Returning to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered? Your Skill Points and Mods Need Attention

Juego: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered | Promotor: CD PROJEKT RED (with Yigsoft) | Editorial: CD PROJEKT | Plataformas: PC (Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, Battle.net, Microsoft Store), PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 | Fecha de publicación: September 29, 2026 | Precio: Free upgrade for existing owners

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered is out now as a free upgrade for existing owners. CD PROJEKT RED released it today, September 29, on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. However, most players could not preload it, so launch day starts with a hefty download.

Why There Was No Preload

The reason is simple: on most platforms, Remastered is not a separate game. Instead, it arrives as a large update to the version players already own. CD PROJEKT RED’s Marcin Momot confirmed on X that there is no preload because the release is a patch.

Battle.net is the exception, since The Witcher 3 is arriving there for the first time. Everyone else had to wait for the 10:00 UTC unlock. That translates to 3 AM Pacific and 12 PM CEST.

According to Momot, the download sizes break down as follows:

PS5: Around 45 GB.
Xbox Series X|S: Around 45 GB.
PC (Steam): Around 45 GB, depending on installed language packs.
Nintendo Switch 2: Around 50 GB, as a standalone native version rather than a patch.

Notably, the full PC installation is larger. CD PROJEKT RED’s updated PC requirements list roughly 70 GB for the complete install, including both expansions.

Who Gets It for Free

Anyone who already owns The Witcher 3 on a supported platform gets Remastered for free. That covers GOG, Steam, the Epic Games Store, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Owners of the original Nintendo Switch version can also claim the native Switch 2 edition at no cost.

Beyond the usual storefronts, Remastered is now also sold on Battle.net and the Microsoft Store. On the Microsoft Store, it counts as an Xbox Play Anywhere title.

Additionally, Remastered replaces the Complete Edition and bundles Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine as standard. That applies even to players who only ever bought the base game. By contrast, PS4 and Xbox One owners do not get Remastered, although they still receive both expansions free.

What Actually Changes

Remastered goes well beyond a texture pass. Co-developed with Yigsoft, it touches visuals, combat, progression, animation, and the user interface. The biggest changes include:

Visual overhaul: Reworked textures, foliage, lighting, and ray tracing, with some assets drawn from The Witcher 3 HD Reworked Project.
Path tracing and PS5 Pro support: PC gains path tracing, while PS5 Pro targets 60 fps with ray tracing via PSSR. A performance mode reaches up to 90 fps with VRR.
Reimagined skill system: An overhauled skill tree and rebalanced abilities modernize character progression.
Combat and animation rework: New finishers, an adaptive camera, and fresh movement animations for Geralt and Roach.
Transmog: Weapons and armor can take on a different look without losing their stats.
Switch 2 extras: Gyro aiming, motion controls for signs and bombs, mouse control, and touch screen support.

What Returning Players Should Know

CD PROJEKT RED confirmed that existing saves carry over, along with unlocked trophies and achievements. Still, the rebuilt skill tree resets your skill points, so expect to reallocate your build on first load. Screenshotting your character screen beforehand is a sensible precaution.

Mods are the bigger catch. Remastered adds cross-platform mod support through mod.io on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, but not on Switch 2. Meanwhile, older mods that rely on XML, script, or w3strings files will stop working until creators update them through REDkit.

Console players face one more trade-off, because modded saves disable trophies and achievements. Separately, some fans criticized pre-release comparison footage for looking worse than the original. That footage carried a work-in-progress disclaimer, so the final build deserves a fresh look.

Conclusión

Remastered is a genuinely generous move, especially with both expansions now included for everyone on current platforms. The missing preload is a minor annoyance, but the skill reset and broken mods deserve more attention from returning players. For newcomers, this is the definitive way to play The Witcher 3 ahead of Songs of the Past in 2027.