The Witcher 3 is getting a free remaster and a brand-new expansion
A decade after release, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is coming back in a big way — and if you already own it, the remaster won't cost you a penny. CD Projekt RED used gamescom 2026 to announce both a full remaster (out September 29) and a new paid expansion called Songs of the Past, due in 2027. Journalists who played both came away impressed, calling the remaster a genuinely fresh experience rather than a cosmetic touch-up.
The remaster
The upgraded version launches September 29 on PC (GOG, Steam, Epic, and — for the first time — Battle.net), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. Existing owners get it free, and both previous expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, are now included at no extra charge. New buyers will pay a slightly higher price than before, though exact retail figures haven't been confirmed.
The changes go well beyond prettier graphics. Animations are smoother and more lifelike, monster AI behaves and moves differently, the old leveling system has been replaced with a conventional skill tree, quest tracking and the UI have been overhauled, and the meditation mechanic now works the way the original 2013 trailer showed it. Journalists at gamescom confirmed these aren't just trailer promises — the improvements are noticeable in play, per PCGamer (gamescom hands-on). Xbox Play Anywhere support is also included, so one purchase covers both console and PC.
Songs of the Past
The expansion takes Geralt to Letten, a rural region in North Redania steeped in folk tradition and dark secrets. He's searching for Dandelion — the bard friend familiar from the base game — and the story quickly becomes a family saga. Dandelion's relatives take center stage: uncle Count Hambert-de-Lettenhof, cousin Lilla, his grandmother, and brother Gustav. A spring festival called Belleteyn threads through the narrative. Dandelion himself has changed — quieter, less flamboyant, a little older, though still prone to romance and adventure.
Dandelion returns in Songs of the Past, older and quieter but still at the center of the action.
On the gameplay side, Geralt picks up a new weapon: a chain with a steel weight. The mechanic is designed partly to train players in a move set that will carry over to The Witcher 4, making Songs of the Past a soft bridge to the next chapter. The demo shown to press avoided spoilers while still giving a clear sense of the story's tone and stakes — something journalists specifically praised CD Projekt RED for.
The expansion is co-developed with Fool's Theory, while the remaster was handled in partnership with Yigsoft. CD PROJEKT RED Press has confirmed both projects, with the DLC currently wishlistable on select platforms.
Songs of the Past has no exact release date yet beyond a 2027 window. The remaster hits September 29.