How to Claim Witcher 3 Remastered Free Upgrade: 5 Steps [2026]
Tuesday, September 29, 2026By Indie Kings | September 29, 2026
Updated September 29, 2026: Existing owners get The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt Remastered as a free upgrade on Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Nintendo Switch 2 uses a separate native product that Switch 1 owners can claim free instead of an in place update.
Image: Remastered announcement art. Credit: CD PROJEKT RED via thewitcher.com.
Who Gets The Free Upgrade
The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt Remastered launched September 29 2026, per CD PROJEKT RED, The Verge, and IGN. The game was announced at Gamescom Opening Night Live in August 2026, per the same three sources. That launch date matters because the free upgrade went live alongside the new release.
CD PROJEKT RED is offering the Remastered edition as a free upgrade for existing owners on Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, per CD PROJEKT RED via IGN and The Verge. If you already own The Witcher 3 on one of those platforms, you do not need to buy the game again. You only need to claim or update to the correct current generation version on the same account and platform family.
The platform coverage is broad but not identical on every store. PC owners are covered on three established PC stores plus a new fourth option. Console owners are covered on the current generation PlayStation and Xbox platforms. The key rule is that ownership must already exist on the platform where you want the upgrade.
Nintendo Switch 2 is handled differently from the other platforms. Nintendo Switch 2 gets a native version sold separately, while owners of the Switch 1 version can claim the Switch 2 Remastered free, per IGN and Nintendo UK. It appears as a separate download and separate Home menu icon, per Nintendo UK. That separate product design is why Switch owners should not expect an automatic in place patch.
The Switch 2 download size is 42.3 GB, per the Nintendo UK listing. That size matters for storage planning on Switch 2 systems with limited free space. It also helps explain why Nintendo UK lists the Remastered release as its own product rather than a small patch.
PC coverage also expands to a new store for the first time. The Remastered edition marks the first time the game is available on Battle.net for PC, per IGN. Buying or claiming there unlocks a Geralt themed skin in Diablo 4, per IGN. Treat that Diablo 4 benefit as a cross promo rather than part of the base Witcher 3 upgrade itself.
Exact unlock steps for the Diablo 4 Geralt themed skin are [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. Do not assume the skin appears automatically the moment you install the Witcher 3. Check the Battle.net account link, Diablo 4 entitlement screen, and any promo claim screen before assuming something failed.
The release timing was also specific for United States players. US release times on September 29 were 3 AM PDT and 6 AM EDT, per Vice and Brent Koepp. If your store did not show the upgrade before that time, waiting until after the regional unlock was the correct first step.
How To Claim In 5 Steps
Use the five steps below in order. The first step prevents most errors because it confirms that you own a qualifying copy on the right account. The later steps differ by PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch 2, so read the step that matches your platform.
- Confirm you own a qualifying copy on the correct account. Check that you own The Witcher 3 on Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Battle.net, or Switch before you look for the Remastered version. Sign in to the same account that owns the original game because entitlements do not move between accounts. If you own a disc, find the disc now because both PlayStation and Xbox disc paths need it. This check takes only a minute and it prevents the most common wrong account error. Success looks like the original game appearing in your library, purchase history, or download history on the account you are using.
On Steam and GOG, confirm that the base game license is present in your account library. On Epic Games Store, confirm the same product appears under your owned games. On PlayStation, confirm the PlayStation Network account matches the account used for the original purchase or disc registration. On Xbox, confirm the Microsoft account owns the digital license or is the account you will use with the disc. On Switch, confirm whether you own the Switch 1 version physically or digitally and which Nintendo Account will claim the Switch 2 product. Exact store menu names on the launch build are [NEEDS VERIFICATION], so focus on finding the owned game rather than memorizing a button label. - PC: update the game on Steam, GOG, or Epic, and check Battle.net separately. On PC, the path is to update the game on GOG or Steam and Remastered unlocks, per the VGC start guide published September 29 2026 by Dave Aubrey. The same VGC start guide describes the console disc and digital logic, which helps confirm that PC is primarily an update path rather than a separate purchase. Open your PC client, locate The Witcher 3 in your library, and install any available update. After the update completes, confirm that the Remastered edition appears as owned, installed, or playable in the same library.
