The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered launches on 29 September 2026, and CD PROJEKT RED has now published the full list of headline changes. This is more than a visual refresh: the upgrade restructures character progression, adds armour appearance reforging, expands Photo Mode, introduces cross-platform mod support and delivers major platform-specific improvements.
The most important news for existing players is simple. If you previously purchased any physical or digital version of The Witcher 3, CDPR says you can upgrade to Remastered for free within the same platform ecosystem when it releases.
The Witcher 3 Remastered release date and platforms
The Witcher 3 Remastered releases on 29 September 2026 for PC through Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store and Battle.net, alongside PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2.
The free-upgrade offer applies within the same platform ecosystem. Players moving between different storefronts or console families should not assume that ownership transfers. CDPR’s earlier announcement also confirms that the Remastered package includes the base game and the Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions.
A rebuilt skill tree resets your skill points
One of the biggest gameplay changes is the revised skill system. Skills are now organised into a conventional skill tree, each skill has three ranks, and unlocking a new ability requires the correct prerequisite rather than spending a fixed number of skill points.
CDPR has rebalanced bonus values, effects and synergies across the tree. Because the structure has changed, existing skill points are reset when the upgrade is applied. Returning players should plan time to rebuild their loadout before jumping into a difficult contract or late-game quest.
Reforging adds appearance customisation
Remastered introduces Reforging, a system that changes an item’s appearance without changing its statistics. It functions like a transmog feature: players can retain their preferred build while using a different unlocked visual.
Only the master craftsmen Yoana and Hattori provide the service. New appearances unlock by adding equipment and crafting diagrams to the inventory. Dyes from Blood and Wine carry over to reforged items, giving players more freedom to create a consistent armour set without sacrificing performance.
Visual, rendering and performance upgrades
The technical overhaul includes an improved shading model, updated textures and models based partly on assets from The Witcher 3 HD Reworked Project, improved foliage lighting, new effects for Signs and skills, revised reflections and shadows, new image-based lighting and reworked bloom.
The game now uses native DirectX 12 rendering with multithreading. Ray-traced local shadows and Ground Truth Ambient Occlusion have been added, while HDR calibration receives more controls. CDPR also warns that the PC system requirements have changed, so players should check the new official table and update GPU drivers before installing the remaster.
PC-specific additions
PC players receive path tracing, NVIDIA DLSS 4.5 with Ray Reconstruction, AMD FSR 4 with Frame Generation and Anti-Lag 2, and Intel XeSS 2.0 with Frame Generation and Low Latency. Ray-traced HairWorks and DualSense haptic-feedback support are also included.
PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro
PlayStation 5 gains multithreaded rendering. PS5 Pro adds PSSR, Variable Refresh Rate and uncapped-frame-rate support. CDPR says Ray Tracing Mode now targets 60 FPS, while Performance Mode targets 60 FPS at a higher resolution and can reach up to 90 FPS on compatible VRR displays.
Nintendo Switch 2 features
The Switch 2 edition supports handheld, Pro Controller, Dual Grip and mouse-sensor playstyles. Motion controls can handle Signs, consumables, the crossbow, bombs and horse commands. Gyroscope aiming, touchscreen input, Joy-Con 2 HD Rumble, handheld VRR and HDR are also supported.
Cross-platform mods arrive through mod.io
Remastered adds an in-game mod browser powered by mod.io. Players can browse and install community creations from the main menu after connecting a CD PROJEKT RED Account to mod.io. This is especially significant for console players, who previously lacked the PC version’s broad mod access.
Cross-platform support does not mean every existing PC mod will automatically work everywhere. Compatibility still depends on the creator, platform rules and the updated game, so read each mod’s description before changing a long-running save.
Photo Mode receives a major expansion
Photo Mode now supports placeable characters, poses and expressions, environment presets, saved camera positions, first-person framing, weather and time-of-day controls, adjustable storm intensity, multiple aspect ratios and cinematic bars. Players can also hide nearby NPCs, disable camera collisions, place props and display Rule of Thirds guides.
It is a large enough overhaul to turn Photo Mode into a scene-building tool rather than a simple free camera.
Accessibility and quality-of-life improvements
The new Bard’s Ballad preset is designed to reduce cognitive load. Its adjustable options include vitality regeneration, infinite breath, unlimited equipment and boat durability, ignored carry weight, faster boats and a toggle for Witcher Senses.
Other improvements include looting while mounted, grouped nearby loot, item previews, a loot feed, cleaner map tracking, more map markers, a hold-and-sprint combat disengage command, expanded camera options and refined movement for Geralt and Roach. Combat behaviour and animations for many non-boss monsters have also been polished.
What to do before installing the upgrade
- Confirm that you are downloading within the same platform ecosystem as your existing purchase.
- Back up important saves before applying a major engine and progression update.
- Update PC graphics drivers and check the revised system requirements.
- Expect to rebuild your skill allocation because points are reset.
- Review mod compatibility before loading a heavily modded save.
For the full technical list, read CD PROJEKT RED’s official Remastered changes. You can also browse the CODSKINS Other Games collection for current gaming codes and rewards, or catch up on Minecraft Dungeons II and the other major late-September announcements.
