The Witcher 3 Remastered: What's New, Is It Free, and Everything You Need to Know

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered is out now. CD Projekt Red launched the long-awaited overhaul on September 29, 2026, and it's far more than a fresh coat of paint: the skill system has been rebuilt from scratch, transmog is finally here, and PC players get full path tracing.

Best of all? If you already own the game, it's free. Here's everything you need to know.

Is the Witcher 3 Remastered free?

Yes — if you already own The Witcher 3. CD Projekt Red confirmed that anyone who purchased any version of the game in the past, physical or digital, can upgrade to the Remastered version for free within the same platform ecosystem.

Don't own it yet? Newcomers get 50% off on Steam and the PlayStation Store at launch. On Nintendo Switch 2, the Remastered edition costs $59.99 for new buyers.

One Switch 2 quirk: unlike PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, which patch the existing game automatically, Switch 2 owners need to download the Remastered version as a separate product from the eShop — even though it's still free for existing owners.

Release date, platforms, and download size

• Release date: September 29, 2026 (launched 6:00 AM ET / 11:00 AM BST)
• Platforms: PC (Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, Battle.net), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2
• Not coming to: PlayStation 4 or Xbox One — this is current-gen only
• Download size: ~45GB on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S; ~50GB on Switch 2 (48.5GB actual install per early downloads)

What's new in the Witcher 3 Remastered

A rebuilt skill tree — and your points are reset

This is the headline change for returning players. The old skill system is gone, replaced with a proper three-rank skill tree featuring new abilities alongside reworked existing skills. Unlocking skills now requires the right prerequisites instead of just spending banked points.

Important: loading an existing save resets all your skill points. Your level, gear, and progress carry over — but you'll be rebuilding Geralt from scratch. Plan accordingly.

Transmog finally arrives with Reforge

Eleven years later, Geralt can finally look good and stay alive. The new Reforge system lets master craftsmen Yoana and Hattori change your weapons' and armor's appearance without touching their stats. Dyes from Blood and Wine carry over to reforged gear.

Serious visual upgrades

• PC: native DirectX 12 rendering with multithreading, path tracing, ray reconstruction, ray-traced HairWorks, DLSS 4.5, AMD FSR 4, and Intel XeSS 2.0
• PS5 Pro: PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) with ray tracing at 60fps
• Everywhere: improved shading model, textures rebuilt from The Witcher 3 HD Reworked Project assets, reworked foliage and grass lighting, new tone mapping, GTAO ambient occlusion, improved HDR calibration, cinematic motion blur, and subsurface scattering for more natural skin

Combat overhaul

Combat animations have been revised so Geralt closes distance more smoothly, there's an adaptive camera that responds to enemy count, and every non-boss monster — wolves, drowners, and the rest — has updated attack patterns, counters, and movement. All five Witcher Signs (Aard, Igni, Yrden, Quen, Axii) have new visual effects, and there are new finishers.

Cross-platform mods via mod.io

Mod support is now built directly into the main menu on every platform, including consoles. Mods are shared cross-platform through mod.io — a first for the series.

Expanded photo mode and quality of life

Photo Mode gains placeable characters, adjustable lights, weather and time-of-day control, and a first-person camera toggle. Elsewhere: redesigned movement animations for Geralt and Roach, revamped mount handling, reworked Witcher Senses, immersive meditation, a looting rework, new quest tracking, UI improvements, and a refreshed main menu.

New accessibility options

The Bard's Ballad preset adjusts gameplay elements for players with cognitive limitations — including automatic self-healing — and Ukrainian text localization has been added.

Both expansions included free

Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine are bundled into the Remastered version at no extra cost — base-game owners now have the full Complete Edition content. And looking ahead, CDPR has a new expansion, Songs of the Past, slated for 2027 — a good reason to get a completed save ready.

Do my saves and trophies carry over?

Yes. Existing saves load directly into the Remastered version, and achievements/trophies are shared — anything you've already unlocked stays unlocked. Just remember: skill points and settings reset, so your build won't survive the trip even though your progress does.

PC players: one launch-day heads-up

AMD Radeon owners reported black-texture issues on launch day. The fix is already out — update to Adrenalin 26.9.2 before you dive in.

FAQ

Is the Witcher 3 Remastered free? Yes, for anyone who already owns the game on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, or Switch 2 — physical or digital. Newcomers get 50% off on Steam and PlayStation Store; it's $59.99 new on Switch 2.

What's the download size? Around 45GB on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, and about 50GB on Switch 2.

Do I need to buy the expansions separately? No — Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine are included free for all owners.

Do my saves carry over? Yes — saves, achievements, and trophies all carry over. But your skill points reset, so you'll rebuild your character.

Is it coming to PS4 or Xbox One? No. The Remastered version is current-gen and PC only.

What's the biggest change? The rebuilt three-rank skill tree — it's a genuine progression overhaul, not just a visual upgrade. Transmog (Reforge) and cross-platform mod support are close behind.

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Starting a fresh run or respecing your 2015 Geralt? Add The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt to your backlog on Neetter — track it, rate the remaster, and see what the community thinks of the new skill tree. Neetter is live on web and iOS.