One of the loudest cheers at this year’s Gamescom Opening Night Live didn’t come from a brand-new blockbuster reveal — it came from a nine-year-old classic. CD Projekt Red confirmed that The Witcher III: Wild Hunt — Remastered is heading to the Nintendo Switch 2, and better still, it will be completely free for existing owners of the game on the original Switch.
“Never a Question We Asked Ourselves,” Says CDPR Boss
While paid next-gen upgrades have become a familiar (and often frustrating) pattern across the industry, CD Projekt Red never even entertained the idea. Speaking with The Game Business, CD Projekt Red CEO Michał Nowakowski explained that charging current owners for the remastered version simply never entered the studio’s collective mind.
“Never a question we asked ourselves,” Nowakowski said, framing the free upgrade as the studio making good on its commitment to the players who have supported the game — and Geralt’s saga — since the original Switch port arrived. For a company that has built much of its reputation on long-term support and player-first decisions, the move feels less like a marketing stunt and more like business as usual.
A Studio With a History of Goodwill
Anyone who has followed CD Projekt Red over the past decade won’t be surprised by the decision. The studio famously delivered a free next-gen update for The Witcher 3 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, packed dozens of pieces of free DLC into the original 2015 release, and spent years turning Cyberpunk 2077 around with substantial free updates and patches.
What the Switch 2 Remaster Means for Players
The original Switch port of The Witcher 3 was widely regarded as a minor miracle — a sprawling open-world RPG squeezed onto Nintendo’s hybrid hardware. The Remastered edition gives the game a second life on the more powerful Switch 2, with improved visuals and performance that bring the Continent closer to its fuller-fidelity counterparts. For owners, it’s a zero-cost ticket to replay one of the most acclaimed RPGs ever made.
Free Upgrades Stand Out in Today’s Market
Context matters here. In the current generation, many publishers have charged $10 upgrade fees for cross-gen versions of their games, and even platform holders have experimented with paid “enhanced editions” for new hardware. Against that backdrop, CDPR handing Switch 2 owners a full remaster at no charge is a genuinely notable gesture — one that almost certainly buys more goodwill (and long-tail sales across The Witcher franchise) than any upgrade fee ever could.
It’s also a smart play for a studio with an increasingly Nintendo-friendly footprint. With The Witcher 3 continuing to sell years after launch, and CDPR’s projects remaining in the spotlight, treating existing customers well keeps one of gaming’s most passionate communities firmly on its side.
Ready to Roam the Continent Again?
Whether you’re a returning Witcher or planning your very first hunt, there’s never been a better time to jump in. If you still need to grab the game itself or top up your Nintendo eShop wallet ahead of the Switch 2 release, TURGAME.com offers game keys and digital gift cards at competitive prices — a quick and convenient way to get set for Geralt’s remastered adventure.
Source: Nintendo Life