Witcher 3 Remaster Is a Free Upgrade, but Songs of the Past Expansion Costs

CD Projekt Red has confirmed that the upcoming remastered edition of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will be offered as a free upgrade to existing owners, with the studio saying it never even considered an alternative. Speaking to press, CDPR representatives described the decision as simply "the CDPR way," making clear the commercial focus lies elsewhere. As one developer put it, "The commercial bit of it is the expansion, obviously," pointing to the newly announced paid expansion, Songs of the Past, as the revenue driver accompanying the remaster.

Beyond the pricing news, CDPR also confirmed two quality-of-life features that longtime fans will appreciate. Save transfers will be supported, meaning players returning to the remastered version will not need to start from scratch on a decade-old RPG. Meanwhile, early previews of Songs of the Past have offered a first look at the new content, with press who attended closed-door sessions noting that while the expansion looks solid, it is the remaster's revamped combat system that is generating the most excitement among hands-off observers. The studio also revealed that the expansion itself emerged from a couple of "happy accidents" during development, suggesting its creation was not part of the original plan for the project.

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