September 29 marks a double date for anyone who never really left Rivia behind: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered arrives, a free update for owners of the game on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, plus a native Nintendo Switch 2 version included at no extra cost for anyone upgrading from the original hybrid console.
CD Projekt Red didn't just polish the textures. On PC you get path tracing, ray reconstruction and ray-traced hair, plus a full switch to DX12; on console the package brings a new shading model, subsurface scattering and dedicated PS5 Pro support. The combat system, movement, character progression and even how you handle Roach have been reworked from the ground up, not just tweaked.
There are also changes that affect how you play more than how it looks: a revamped quest tracker, reorganized loot, an expanded photo mode, new finisher animations, a more immersive meditation system and — finally — real cross-platform mod support on console. Anyone who already owns the game on Steam, GOG or digital storefronts also gets the two expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, for free if they haven't bought them yet.
The real surprise, though, comes on the side of the announcement: CD Projekt Red confirmed in parallel Songs of the Past, a paid expansion set for 2027 that takes Geralt to Letten, Dandelion's hometown — a rural, almost idyllic setting that obviously hides something beneath the surface. Dozens of new quests, never-before-seen monsters, a few hands of Gwent and a brand-new weapon, a chain built for crowd control in combat. Nothing suggests it will be a minor piece of content.
Hard to complain about a free remaster that already includes two full expansions. We at apocanow are keeping a close eye on it: as soon as it's available, we'll bring you tips and guides updated for the new engine.
