Witcher 3 Remastered: Every Change, How to Upgrade and Is a New Playthrough Worth It?
Witcher 3 Remastered came out on September 29, 2026 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and, for the first time natively, Nintendo Switch 2. The upgrade is free for existing owners, and the Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions are now included for everyone who owns the base game.
Witcher 3 Remastered is more than a graphics pass. CD Projekt Red reworked the skill system, combat, riding and photo mode and added transmog. Here's what changed compared to the original, how to upgrade on each platform, what the first patches fixed and who should start a new playthrough.
π¦ Release, platforms and download size
Witcher 3 Remastered went live on September 29, 2026 at noon CEST (6 a.m. ET) on all platforms at once. It replaces the old Complete Edition and is technically an update, not a new game. That's also why there was no preload on PC and consoles. Battle.net and Switch 2 were the exceptions, since the game was new to both storefronts and could be pre-purchased there.
| Platform | Download (reported) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PC (Steam, GOG, Epic, Battle.net) | about 45 GB | Path Tracing, DLSS 4.5 with Ray Reconstruction, FSR 4, XeSS 2.0 |
| PlayStation 5 / PS5 Pro | about 45 GB | PS5 Pro: Ray Tracing Mode targeting 60 FPS, Performance Mode targeting 60 FPS and up to 90 FPS with VRR |
| Xbox Series X|S | about 45 GB | Xbox Play Anywhere |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | just under 50 GB | separate download, four playstyles including Mouse Sensor and motion controls, HDR, VRR, touch in menus and Gwent |
The download sizes come from platform outlets such as Push Square and Pure Xbox, not from CD Projekt Red. On a nearly full PS5 SSD, 45 GB is a lot, so check your free space before the update starts.
π How to upgrade on each platform
PC: If you own the game on Steam, GOG or Epic, the remaster arrives as a regular update. Nothing to buy, nothing extra to download.
PS5 and Xbox Series X|S: Here too, the remaster is a free update for the version you already own. CD Projekt Red says the free upgrade works "within the same platform ecosystem". According to press reports, trophies and achievements carry over and there's no new trophy list. On Xbox, the game is now a Play Anywhere title: if you own it digitally on console, you can also play it on PC through the Xbox app.
Nintendo Switch 2: On Switch 2 the remaster is its own product in the eShop. CD Projekt Red says owners of The Witcher 3 on Nintendo Switch can claim Remastered on Switch 2. According to Nintendo Life, that includes owners of the cartridge version. New buyers purchase it at the regular price; the eShop shows the current price.
PS4 and Xbox One: The old consoles don't appear in CD Projekt Red's official platform list. If you own the PS4 version and have a PS5 by now, you've been able to download the PS5 version for free since the 2022 next-gen update, and that's where you get the remaster.
βοΈ Every change at a glance
New skill tree with three ranks
The biggest change for returning players: "Skills are now organized into a skill tree and each skill has three ranks." New skills unlock through prerequisites instead of points spent in a category. The update resets all skill points, so you have to rebuild your character.
Transmog with the master craftsmen
With Reforge you change how your gear looks without changing its stats. Only the master craftsmen Yoana and Hattori offer the service. You unlock new looks through gear and diagrams you find. That ends the old problem of running around Velen in the strongest but ugliest armor you own.
Combat, movement and camera
CD Projekt Red polished the combat behavior of many non-boss monsters, including their attack patterns. Geralt gets new finisher animations, better climbing, jumping and vaulting animations and a new exploration camera with a wider field of view. There's also a quick disengage: hold the dodge button (Alt, Circle or B) to unlock from your target, then sprint away.
Riding Roach
You can now pick up loot without getting off Roach. Mounting, dismounting, cantering and galloping got polished animations, and a new "Horse control input sensitivity" slider sits under Settings β Controls.
Photo mode, UI and quality of life
In photo mode you can now place several different characters and placeable props in a shot, change the weather and time of day, switch to a first-person camera and lock the camera position. Meditation now plays a timelapse instead of opening a menu screen. A loot feed on the left side of the screen shows what you just picked up, and you can hide herbs, boats and corpses on the minimap under Settings β Video β Interface.