Steam owners should update through the Steam client and let the download finish completely. GOG owners should update through GOG and confirm the game version changes to the Remastered release. Epic Games Store owners should use the same update first approach on their existing copy. Battle.net is a special case because this is the first time the game has appeared there for PC, per IGN. New Battle.net users should claim or buy the product there and then check Diablo 4 separately for the Geralt themed cross promo skin. Exact store menu names on the launch build are [NEEDS VERIFICATION], so success means the Remastered product shows as owned and launchable, not that you clicked a particular label. - PlayStation: update the PS5 version, or use the PS4 disc path correctly. If you already own the PlayStation 5 version digitally, download or update the PlayStation 5 version from the store rather than touching the older PlayStation 4 install. PS4 disc owners must insert the disc, download the PS5 version from the store, then update that version, per the VGC start guide published September 29 2026 by Dave Aubrey. Keep the PS4 disc inserted when required because the disc acts as proof of ownership for the newer version. Do not stop after updating the old PS4 app by mistake.
Start by inserting the qualifying PS4 disc if you are a disc owner. Then obtain the PS5 version from the PlayStation Store on the same account. Then download all updates for that PS5 version and launch it at least once. Exact store menu names on the launch build are [NEEDS VERIFICATION], so success looks like a distinct PS5 version installed alongside or instead of the PS4 version. If you only see progress on the PS4 tile, you updated the wrong app and should switch to the PS5 product. - Xbox: insert the disc or download the digital copy, then update. On Xbox, the rule is to insert the disc or download the digital copy, then update, per the same VGC start guide published September 29 2026 by Dave Aubrey. Digital owners should find their owned Xbox Series X|S version and install every available update. Disc owners should insert the qualifying Xbox disc before requesting the current generation version. Stay signed in to the Microsoft account that owns the digital license or that you use for disc based play.
After the base current generation game is installed, apply the update and confirm the Remastered edition launches. If the console offers both an older Xbox One install and a newer Xbox Series X|S install, choose the newer product. Exact store menu names on the launch build are [NEEDS VERIFICATION], so success looks like the Xbox Series X|S version showing as installed, updated, and playable. If storage is tight, remove the older generation duplicate only after confirming the newer version starts correctly. - Switch 2: claim the separate eShop product, then check the Diablo 4 promo only if you used Battle.net. On Switch 2, claim the separate eShop product free, per the same VGC start guide published September 29 2026 by Dave Aubrey. This matches the product design described by Nintendo UK, where the Switch 2 Remastered release appears as a separate download and separate Home menu icon, per Nintendo UK. Open the Nintendo eShop on Switch 2, locate the Switch 2 Remastered product, and claim it free with the Nintendo Account tied to your Switch 1 ownership where applicable. Allow room for the 42.3 GB download listed by Nintendo UK.
Do not look for an in place upgrade inside the old Switch 1 game because that path does not match the separate product design. After the download finishes, confirm that a new separate icon appears on the Switch 2 Home menu. That second icon is the visible proof that the claim worked. Separately, if you also claimed or bought the PC version on Battle.net, check Diablo 4 for the Geralt themed skin cross promo described by IGN. Exact unlock steps for that Diablo 4 skin are [NEEDS VERIFICATION], and exact store menu names on the launch build are [NEEDS VERIFICATION], so success means the Switch 2 icon launches and the Battle.net promo is checked separately.
