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The Wire · Ownership ledgerFree vs paid

Witcher 3 Remastered: Free Upgrade vs Paid Expansion

The September 29 Remastered upgrade is free for existing Witcher 3 owners on qualifying PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S paths. Songs of the Past is paid content for 2027.

By Gamer-Z-Paradise editorial deskSources checked Aug. 29, 20263 min readOfficial CD Projekt sources

Warm and cool fantasy planning surfaces divided by cord, with a tree medallion on the left and a sealed notebook on the right.

Player-first briefing

What changes your plans

Start with when you can play, then decide what deserves a wishlist.

Two ornate fantasy volumes rest beside an open iron coffer and broken chain on a dark archive table.

Free now

Current Witcher 3 owners can access Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine at no additional cost.

Read the announcement

A weathered fantasy volume passes through a glowing restoration frame and emerges illuminated beside three connected stone pedestals.

Free September 29

Remastered is a free upgrade for existing owners on qualifying PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S ownership paths.

Review platform wording

A separate crimson fantasy volume waits behind a locked gate beside a blank calendar plate and empty balance scale.

Paid in 2027

Songs of the Past is a separate paid expansion. Its exact date and price remain unannounced.

Open the expansion page

Dates that matter

Ownership timeline

NowOlder expansions available at no added costFor existing owners, subject to the account and storefront path.
Sept. 29, 2026Remastered launchesFree upgrade on qualifying PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S paths; native Switch 2 and Battle.net versions also launch.
2027Songs of the Past plannedSeparate paid expansion; price and exact date unannounced.

The ownership split

Remastered: Free on qualifying paths
Switch 2: New native version
Battle.net: New storefront
Songs of the Past: Paid expansion

Do not buy twice on an assumption

Storefront details still matter

CD Projekt has not defined every qualifying edition, cross-generation path, save route, or mod-compatibility case. Check the official store tied to your existing copy before paying for another version.

Read the official announcement

Primary sources

Announcement and expansion page checked August 29, 2026.

CD Projekt announcementLaunch date, upgrade language, platforms, and included older expansions Songs of the PastOfficial expansion status and setting

Live Briefing complete

There is one important warning before you buy or reinstall anything. CD Projekt uses the phrase "qualifying platforms" for the free upgrade. The announcement does not yet explain every ownership path, edition, storefront, or cross-generation case. Treat the broad split below as confirmed, but check the official store tied to your copy before spending money.

What is free now

CD Projekt says all current owners of The Witcher 3 can access Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine at no additional cost. Those are the game's two older expansions.

That makes now a reasonable time to look at your library if you never played them. It does not mean every store or account will update in exactly the same way, so use the official listing attached to the platform where you own the game.

What arrives free on September 29

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered launches September 29, 2026. Existing owners on qualifying PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S platforms are promised a free upgrade.

CD Projekt lists visual, performance, combat, movement, sign effects, horse handling, monster behavior, skill tree, photo mode, and finishing-move changes. Those are planned features from the developer, not evidence of how well the released build will run.

Nintendo Switch 2 receives a native version on the same date. Battle.net also becomes a new PC storefront. The announcement does not say that owning the game somewhere else automatically grants either new version, so do not assume a free entitlement on those platforms.

What is paid

Songs of the Past is a new paid expansion planned for 2027. It takes Geralt to Letten, a new region built around rural traditions, festivals, and a hidden threat. CD Projekt has not announced a price or exact release date.

The practical choice is simple. Existing owners can claim the older expansions and wait for the free Remastered upgrade details. Players interested in Songs of the Past should wishlist it if they want updates, but there is no reason to guess at price or preorder value yet.

What to check before September 29

Confirm which store owns your copy, whether that copy qualifies for the upgrade, and whether your saves or mods are supported. CD Projekt has not supplied enough detail in the reviewed announcement to answer every transfer or mod-compatibility question. We will update this guide when the company explains those paths.

Until then, the safe takeaway is: older expansions free now, Remastered free for qualifying existing owners on named platforms September 29, and Songs of the Past sold separately in 2027.

Official sources

Witcher 3 Remastered: Free Upgrade vs Paid Expansion

The September 29 Remastered upgrade is free for existing Witcher 3 owners on qualifying PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S paths. Songs of the Past is paid content for 2027.

By Gamer-Z-Paradise editorial deskSources checked Aug. 29, 20263 min readOfficial CD Projekt sources

Player-first briefing