Millions of players have returned to The Witcher 3 as the Remastered edition sets a new Steam concurrent player record and hits a single-day sales figure it hasn’t touched since a $3.99 discount in 2024. The game’s numbers continue to climb after CD Projekt Red released the free upgrade last week.
On Sunday 4th October at 4pm BST, according to SteamDB, The Witcher 3 recorded 137,724 players online simultaneously. That’s a nearly 20K improvement over the game’s previous high of 120K players. The record comes as people not only return to the game following its overhaul but also buy it for the first time, or again.
The New Record
The concurrent player count reached 137,724 on Sunday afternoon, beating the earlier high of 120K by almost 20K players. The record follows a weekend of strong activity as both returning players and newcomers bought the game.
Comparing The Numbers
The Witcher 3 attracted 92K concurrent players when it launched in 2015. Its previous peak was 103K in January 2020, when The Witcher Netflix show was popular. This latest record shows the game still holds significant pulling power, especially ahead of its new expansion Songs of the Past, which is arriving next year at some point.
These Steam numbers don’t include console players. Total player numbers across PlayStation, Xbox and Switch are presumably much higher, though we don’t have official figures.
Alinea’s Data
Alinea Analytics has provided some guidance on the game’s broader audience. Last week, a day after the Remastered edition’s release, Alinea analyst Rhys Elliott said The Witcher 3 spiked at 2.4 million daily active users across PC, PlayStation and Xbox. Switch wasn’t included for some reason.
“Perhaps even more impressively,” Elliott added, “The Witcher 3 sold another 130K copies across those three platforms YESTERDAY [30th September], the most it’s sold in a day since The Witcher 3’s first $3.99 Steam discount price back in summer 2024.”
Elliott noted that puts Witcher 3 lifetime sales over 66m copies now. “What a run,” he said.
The Remaster Upgrade
The Witcher 3 – Remastered is a significant, free overhaul of the existing game. It modernises the graphical look, improving textures and animations. It also reworks the game’s skills and skill tree.
There are teething problems surrounding lighting and other issues, and CD Projekt Red is rolling hotfixes out for those. Despite that, the upgrade remains an extraordinarily generous offering.
The game is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.
The Sales Spike
The single-day sales figure of 130K copies is a remarkable number for a game this old. It shows the game still has commercial value, and it suggests the Remastered edition has brought lapsed players back into the fold.
The current price is $24.99 across all three platforms Elliott covers. Almost $3M in revenue was generated in a single day.
| Platform | Daily Active Users (Alinea) | Price |
|---|---|---|
| PC | Included | $24.99 |
| PlayStation | Included | $24.99 |
| Xbox | Included | $24.99 |
| Switch | Not included | N/A |
What The Numbers Show
The concurrent player record and the sales spike together paint a picture of a game that hasn’t lost its audience. People who already owned the game are returning to see the improvements. New players are buying it for the first time.
CD Projekt Red is seeing first-hand how much pulling power its fantasy game still has. The success of the Remastered edition suggests the base game remains a strong draw, even after years on the market.
The upcoming Songs of the Past expansion is likely to benefit from this renewed attention. The game’s continued popularity means the new content has a ready audience.
The Console Question
The Steam numbers don’t capture the full picture. Console players aren’t included, and the Alinea data only covers PC, PlayStation and Xbox.
The concurrent player record of 137,724 is a strong number, but it represents a fraction of the total player base. The 2.4 million daily active users figure gives a better sense of the scale of the game’s current audience.
The Price Factor
The single-day sales figure is notable because it compares to a discount from five years ago. The $3.99 price cut in summer 2024 was a major moment for the game, and the Remastered edition has now matched that momentum.
The sales figure is the proof. The game is still selling at a pace that rivals its early days.
The Long View
The Witcher 3 has been a steady performer for years. Its lifetime sales sit at over 66m copies, and the remaster is extending that run.
The record-breaking weekend shows the game’s enduring appeal. It’s a reminder that a great game can keep drawing players long after its initial release.
The remaster is doing exactly what CD Projekt Red hoped it would. It’s bringing old fans back and introducing the game to new ones.
The Future
The Witcher 3 Remastered has broken its own Steam concurrent player record and hit a single-day sales figure it hasn’t touched since a $3.99 discount in 2024. The game’s popularity continues to grow, and the upcoming Songs of the Past expansion looks set to benefit from this renewed attention.
The record is a milestone for the game. It shows the remaster has done exactly what it was designed to do: bring people back.
The sales figure is the proof. The game is still selling at a pace that rivals its early days.
The Witcher 3 Remastered is a generous offering. It’s a free upgrade that delivers meaningful improvements. The teething problems are being addressed with hotfixes.
The game’s future looks bright. Songs of the Past is coming soon, and the remaster has given the series a fresh start.
The record-breaking weekend is a reminder of how far the game has come. From 92K concurrent players at launch to 137,724 today, the journey has been impressive.
The Witcher 3 Remastered has proven its worth. It’s a game that still commands an enormous audience, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down.
The game’s popularity has grown steadily over the years, from 92K concurrent players at launch in 2015 through the 103K peak in January 2020 during the Witcher Netflix show’s popularity. Now the record stands at 137,724. The journey from launch to today has been impressive.
The sales figure is the proof. The game is still selling at a pace that rivals its early days.
The record is a milestone for the game. It shows the remaster has done exactly what it was designed to do: bring people back.
The future looks bright. Songs of the Past is coming soon, and the remaster has given the series a fresh start.
The record-breaking weekend is a reminder of how far the game has come. From 92K concurrent players at launch to 137,724 today, the journey has been impressive.
The Witcher 3 Remastered has proven its worth. It’s a game that still commands an enormous audience, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down.
See the video the story is built around at Eurogamer.
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