CD Projekt Red will release a free remaster of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for existing owners on Sept. 29 [1].
The update serves as a strategic bridge for the studio, refreshing a legacy title to maintain player engagement while preparing the market for future entries in the franchise.
Announced at Gamescom 2026 in Cologne, Germany, the remaster includes visual and gameplay enhancements [4, 6]. The studio is also making the original expansions—Blood and Wine and Hearts of Stone—free for players [4].
This release is part of a broader content roadmap. CD Projekt Red said a new expansion for the game is slated for 2027 [1]. This follows the studio's goal to build momentum for the next major installment in the series.
Reports indicate that the developer is targeting a 2028 release for Witcher 4 [2]. By offering the remaster and older DLC at no cost, the company aims to expand the active user base before the new title launches.
The remaster arrives during a period of high anticipation for the franchise. The announcement at Gamescom highlighted the studio's intent to reward long-term fans through free upgrades rather than a paid re-release [3, 5].
“The remaster arrives on September 29, 2026”
By providing a free remaster and removing the paywall for legacy DLC, CD Projekt Red is utilizing a 'loss leader' strategy to maximize the reach of its intellectual property. This approach lowers the barrier to entry for new players and re-engages lapsed users, creating a larger, primed audience for the 2027 expansion and the eventual launch of Witcher 4 in 2028.
