The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered announced, first look at Songs of the Past
In short: During gamescom Opening Night Live, CD PROJEKT RED announced The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered for September 29, 2026, free for existing owners of the game, alongside the first teaser for the new expansion Songs of the Past, set in the brand-new region of Letten and slated for 2027. The game is also making its debut on Nintendo Switch 2 and, thanks to a new partnership with Blizzard Entertainment, on Battle.net.
One of the most acclaimed role-playing games of the last decade is back in the spotlight. At gamescom, CD PROJEKT RED confirmed that The Witcher 3 isn't a closed chapter but a series still growing seven years after its original release.
What Remastered brings
Remastered isn't just a visual refresh. The announcement trailer shown during Opening Night Live lists a substantial set of improvements:
- Upgraded visuals and optimized performance
- Enhanced combat and new Witcher Sign effects
- Improved movement and traversal
- Revamped monster behavior
- Overhauled mount handling
- Redesigned skill tree
- Gear transmogrification
- Expanded photo mode
- New finisher moves
The upgrade will be free for anyone who already owns The Witcher 3 on qualifying platforms, and available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Debut on Nintendo Switch 2 and Battle.net
The biggest distribution news is The Witcher 3's arrival on two platforms entirely new to the series. A native version of Remastered will launch on Nintendo Switch 2, with pre-orders already open. At the same time, a new partnership between CD PROJEKT RED and Blizzard Entertainment will bring the game to Battle.net — both versions are expected on September 29, 2026, the same day as Remastered's launch.
Image: CD PROJEKT RED / Blizzard Entertainment
Anyone who buys the expansion on Battle.net will unlock a dedicated Geralt-inspired skin in Diablo 4, with more details on the collaboration promised by CD PROJEKT RED at BlizzCon in September. More information on the partnership between Blizzard and CD PROJEKT RED is available on CD PROJEKT RED's Beyond the Game Blog.
Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine now free
As a surprise announced on stage by Geoff Keighley, host of gamescom Opening Night Live, as of August 25, 2026, all owners of The Witcher 3 have free access to its two original expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, widely regarded as among the best ever made in the genre. Anyone who hasn't played them yet can catch up before Remastered launches in September.
Songs of the Past: the new chapter
The teaser for Songs of the Past revealed Letten, a brand-new region described as an idyllic land rich in rural tradition and lavish festivals — but hiding a dark secret just beneath the surface. Geralt will have to face enemies never before seen in the series to uncover and defeat the long-dormant evil lurking in those lands.
Songs of the Past launches in 2027 as a paid expansion for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, and is already available to wishlist on several platforms.
Who's working on it
CD PROJEKT RED is co-developing Songs of the Past with Fool's Theory, a studio led by veterans who worked on the original Witcher 3. Remastered, meanwhile, is being co-developed with Yigsoft (Virtuos), a team with a proven track record on the game.
During gamescom, CD PROJEKT RED also hosted guided presentations of Songs of the Past and Remastered in Hall 8.1 of the entertainment area, along with dedicated REDstream broadcasts on YouTube and Twitch for those following the event remotely.
Conclusion
With a free Remastered upgrade, a debut on Nintendo Switch 2 and Battle.net, the original expansions gifted to every owner, and the announcement of a brand-new chapter in Songs of the Past, CD PROJEKT RED shows that The Witcher 3 remains a commercial and creative pillar of its catalog, seven years after its original release. For fans of the saga, the date to mark is September 29 — with eyes already on 2027.