Geralt Returns: CD Projekt Red Announces *The Witcher 3* Remastered and a New Expansion

CD Projekt RED confirmed that a full remaster of *The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt* will launch on September 29, 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2. Owners of the original game will receive the upgraded version at no extra cost, while the Complete Edition on Steam has been repriced from $39.99 to $49.99. The remaster will incorporate visual, animation and combat refinements, and will bundle the two acclaimed expansions, *Hearts of Stone* and *Blood and Wine*.

CD Projekt RED quietly raised the price of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition amid remaster announcement IGN EntertainmentCD Projekt Red brought a modder on-board to help out with The Witcher III: Wild Hunt Remastered Witcher 3 Remastered Ships With Community Mods — Modder Worked With CD Projekt Red The GuardianCD Projekt Red showcases new The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Remastered Switch 2 gameplay and control options

Alongside the remaster, CD Projekt RED revealed a new expansion titled Songs of the Past (also referenced as *Ballads of the Past*). The story returns to Geralt of Rivia, who has retired in Toussaint, but is summoned by his old friend Dandelion to investigate sinister events in Dandelion’s homeland of Letten. New characters include Dandelion’s cousin Lilla, his grandmother, and his brother Gustav, each playing pivotal roles in the narrative. The expansion introduces fresh monsters such as the poisonous “archespores” thorn-flower, and adds a chain weapon to Geralt’s arsenal, alongside enhanced combat trees and DNA-modifying mutagens that tweak his supernatural abilities.

The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past will get new heroes and monsters - CD Projekt RED revealed expansion details

Development of the expansion is being handled primarily by Fool’s Theory, a studio founded by former CD Projekt RED veterans. Marcin Blacha, VP story director at CD Projekt RED, explained that the team “thought through” Geralt’s retirement before deciding to bring him back for this new adventure.

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The visual overhaul for the remaster draws heavily from the community-created HD Rework Project (HDRP), originally built by modder HalkHogan. —has been integrated directly into the official build, eliminating the need for a separate download. The HDRP mod previously amassed 320,000 unique downloads and over 1.6 million views, prompting CD Projekt RED to enlist the creator for the official remaster.

Witcher 3 Remastered Ships With Community Mods — Modder Worked With CD Projekt Red

• Price change: Complete Edition increased from $39.99 to $49.99 (CD Projekt RED).

CD Projekt RED quietly raised the price of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition amid remaster announcement

• Release date: September 29, 2026 (scheduled).

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• Mod download metrics: 320,000 unique downloads; 1.6 million views for HDRP (HalkHogan).

Witcher 3 Remastered Ships With Community Mods — Modder Worked With CD Projekt Red

• Expansion timeline: Songs of the Past slated for release in 2027, preceding *The Witcher 4* (2028).

IGN Entertainment

Marcin Blacha emphasized the narrative intent behind the expansion, noting that the team aimed to “return to The Witcher’s roots” by drawing on Polish folklore and presenting “difficult dilemmas” for players. He also addressed fan speculation that the expansion might serve as a prequel to *The Witcher 4*, confirming that it is a standalone story focused on Geralt rather than the series’ younger protagonist, Ciri.

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• “That is certainly something we thought through,” — Marcin Blacha, VP story director at CD Projekt Red

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• September 29, 2026: Launch of *The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered* across all major platforms, free for existing owners.

CD Projekt RED quietly raised the price of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition amid remaster announcement

• 2027: Release of the *Songs of the Past* expansion, expanding Geralt’s saga ahead of the planned *The Witcher 4* (2028).

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