The Tool Desk
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Which edition should you buy?
The right choice depends on whether you already own the game and which platform you use. The older phrase “Next-Gen Update” refers to the 2022 version 4.0 update; it is not the name of the current release. The publisher launched Remastered in 2026, while Complete Edition is the package that bundles the base game and both expansions.
| Who you are | What to do |
|---|---|
| New buyer | Search your platform’s store for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Complete Edition. It includes the base game, Hearts of Stone, and Blood and Wine. |
| Existing base-game owner on GOG, Steam, Epic Games Store, PS5, or Xbox Series X|S | Check the account and platform’s upgrade instructions before repurchasing. CD PROJEKT RED says the Remastered upgrade and both expansions are free for qualifying owners. |
| Existing owner on PS4 or Xbox One | Check the console store and publisher instructions. The publisher says the previous storefront arrangement remains, except both expansions are now free to download. |
| Nintendo Switch owner considering Switch 2 | Wait for the Switch 2 release and verify its availability and upgrade terms. The publisher’s FAQ describes its timing prospectively. |
These eligibility details come from CD PROJEKT RED’s official Remastered announcement and news index and its Remastered FAQ. Store listings, regional terms, and platform eligibility can change, so verify the current listing before purchase.
What each name means
Remastered
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered is the current release name. CD PROJEKT RED announced its launch for September 29, 2026. The publisher describes refreshed visuals and performance, improved combat, a reworked skill system, cross-platform mod support, transmogrification, meditation, and an expanded photo mode. These are publisher feature descriptions, not independent measurements of frame rates or image quality.
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- 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.
Complete Edition
Complete Edition is the bundle to look for as a new buyer. The publisher says the base-game listing has been replaced by this package on affected storefronts, with Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine merged into it. It is not a separate story from the game; it packages the base game and expansions together.
Next-Gen Update
“Next-Gen Update” was the common name for the free December 2022 version 4.0 update. It added technical, visual, and gameplay changes to the then-current game. It is useful historical terminology, but it does not describe the 2026 Remastered release. CD PROJEKT RED’s version 4.0 change list is specifically about that 2022 update.
What is included, and how DLC ownership works
The two major story expansions are Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. Complete Edition includes both alongside the base game. For existing owners, the publisher says base-game owners on qualifying platforms gain the expansions for free; its announcement states, “All current owners of the base game will gain access to the two original expansions – Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine – for free!” Check the platform-specific instructions rather than purchasing an expansion again.
If you already own one or both expansions, CD PROJEKT RED says they remain in your library while their content is patched into the base game. The FAQ says you can still start the expansions separately from the main menu, and that saves, cross-progression, and expansion achievements or trophies remain supported or unaffected.
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
For PS4 and Xbox One, the publisher describes a different storefront arrangement: the previous arrangement remains, but both expansions are free to download. On other affected digital storefronts, the standalone expansions are delisted and the base-game listing is replaced by Complete Edition. The publisher FAQ addresses whether the base game can still be bought without the expansions: not on those affected storefronts.
Which platforms have Remastered?
CD PROJEKT RED’s current-generation list names PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. The publisher’s FAQ still describes the Switch 2 timing prospectively, so a listing or pre-purchase mention is not proof that the game is already playable there. The announcement also names Battle.net and Nintendo Switch 2 among pre-purchase platforms. Confirm the current release status and terms on the platform page you intend to use.
Do not assume the same feature set or technical targets apply on every platform. The 2022 version 4.0 notes, for example, documented different graphics modes by hardware. Those historical figures should not be treated as a tested comparison of the 2026 Remastered build.
What the 2022 update added—and why old comparisons may mislead
The version 4.0 update was free for existing owners and added platform-dependent visual and technical features. On PC and the then-newer consoles, the publisher listed ray-traced global illumination and ambient occlusion. On compatible PC hardware, it also listed ray-traced reflections and shadows, ULTRA+ graphics settings, and DLSS 3 support.
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.
For PS5 and Xbox Series X, CD PROJEKT RED’s 2022 notes described Ray Tracing Mode targeting 30 FPS and Performance Mode targeting 60 FPS, both with dynamic resolution scaling. For Xbox Series S, the notes said there were no ray-tracing features; Quality Mode targeted 30 FPS and Performance Mode targeted 60 FPS. These are version 4.0 statements from 2022, not current Remastered test results. Consult the current platform listing and patch notes for present-day details.
The 2022 update also introduced cross-progression after account login. The current FAQ says cross-progression continues to work, but platform and account requirements still matter; review the publisher’s instructions if you are moving a save between systems.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to check before buying
- Identify your platform and store. Use the exact account—such as Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, PlayStation, or Xbox—that owns your game.
- Check your library first. Look for the base game and either expansion; do not buy a DLC listing until you know what is already attached to your account.
- Read the platform-specific Remastered instructions. Confirm whether your current ownership qualifies for an upgrade, how the expansions appear in your library, and whether the relevant release is available on that platform.
- For a new purchase, verify the package contents. The Complete Edition listing should identify the base game and both expansions. Retailer inventory, physical-edition contents, prices, and regional availability can differ and are not established by the publisher information cited here.
How much game is included?
CD PROJEKT RED estimated in 2022 that the base game offers over 100 hours and that the two expansions add another 50 hours together. Those are publisher promotional estimates; no playtime methodology was supplied, so treat them as rough expectations rather than measured averages. The full package is therefore aimed at players who want the main adventure plus both substantial story expansions, not only the base game.
Quick Recap
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.
