Witcher 3 Remastered: Who Gets the Free Upgrade?
The Witcher 3 Remastered upgrade is free on listed stores, with a special Switch path. Check your copy before buying the game again.
01 / The short answer
The short answer
CD Projekt Red says The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Remastered is a free upgrade for owners on GOG, Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Nintendo Switch owners can claim Remastered on Nintendo Switch 2 when it releases. If your copy sits in one of those libraries, the sensible move is to wait for the entitlement on 29 September 2026 rather than buying the same game again.
Battle.net is presented as a new purchase option, not as part of the published free-upgrade list. Physical ownership, region rules and account matching can still affect how an entitlement appears, so check the official product tile while signed into the account that owns the game. CD Projekt Red also says current base-game owners receive Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine for free.
Best forMost current owners on the platforms named by CD Projekt Red should wait for the free entitlement instead of buying again.
Think twice ifNew buyers and owners on an unlisted store should verify the exact product page before paying.
02 / The official free-upgrade list is specific
The official free-upgrade list is specific
The announcement names GOG, Steam, Epic Games Store, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. It separately says owners of the Nintendo Switch version can claim Remastered on Nintendo Switch 2. That language is stronger than a general promise that every historical edition on every storefront converts automatically. Match your copy to the named platform before assuming the result.
On console, use the same regional account that owns or redeemed the existing game. For a disc copy, keep the disc and a compatible drive available until the store explains its verification flow. CD Projekt Red has not used the announcement to document every edge case. The safe answer for an unusual edition is to wait for the live store listing, not to infer an entitlement from another platform.
03 / The decision signals that matter
The decision signals that matter
Compare the confirmed facts with the way you actually want to play.
Release
The Witcher 3 Remastered launches on 29 September 2026.Use this confirmed release when comparing the available paths.
Named free platforms
GOG, Steam, Epic, PS5 and Xbox Series owners are on the official free-upgrade list.Use this confirmed named free platforms when comparing the available paths.
Switch path
Owners of the Nintendo Switch game can claim Remastered on Nintendo Switch 2.Use this confirmed switch path when comparing the available paths.
Expansions
Current base-game owners receive Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine for free.Use this confirmed expansions when comparing the available paths.
04 / Base-game owners gain more than the new build
Base-game owners gain more than the new build
CD Projekt Red says all current owners of the base game gain access to both original expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. Those expansions are also included in the Remastered base game. That makes an existing base license more valuable and removes a common reason to buy a Complete Edition in advance just to secure the story add-ons.
The announcement promises improvements to visuals, gameplay and more, but it does not provide a complete technical matrix for every platform. Do not turn the word remastered into an assumed frame rate, resolution or mod-compatibility guarantee. Let the final platform notes answer those details.
05 / When buying a new copy still makes sense
When buying a new copy still makes sense
A new purchase makes sense when you do not own The Witcher 3, want the game in a different ecosystem, or specifically want the new Battle.net version. It can also make sense when a household needs a second independent license. None of those situations changes the free path for a qualifying existing owner.
Avoid buying because the upgrade badge has not appeared before launch. Store entitlements often surface at release, and the published date is 29 September. If your platform is listed and the option is still missing after launch, confirm account, region and edition details before contacting the storefront or publisher support.
06 / Who this decision fits
Who this decision fits
A strong fit when
- CD Projekt Red says The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Remastered is a free upgrade for owners on GOG, Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
- A new purchase makes sense when you do not own The Witcher 3, want the game in a different ecosystem, or specifically want the new Battle.net version.
- Use the account and region that hold your current Witcher 3 license.
Think twice when
- New buyers and owners on an unlisted store should verify the exact product page before paying.
- The announcement confirms who should receive the product, but it does not settle every operational detail.
- Protect saves and modded installations until final compatibility notes are available.
07 / Treat release day as an entitlement check
Treat release day as an entitlement check
Open the store while signed in, search for the exact Remastered product and look for an upgrade or owned status. Do not start with a generic search-engine buy button. A product page tied to your account is the only useful place to confirm the price that applies to your license.
Before installing, check storage and any save-transfer notes published for your version. The announcement confirms who should receive the product, but it does not settle every operational detail. Preserving your current saves and mods before a major version change is sensible even when the upgrade itself costs nothing.
08 / Before you commit
Before you commit
- 01
Identify the owning account
Use the account and region that hold your current Witcher 3 license.
- 02
Match the official platform list
Do not generalize a confirmed entitlement to an unlisted storefront or edition.
- 03
Wait for the launch product tile
Check the exact Remastered listing on 29 September before spending anything.
- 04
Back up before migrating
Protect saves and modded installations until final compatibility notes are available.
09 / Common questions
Common questions
Is The Witcher 3 Remastered a free upgrade?
Yes for owners on the platforms CD Projekt Red names: GOG, Steam, Epic Games Store, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, plus a Switch-to-Switch-2 claim path.
Do base-game owners get the expansions?
CD Projekt Red says current base-game owners receive Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine for free.
Is Battle.net included in the free-upgrade list?
The announcement presents Battle.net as a purchase option and does not include it in the named free-upgrade list.
Should I buy the Complete Edition before launch?
Not only to secure the original expansions. The publisher says current base-game owners receive both expansions for free.