the stated free-upgrade entitlement is within the same platform ecosystem. Before buying, sign in to the store where you own the game and check whether Remastered is offered as an upgrade for your account and region. The support FAQ gives the platform and regional qualifications.
Rank #3
- If you buy this game, you will receive a free next-gen update on December 14th!
- Play as a highly trained monster slayer for hire.
- Built for endless adventure, the massive open world of The Witcher sets new standards in terms of size, depth and complexity.
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Game of the Year edition brings together the base game and all the additional content released to date.
What to know before loading an existing save
CD PROJEKT RED’s FAQ says existing saves are compatible, and achievements already earned for the base game, Hearts of Stone, and Blood and Wine carry over. The notable change is progression: because the skill system has been redesigned, skills reset. Plan to revisit Geralt’s build and reassign abilities after loading in.
Who should return now—and who should wait?
- Return now if you own the game on a supported platform. First check your existing platform account for the free upgrade rather than purchasing another copy.
- Consider the update if you want more than a visual refresh. The developer lists changes to combat, skills, traversal, interface, photo mode, and mod integration as well as rendering.
- Review the feature details for your hardware. Some graphics features and the stated PS5 Pro modes are platform-specific, and published specifications do not prove identical results on every setup.
- If you are a first-time player, the Complete Edition’s two expansions are included in Remastered on supported platforms. Confirm the edition and platform listing before purchase.
Why CD PROJEKT RED made the update
In a September 29, 2026 studio blog, CD PROJEKT RED said Remastered grew out of work on a new expansion called Songs of the Past. The team saw a need to upgrade parts of the base game during that work; incremental changes eventually became the plan for a full upgrade. That is the studio’s account of its development motivation.
CD PROJEKT RED announced Songs of the Past as a third expansion planned for 2027 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The window is an announced plan, not a guaranteed release date. In a May 27, 2026 corporate announcement, the company reported that The Witcher 3 had sold more than 60 million copies since 2015 and received more than 250 Game of the Year awards and 1,000 industry awards; these are publisher-reported totals.
Quick Recap
Official details and support
- CD PROJEKT RED launch announcement — release date, platforms, edition contents, and upgrade availability.
- CD PROJEKT RED Remastered FAQ — save compatibility, achievements, skill reset, and regional upgrade terms.
- Official feature overview — feature and technical details.
- CD PROJEKT S.A. announcement of Songs of the Past — the announced 2027 expansion plan and company-reported figures.
- CD PROJEKT RED studio blog — the studio’s account of how the Remastered project developed.
- Xbox Wire feature — platform feature information, including Switch 2 controls.
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.
