- The Witcher 3 Remastered new quests arrive through the free Songs of the Past expansion, available now.
- The Remastered update launches September 29, 2026 as a free upgrade for all players.
- Over 30 improvements were confirmed, including immersive meditation, a loot rework, and new quest tracking.
- Songs of the Past includes a new silver chain weapon nodding to CDPR's 2007 original RPG.
- The reveal landed at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026.
The Witcher 3 Remastered New Quests: What's Confirmed
The biggest question after the Gamescom 2026 reveal is simple: what does the remaster actually add to the quest experience? CD Projekt Red confirmed that The Witcher 3 Remastered ships as a free update on September 29, 2026, while the Songs of the Past expansion — described by CDPR as a proper "expansion," not a minor DLC — delivers the new quest content itself, and it is already out.
The reveal trailer's rapid-fire list confirmed a new quest tracking system among the headline gameplay upgrades, alongside immersive meditation and a full looting rework. These systems directly reshape how you engage with contracts, secondary quests, and exploration.
If you already own The Witcher 3, check your platform library now — Songs of the Past launched alongside the announcement, so the new quest content is playable before the September 29 remaster patch arrives.
| Content Type | Status | Release Date | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Songs of the Past expansion | Available now | August 2026 | Free |
| Remastered base game update | Confirmed | September 29, 2026 | Free upgrade |
| New quest tracking system | Confirmed in trailer | September 29, 2026 | Included |
| Switch 2 exclusive features | Confirmed | September 29, 2026 | Included |
All 30 Improvements in the Remaster
Beyond new quests, the remaster's reveal trailer packed in a staggering list of upgrades under its "and more" section. The headliners are updated combat, enhanced visuals, and polished movement, but the quieter changes may matter just as much depending on your playstyle.
The 30 improvements fall into four broad buckets: gameplay feel, rendering tech, platform features, and quality-of-life. Here is the full confirmed list organized by category.
| Category | Improvements |
|---|---|
| Gameplay & UI | Immersive meditation, refined animations, UI improvements, looting rework, tutorial modernization, new quest tracking |
| Rendering | Updated textures, foliage shading rework, new shading model, subsurface scattering, new tone mapper, refreshed motion blur |
| Lighting | HDR improvements, GTAO, ray tracing improvements, global lighting rework, raytraced hair |
| PC Tech | Path tracing, ray reconstruction, Nvidia DLSS 4.5, AMD FSR 4, Intel XESS 2.0, native DX12, rendering parallelization |
| Platform | Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive features, new accessibility features |
Immersive Meditation
- Meditation no longer breaks flow
- Fits the remaster's grounded tone
- Pairs with refined animations
Looting Rework
- Streamlined pickup flow
- Less menu friction
- Rewards exploration more cleanly
Quest Tracking
- Refreshed objective UI
- Easier contract management
- Modernized journal flow
How to Jump Into the New Content
Whether you are a returning Geralt veteran or starting fresh in Velen, the path into the remastered content is straightforward. Follow this sequence to make sure you do not miss the new quests or the free upgrade.
Claim Songs of the Past
Update your game on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, or Switch 2 and download the free expansion from your platform's store page.
Load Your Save or Start Fresh
Existing saves carry over, so high-level characters can dive straight into the new silver chain questline.
Grab the Silver Chain
The expansion's signature new weapon nods to CDPR's original 2007 Witcher RPG and its source novels — seek it out early.
Update on September 29
Install the free Remastered patch to unlock the 30 improvements, including new quest tracking and immersive meditation.
You do not need to buy anything. Both the Songs of the Past expansion and the Remastered update are free for all existing owners of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
Why Players Are Returning in 2026
The announcement had an immediate effect on the community. After CDPR revealed the expansion, over 29,000 concurrent Steam players booted up The Witcher 3 — a remarkable number for a game originally released in 2015. CDPR has also teased that more "unannounced projects" are at advanced stages of development, keeping the franchise's momentum strong into The Witcher 4's targeted 2028 window.
Between the free expansion, the incoming remaster patch, and a refreshed player base, there has arguably never been a better moment to revisit the Continent.
| Reason to Return | Impact Level |
|---|---|
| Songs of the Past new quests | ★★★★★ |
| Free Remastered upgrade (Sept 29) | ★★★★★ |
| Combat and movement polish | ★★★★ |
| Path tracing on PC | ★★★★ |
| Switch 2 exclusive features | ★★★ |
Before September 29:
- Download the Songs of the Past expansion
- Complete the silver chain questline
- Finish any unfinished base game saves
- Update GPU drivers for DLSS 4.5 / FSR 4
- Install the Remastered patch on launch day
FAQ
These answers cover the most frequently asked questions about the remaster's new quests and free content.
Q: Does The Witcher 3 Remastered add new quests to the base game?
The new quest content comes through the free Songs of the Past expansion, which CDPR describes as a proper expansion rather than minor DLC. The Remastered update itself focuses on combat, visuals, movement, and over 30 system improvements including new quest tracking.
Q: Is the Remastered update free?
Yes. CD Projekt Red confirmed the Remastered update arrives on September 29, 2026 as a free upgrade for all players, and the Songs of the Past expansions released free alongside the announcement.
Q: What is the silver chain in Songs of the Past?
The silver chain is a new weapon for Geralt that serves as a nod to CD Projekt Red's original 2007 Witcher RPG and the source novels. It is one of the expansion's signature additions.
Q: Which platforms get exclusive features?
The Nintendo Switch 2 receives exclusive features, while PC players get path tracing, ray reconstruction, DLSS 4.5, FSR 4, XESS 2.0, and native DX12 support.