CD Projekt RED used Gamescom 2026’s Opening Night Live to drop two bombs: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered launches September 29, 2026 as a free upgrade, and a brand-new expansion called Songs of the Past arrives in 2027. After a decade of silence, Geralt of Rivia is back.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered: What’s New
The Remastered edition is a free upgrade for all existing Witcher 3 owners on qualifying platforms. It brings sweeping improvements across visuals, performance, and gameplay:
- Upgraded visuals — Enhanced lighting, textures, and draw distances powered by modern rendering techniques
- Revamped combat — New finishers, improved witcher sign effects, and tighter melee feedback
- Improved traversal — Revamped mount handling, better movement, and expanded photo mode
- Skill tree revamp — A redesigned progression system offering deeper character builds
- Transmogrification — Customize Geralt’s appearance without sacrificing stats
- Enhanced monster behaviors — Smarter, more dynamic enemy AI
Remastered launches on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and — for the first time — Nintendo Switch 2 as a native version. Pre-orders for Switch 2 are already live.
Songs of the Past: A New Expansion for 2027
The headline announcement is Songs of the Past, the third expansion for The Witcher 3, arriving in 2027. Players will journey to Letten, a brand-new region described as an idyllic land of rural tradition and folklore. Beneath its peaceful surface lies a dark secret, and Geralt must face never-before-seen foes armed with a new weapon — the chain.
Key details:
- New region: Letten — A sprawling area with its own culture, quests, and threats
- New weapon: The chain — A melee weapon that expands Geralt’s combat options
- New abilities — Fresh witcher skills tailored to the expansion’s challenges
- Old friends return — Reunite with familiar characters from the Witcher universe
- Difficult decisions — Meaningful choices with real consequences, per CDPR tradition
Songs of the Past is co-developed with Fool’s Theory, a Polish studio staffed by Witcher 3 veterans whose previous credits include Baldur’s Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin 2. It launches as a paid expansion on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2.
Free Expansions for All Owners
In a surprise move announced on stage by Geoff Keighley, all current owners of The Witcher 3 now have free access to the two acclaimed expansions — Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine — effective immediately. If you haven’t played them yet, now is the time.
Battle.net Partnership and Diablo 4 Crossover
CD Projekt RED also announced a partnership with Blizzard Entertainment to bring The Witcher 3: Remastered and Songs of the Past to Battle.net. Players who purchase the expansion on Blizzard’s platform will unlock a special Geralt-inspired skin in Diablo 4, with more details coming at BlizzCon in September.
What Should You Do?
- If you own The Witcher 3, claim your free Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions now
- Wishlist Songs of the Past on your platform of choice
- Pre-order Remastered for Nintendo Switch 2 if you want the native portable version
- Watch the REDstreams presentations on YouTube and Twitch for extended gameplay
Sources
CD Projekt RED Press · Xbox Wire · PC Gamer · The Guardian · Inven Global