The Witcher 3 Remastered: Free Upgrade, Release Date and New Features

The Witcher 3 Remastered launches for Xbox Series X|S on 29 September 2026 as a free upgrade for existing owners of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Base-game owners will also receive Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine at no extra cost. The new edition modernises visuals, combat, movement, skill trees, mod support and photo mode.

Who gets the free upgrade?

Players who own The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on Xbox Series X|S can upgrade to Remastered for free. The Remastered build was not announced for Xbox One, but Xbox One base-game owners are included in the free expansion offer. Digital owners receive the expansions automatically; disc owners can claim them from the Microsoft Store and may still need a compatible console and disc to play.

No Xbox Gift Card is needed for this free upgrade. For other paid Microsoft Store purchases, check the Xbox Gift Card options and your account region first.

What changes in Remastered?

Graphics and lighting

Environment, NPC and monster textures are being upgraded. Reworked lighting, improved ray tracing and more natural shadows aim to refresh the open world, Novigrad and wilderness areas.

Combat, movement and camera

New animations make combat more precise and fluid. Geralt closes distance more smoothly, new finishers include an Aard-based move, and an adaptive camera changes its distance according to the number of enemies.

Skill trees and customisation

The skill system is being redesigned with new perks, abilities and reworked skills. Transmog lets players change weapon and armour appearance without sacrificing stats. The package also includes cross-platform mod support on Series X|S, an expanded photo mode and Xbox Play Anywhere.

Are both expansions free?

Yes. Base-game owners on Xbox receive Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine for free, including Xbox One owners. Read the Xbox code redemption guide only for other paid Store purchases, and check Xbox Gift Card region compatibility before buying credit.

What is Songs of the Past?

Songs of the Past is a third expansion planned for 2027. Geralt travels with Dandelion to Letten, Dandelion’s homeland, where a hidden threat brings new monsters, mutagens and a chain weapon designed for crowd control. It benefits from Remastered upgrades; the exact date and price have not been announced.

Is the upgrade worth returning for?

For existing Series X|S owners, the strongest point is that the upgrade is free. The redesigned skill system, console mod support and visual work provide meaningful reasons to revisit the game. New buyers should verify edition, platform compatibility and account region before paying.

Source: Xbox Wire and CD PROJEKT RED, 25 August 2026. Features and release plans may change.