- The Witcher 3 Remastered DLC centers on Songs of the Past, a Blood and Wine-scale expansion arriving in 2027.
- The free remaster update launches September 29, 2026 on PC, PS5, Xbox Series, and Switch 2.
- Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine are now free for all base game owners.
- The expansion introduces a new chain weapon first glimpsed in the original Witcher 1 intro.
- New region Latia hides a dark secret beneath an idyllic surface.
The Witcher 3 Remastered DLC Overview
The Witcher 3 Remastered DLC announcement at Opening Night Live 2026 delivered the biggest surprise of Gamescom: a full remaster of the 2015 Game of the Year winner, plus a brand-new story expansion called Songs of the Past, developed with help from Fool's Theory and veteran Witcher 3 developers.
Video Highlights:
- Free remaster upgrade for all existing Witcher 3 owners
- Combat overhaul with new camera, targeting, and finishers
- Songs of the Past expansion set in the new region of Latia
- Both previous expansions made free for base game owners
- New chain weapon teased as Geralt's final adventure before Ciri takes over
The remaster is far more than a texture pack. CD Projekt Red's level design lead described it as a labor of love from the team, with visual upgrades including new textures, updated rendering, advanced path tracing on PC, and reworked foliage shading. Geralt, as the developers put it, has never looked better—even after years of retirement.
If you own the base game on any platform, you do not need to buy anything to get the remaster. The upgrade applies automatically on September 29, 2026, including the Switch 2 version.
Remaster Features Breakdown
The remaster touches nearly every system in the game. Below is a summary of the major confirmed improvements.
| Category | Improvements | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Visuals | New textures, path tracing, foliage rework, HDR, GTAO | Highest fidelity yet |
| Combat | New camera, targeting, animations, finishers | Modern, precise feel |
| Movement | Fixed movement responsiveness | Long-requested fix |
| RPG Systems | Revamped ability/skill tree | More build options |
| Quality of Life | Transmog, new quest tracking, UI, looting rework | Less menu friction |
| Tech | DLSS 4.5, FSR4, XeSS 2.0, DX12, PS5 Pro support | Broad platform reach |
Combat Overhaul
- Smoother, more precise combat
- Updated camera and targeting
- New finishers for brutal takedowns
Visual Upgrades
- Path tracing on PC
- Reworked global lighting
- New shading models and tone mapper
Player Freedom
- Transmog system for armor looks
- Expanded photo mode
- Cross-platform mod support
The remaster supports PS5 Pro, Xbox Play Anywhere, and exclusive Nintendo Switch 2 features. PC players get ray reconstruction, ray-traced hair, and native DX12.
Songs of the Past: The New Expansion
Songs of the Past is a remarkable project: a full-scale expansion for an 11-year-old game. CD Projekt Red had wanted one more story with Geralt for a while, and the collaboration with Fool's Theory—which hired veteran Witcher 3 developers—made it possible.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Expansion name | Songs of the Past |
| New region | Latia |
| Scale | Comparable to Blood and Wine |
| Estimated length | Roughly 20-40 hours (all content) |
| New weapon | Chain (first shown in Witcher 1 intro) |
| Release window | 2027 |
Latia is described as an almost uncannily idyllic place with a dark secret lurking beneath the surface—the kind of mystery that requires a true professional witcher. Expect new monsters, new archetypes, quests, and exploration in line with what fans love about the base game.
This is explicitly Geralt's last adventure before the torch passes to Ciri in The Witcher 4. The developers wanted to go out with a bang, so expect significant story weight.
How to Get Everything Free: Step-by-Step
CD Projekt Red made both previous expansions—Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine—free for everyone who owns the base game, effective the night of the announcement. Here is how to take full advantage.
Verify Base Game Ownership
Confirm you own The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch. Any existing copy qualifies for the free upgrade path.
Claim the Free Expansions
If you never purchased Hearts of Stone or Blood and Wine, they are now added to your account at no cost on your platform's store.
Update on September 29, 2026
Download the free remaster update when it goes live. All remaster improvements apply to the base game and both expansions.
Prepare for Songs of the Past
Play through the included expansions while waiting for the new DLC, expected sometime in 2027.
A player who only ever owned the base game now gets the remaster, Hearts of Stone, and Blood and Wine at no additional cost—one of the most generous upgrade offers in modern gaming.
Why CDPR Gave It Away Free
The free remaster stunned the community because most publishers would charge $30-60 for an upgrade of this scope. The strategy reflects a deliberate approach: CD Projekt Red is building goodwill ahead of The Witcher 4 and the paid Songs of the Past expansion.
| Approach | CDPR Model | Typical Publisher Model |
|---|---|---|
| Remaster pricing | Free for owners | Paid upgrade |
| Old DLC | Given away | Bundled and resold |
| Fan relations | Gifts and events | Entitlement to sales |
| Long-term goal | Goodwill before Witcher 4 | Short-term revenue |
Before September 29, 2026:
- Confirm base game ownership on your platform
- Claim free Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine
- Clear save space for the remaster update
- Finish a Blood and Wine playthrough before the new DLC
- Follow CDPR streams for Songs of the Past details
The announcement drew immediate comparisons to other studios, with many fans noting that competitors would have charged full price for the same content—a rare moment of unanimous praise during Gamescom 2026.
FAQ
Q: Is The Witcher 3 Remastered DLC free?
The remaster update itself is a free upgrade for all base game owners on September 29, 2026, and the older Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions are also free. However, the new expansion Songs of the Past is expected to be a paid release in 2027.
Q: When does The Witcher 3 Remastered release?
The remaster launches September 29, 2026 on PC and consoles, including PS5, PS5 Pro, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch 2, and Battle.net.
Q: How big is the Songs of the Past expansion?
CD Projekt Red has compared its scale to Blood and Wine rather than Hearts of Stone, suggesting roughly 20-40 hours of content across the new region of Latia.
Q: Do I need to buy the game again for the remaster?
No. If you already own The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, the remastered version is provided as a free upgrade on all supported platforms.