Platform Claim Table
The table below summarizes what each platform owner should do and what success looks like. Use it after reading the five steps above. It is useful because every store presents the upgrade a little differently.
| Platform | What To Do | What Success Looks Like |
|---|---|---|
| Steam PC | Update the owned game through Steam | Remastered shows as owned, updated, and launchable in the same library |
| GOG PC | Update the owned game through GOG | Remastered unlocks after the update completes |
| Epic Games Store PC | Update the owned copy on the same Epic account | Current version launches as Remastered with updates installed |
| Battle.net PC | Claim or buy the new Battle.net product on the correct account | Witcher 3 is playable on Battle.net and Diablo 4 promo can be checked separately |
| PlayStation 5 digital | Download or update the PS5 version from the store | PS5 version is installed, updated, and playable |
| PS4 disc to PS5 | Insert disc, download PS5 version from the store, then update that version | PS5 app is installed and runs with the disc used for ownership check |
| Xbox digital | Download the Xbox Series X|S version and install updates | Series X|S version is installed, updated, and playable |
| Xbox disc | Insert disc, obtain current generation version, then update | Current generation version launches with the disc inserted |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Claim the separate Switch 2 eShop product free | Separate download completes and a separate Home menu icon appears |
The most important distinction in the table is between update paths and separate product paths. Steam, GOG, Epic, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S follow an update or current generation download model. Switch 2 follows a separate product model with its own download and Home menu icon.
Battle.net is also distinct because it is new for this game on PC. Existing Steam, GOG, and Epic owners do not need Battle.net to receive their free upgrade. Battle.net matters mainly for players who want the game there or who want to pursue the Diablo 4 Geralt themed skin cross promo.
What Is Included And What Is Separate
The Remastered package includes more than the base story. It includes Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine at no extra cost, per IGN. That matters because those two expansions add a large amount of post launch story content. New players get the complete saga in one install, while returning players do not need to rebuy expansions they already own.
Future projects are separate from this free upgrade. The Songs of the Past expansion is due in 2027, per CDPR. The next major entry, Witcher 4, is targeting 2028, per CDPR. Neither future release is part of the Remastered free upgrade.
| Item | Status | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Hearts of Stone expansion | Included | Included in Remastered at no extra cost, per IGN |
| Blood and Wine expansion | Included | Included in Remastered at no extra cost, per IGN |
| Base Wild Hunt campaign | Included | Core game updated to Remastered release |
| Songs of the Past expansion | Separate | Due in 2027, per CDPR, and not part of this upgrade |
| Witcher 4 | Separate | Targeting 2028, per CDPR, and not part of this upgrade |
| Switch 2 native download | Separate product | Separate 42.3 GB download with separate Home menu icon, per Nintendo UK |
| Diablo 4 Geralt themed skin | Cross promo | Tied to buying or claiming on Battle.net, per IGN, with exact unlock steps [NEEDS VERIFICATION] |
The inclusion table helps set expectations for returning players. If you already paid for Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, the Remastered upgrade preserves that value without another charge. If you are waiting for Songs of the Past, treat it as a future purchase rather than hidden content inside this download.
The Switch 2 row deserves extra attention. A separate 42.3 GB product can look like a new purchase at first glance. Switch 1 owners should still check the free claim path on the Switch 2 eShop before paying. That check is the difference between a free entitlement and an accidental duplicate purchase.
What Can Go Wrong
The most common PlayStation error is updating the wrong app. Players update the installed PS4 version instead of downloading and updating the PS5 version. That leaves them with a patched older game and no Remastered edition. The fix is to insert the PS4 disc where applicable, obtain the PS5 version from the store, and update that PS5 version.
The most common Switch error is expecting an in place upgrade. Players open the old Switch 1 game and look for a patch that never arrives. The Switch 2 release is instead a separate download with a separate Home menu icon, per Nintendo UK. The fix is to claim the separate eShop product free rather than waiting on the old app.
Account mismatch causes failures on every platform. A Steam upgrade cannot appear on a second Steam account that never owned the game. A PlayStation upgrade cannot appear if the store account differs from the purchase account. An Xbox upgrade cannot appear if the Microsoft account is different. A Switch 2 claim can fail if the Nintendo Account does not match the expected ownership. Always return to step one and confirm the account before retrying.
