CD Projekt Red is upgrading every existing copy of The Witcher 3 with the free Remastered edition today, and the company has confirmed to Eurogamer that “all versions of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt that exist in the world” are included. The update rolls out from 11am BST, covering the Complete Edition, Game of the Year edition, and even the base game.
In a statement, the company said: “As of today, all versions of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt that exist in the world — Complete, Game of the Year, and even the base game — will all become this new standard version that includes Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine by default. When The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered launches, all copies on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC will be upgraded for free.”
What the Remastered Upgrade Includes
Large portions of the game have been rebuilt for the Remastered edition so they resemble a 2026 release. The effort covers re-texturing and re-lighting environments, characters and effects across the base game, plus the Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions. The work also includes fixes for gameplay and quality-of-life issues.
A long list of updates covers how enemies act, how fights look, how horses move, Photo mode, ease-of-use choices, picture settings and buttons built for each platform. The list names particular fixes for PC, PlayStation 5, Switch 2, and the Xbox Play Anywhere title.
Combat and Horse Riding Changes
The notes devote most of their attention to enemy behaviour. Patterns of attack, counterattacks, movement, reactions, flight and the application of effects have all been adjusted for “many non-boss monsters.”. The list does not itemize changes enemy by enemy.
Roach, Geralt’s horse, gets updated collision detection and a “refined” jumping animation. Geralt gains more “polished” mount and dismount animations, a new jump animation and a new idle animation. The notes note that the jump distance and height are not affected.
Photo Mode and Accessibility
A new camera mode lets players add objects and people to their shots, along with a view from the front that shows the world as seen through Geralt’s own eyes. The passage also covers the new ways of controlling the game, alongside the list of visual changes.
The Switch 2 comes with a set of Joy-Con-related choices for motion control, mouse control and touch control. PS5 sees performance gains, although most of the documented changes concern graphical modes on PS5 Pro.
Technical Improvements
The game’s technical list runs deep, and it now includes native DirectX 12 rendering paired with multithreading to boost both performance and visual quality. A new Screen Space Ambient Occlusion option called Ground Truth Ambient Occlusion (GTAO) has been added. Alongside it sit Ray-Traced Local Shadows, updated Screen Space Reflections and updated Screen Space Shadows.
New tools for HDR calibration join the lineup alongside updates to Motion Blur and Subsurface Scattering. Motion Blur now delivers a higher-quality, more cinematic look. Subsurface Scattering has been improved for more natural skin rendering.
Skill System Overhaul
A new skill system has been put in place. The skills are now arranged within a skill tree, with each one holding three ranks. Instead of spending a fixed amount of skill points, players must meet the required previous skills before they can unlock anything new. Because of this change, all skill points have been wiped, so players will need to begin anew.
The names of certain abilities have been changed so that they better match what those abilities actually do. Alongside that, the rebalance has refined bonus values, effects and how abilities work together.
Reforge and Appearance Changes
The appearance of your gear can now be altered through reforging, a process that leaves its stats untouched. Only two master craftsmen provide this service: Yoana and Hattori. To unlock new looks, you must add fresh equipment and crafting diagrams to your inventory. Any dyes from Blood and Wine that were already on your gear will also carry over when it is reforged.
New Camera Modes
The package includes a new exploration camera with an expanded field of view, along with a new dynamic combat camera designed to improve visibility during enemy encounters.
Why This Upgrade Is So Generous
The upgrade is extraordinary by any measure. CD Projekt Red is not selling a new version of The Witcher 3 — it is making every existing copy of the game better, for free, on every platform.
The patch notes make plain the scale of the labor undertaken. It is not merely a superficial change to appearance. Rather, it is a comprehensive restructuring that affects combat, movement through the world, photography, accommodations for players with disabilities, and the underlying technical framework.
There is no need to hold back, because the Remastered edition is already here, ready for play, and it sets the stage for next year’s new game expansion, Songs of the Past. Every version of the game is included in the upgrade, which is available now.
Key Facts
- Rollout: 11am BST today
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Switch 2
- Cost: Free
- Scope: Complete Edition, Game of the Year edition, base game
- New systems: DirectX 12 rendering, GTAO, Ray-Traced Local Shadows, Reforge system
- Skill system: Skill points reset, skills organized into a tree
The upgrade is a gift to anyone who owns The Witcher 3, and it is a signal of intent for what comes next. Songs of the Past looms, and the Remastered edition is the foundation on which it will sit.
Today is the day to watch it. The horses shine, the cameras see more clearly, and the monsters have grown better at fighting.
Source material: “All versions of The Witcher 3 "that exist in the world" will be upgraded with the free Remastered edition today,” Eurogamer.
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