Accessibility: the Bard's Ballad preset
The new Bard's Ballad preset bundles several assist options: Vitality Regeneration Boost, Infinite Breath, Unlimited Item Durability, Unlimited Boat Durability, Ignore Item Weight, Faster Boats and Toggle Witcher Sense. If you mainly want the story, it cuts out a lot of inventory and repair management.
Mods on console
"Cross Platform Mod Support" is a new in-game tool powered by mod.io, found under Mods in the main menu. The patch notes don't say which platforms get which features. According to Notebookcheck, more than 40 community mods were available on PS5 at launch. Console players get a curated selection rather than the full PC library, and using mods disables trophies on PS5 and achievements on Xbox Series X|S. Whether existing PC mods from Nexus work without changes isn't officially confirmed, and community reports suggest you shouldn't count on it.
π οΈ Patches since launch
CD Projekt Red followed up quickly. Patch 5.00b (October 1) went out for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Play Anywhere on PC, and Hotfix 5.00c landed the same day on PC. Patch 5.01 followed on October 8, 2026 for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
The most important fix in 5.01 concerns saves: "Fixed an issue that could affect save file data and added measures to address saves that may have already been affected." It also corrects the bonus display of the Synergy skill, adds damage reflection to Exploding Shield and makes skill tooltips update properly. For Switch 2, CD Projekt Red says an update is in development to bring that version closer to the others and improve image clarity. If you've been holding off because of save issues, install 5.01 before you continue.
πΎ Saves: what carries over and what resets
Your saves keep working in Witcher 3 Remastered. Level, inventory and quest progress stay. Skill points are reset, which the patch notes state directly. According to player and press reports, your settings reset too, so you'll have to redo graphics and control options.
The reset is more of a perk than a problem: it's basically a free respec. You can rebuild your character for the new skill tree mid-save without hunting down a Potion of Clearance first.
π‘ Should you start a new playthrough?
That depends on where you are. Our take, based on the patch notes:
| Your situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Never played it | Start now. The remaster is the best version and both expansions are included |
| Mid-playthrough | Keep going and rebuild your skills after the reset |
| Finished the main game, never played the expansions | Start Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine from your old endgame save |
| Finished everything | A new run is worth it for the skill tree and combat, or wait for 2027 |
For that last group, waiting is a real option. In 2027, "Songs of the Past" arrives as a paid expansion with the new region of Letten, on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2. If you're planning a fresh run anyway, you can time it to end right when the new content drops.
If you're in the mood for another big RPG in the meantime, our Starfield character creation guide is a good place to start. More English guides are on our homepage.
β Witcher 3 Remastered FAQ
Is Witcher 3 Remastered free?
For existing owners on Steam, GOG, Epic, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, yes, within the same platform ecosystem. Switch owners can claim the Switch 2 version. Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine are now unlocked for every owner of the base game.
When did Witcher 3 Remastered come out?
On September 29, 2026, at noon CEST (6 a.m. ET), on all platforms at the same time.
Do old saves work in the remaster?
Yes. Level, inventory and quests stay, while skill points are reset. Settings reportedly reset as well. Patch 5.01 from October 8 fixed a bug that could damage save data.
Are PS4 and Xbox One getting the remaster?
No. CD Projekt Red only lists PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2. PS4 owners who have a PS5 can still get the free PS5 version from the 2022 next-gen update.
How big is the update?
Platform outlets report about 45 GB on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and just under 50 GB on Switch 2.
What is Songs of the Past?
A new paid expansion coming in 2027 with the region of Letten. There's no exact date yet.
As of October 15, 2026, Patch 5.01. Checked against CD Projekt Red's official posts on thewitcher.com: the remaster announcement, the full patch notes from September 28 (also on Steam), the launch post, Patch 5.00b, Hotfix 5.00c and Patch 5.01, plus the Songs of the Past announcements. Download sizes, trophy carryover and settings reset come from Nintendo Life, Push Square and Pure Xbox, the console mod count and restrictions from Notebookcheck. Mod compatibility with existing PC mods comes from community reports and is not officially confirmed.