Battle.net confusion is another likely failure point. Some players may assume that claiming the game on Steam also grants the Diablo 4 skin. The skin promo is tied to buying or claiming on Battle.net, per IGN. Other players may claim on Battle.net and then fail to find the skin because they checked the wrong Diablo 4 account. Exact unlock steps for that Diablo 4 skin are [NEEDS VERIFICATION], so verify account linkage before reporting the promo as broken.
Storage and timing issues can also look like entitlement failures. A 42.3 GB Switch 2 download can stall or fail on a full system, per the Nintendo UK listing size. A PC update can appear stuck when the client has not refreshed the library. A console upgrade can appear missing if checked before the September 29 unlock time. Free space, a client restart, and a second check after the regional unlock time solve many false alarms.
FAQ
Is The Witcher 3 Remastered upgrade really free?
Yes for qualifying existing owners on Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, per CD PROJEKT RED via IGN and The Verge. Switch 1 owners can claim the separate Switch 2 Remastered product free, per IGN and Nintendo UK.
Do I need to rebuy Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine?
No. Both expansions are included in Remastered at no extra cost, per IGN. You should not pay again for those two expansions inside the Remastered package.
How do PS4 disc owners get the PS5 Remastered version?
Insert the PS4 disc, download the PS5 version from the store, then update that PS5 version, per the VGC start guide published September 29 2026 by Dave Aubrey. Keep the disc available because it supports the ownership check.
How do Xbox owners claim the upgrade?
Insert the disc or download the digital current generation copy, then install the update, per the same VGC start guide by Dave Aubrey. Success means the Xbox Series X|S version is installed, updated, and playable.
Why is there no Switch 1 automatic upgrade?
Switch 2 uses a separate native product rather than an in place patch. It appears as a separate download and separate Home menu icon, per Nintendo UK. Switch 2 owners should claim the separate eShop product free.
How does the Diablo 4 Geralt skin work?
Buying or claiming the game on Battle.net unlocks a Geralt themed skin in Diablo 4, per IGN. Exact unlock steps are [NEEDS VERIFICATION], so confirm the Battle.net and Diablo 4 accounts match before assuming the promo failed.
Bottom Line
Most owners only need to update the correct current generation version on the same account. PC players should update on Steam, GOG, or Epic, while PlayStation and Xbox players should make sure they are updating the PS5 or Xbox Series X|S product. The VGC start guide published September 29 2026 by Dave Aubrey describes each of those paths in practical terms.
Switch 2 is the exception because it is a separate 42.3 GB product with its own Home menu icon, per Nintendo UK. Switch 1 owners should claim that separate eShop product free rather than waiting for the old game to transform. Battle.net is also exceptional because it is new for PC and carries the Diablo 4 Geralt themed skin cross promo, per IGN.
Included expansions make this an easy claim for returning players. Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine arrive at no extra cost, per IGN. Future content stays separate, with Songs of the Past due in 2027 and Witcher 4 targeting 2028, per CDPR.
Sources
CD PROJEKT RED announced The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt Remastered at Gamescom Opening Night Live in August 2026, with launch on September 29 2026, per CD PROJEKT RED, The Verge, and IGN. Coverage of the free upgrade for Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S comes per CD PROJEKT RED via IGN and The Verge. Platform flow details for PC updates, PS4 disc to PS5 downloads, and Xbox disc or digital updates come per the VGC start guide published September 29 2026 by Dave Aubrey.
Switch 2 product design, including the separate download and separate Home menu icon plus the 42.3 GB size, comes per the Nintendo UK listing, with free claim eligibility for Switch 1 owners per IGN and Nintendo UK. Battle.net availability and the Diablo 4 Geralt themed skin cross promo come per IGN. US launch timing of 3 AM PDT and 6 AM EDT on September 29 comes per Vice and Brent Koepp.