PSA: The Witcher 3 Remastered File Size And Release Time Confirmed, Separate Purchase Required

Developed over time first seen 2 months ago

Nintendo Life · 2 months ago

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered launches on Switch 2 today (29 September 2026) as a free upgrade for existing owners of the original Switch version. Unlike PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, which automatically upgrade the original game, Nintendo Switch 2 requires players to download the Remastered version as a completely separate product from the eShop. CD Projekt Red is offering this upgrade free because it aligns with standard practice for Switch releases, though players will need to manually locate and download it rather than receiving an automatic update.

The game's download size is approximately 48.5GB, with pre-installations having already begun for those who wish to have it ready upon launch. Physical copy owners can claim their free upgrade when the game launches on the 29th, whilst those purchasing digitally for the first time will pay £45.99 (or $59.99 USD). The company has released specific launch times for different regions, allowing players to know exactly when they can begin playing. Those who own the original digital version on Switch simply need to visit the eShop and download the Remastered version at no cost.

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In short

Witcher 3 Remastered launches today on Switch 2; free for existing owners, requires separate download
Game is 48.5GB; new buyers pay £45.99
Physical owners can claim free upgrade; pre-installations already available

How this story developed

2 months ago The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered launches on Nintendo Switch 2 on 29th September 2026. Existing Switch owners receive the remastered version entirely free, though they must download it as a separate product from the eShop rather than receiving an automatic update like PlayStation and Xbox players.
2 months ago The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered launches on Switch 2 today (29 September 2026) as a free upgrade for existing owners of the original Switch version.
2 months ago The Witcher III: Wild Hunt – Remastered launches on Switch 2 on 29th September 2026. Existing Switch owners receive it free, but unlike PlayStation and Xbox versions which auto-upgrade, Switch 2 owners must download it as a separate product from the eShop.
2 months ago CD Projekt Red has confirmed the Switch 2 release time for The Witcher III: Wild Hunt – Remastered, which launches on 29 September 2026.
2 months ago The Witcher III: Wild Hunt – Remastered launches on Nintendo Switch 2 on 29 September 2026, and whilst owners of the original Switch release will receive it free, they must download it as a separate product through the eShop rather than receiving an automatic update.
2 months ago The Witcher III: Wild Hunt – Remastered launches on Switch 2 on 29 September 2026. Owners of the original Switch game can get it free, but must find and download the Remastered edition separately through the Switch 2 eShop; the original game will not update automatically.

28 Sep, 11:01GameSpot The Witcher 3 Remastered – Side by Side Graphics Comparison
28 Sep, 11:01GameSpot Here’s What’s New In The Witcher 3 Remastered
28 Sep, 11:01Nintendo Life Video: The Witcher 3 Remastered Side-By-Side Comparison, Switch Vs. Switch 2
28 Sep, 11:18PC Gamer Here's The Witcher 3 Remastered release time for your region
28 Sep, 13:19IGN CD Projekt Releases Official List of All the Improvements in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered
28 Sep, 14:01PC Gamer Here is your world-first comparison between original and remastered Tub Geralt in The Witcher 3
28 Sep, 16:20Eurogamer The Witcher 3 Remastered is an extraordinarily generous upgrade that doesn't change the game, but does make it new again
28 Sep, 16:20PC Gamer Here's a gallery of the times The Witcher 3's remastered lighting had me like, 'Damn'
28 Sep, 16:21Rock Paper Shotgun CD Projekt release full updated Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered system specs, including ray-tracing and path-tracing requirements
28 Sep, 16:22Push Square Review in Progress: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered (PS5) – How to Improve a Masterpiece
28 Sep, 16:23IGN The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered Update Patch Notes Include PC-Specific and Console-Specific Changes
28 Sep, 18:16Polygon Here’s Every Change in the Witcher 3 Remastered
28 Sep, 20:00PC Gamer CD Projekt lays out why you should play The Witcher 3 Remastered
28 Sep, 21:41Nintendo Life PSA: The Witcher 3 Remastered File Size And Release Time Confirmed, Separate Purchase Required

Full account

CD Projekt Red has announced that The Witcher III: Wild Hunt – Remastered will launch on Nintendo's Switch 2 console on 29th September 2026. The remastered edition encompasses the complete game alongside all previously released downloadable content, presented with graphical enhancements tailored to the new platform's hardware capabilities.

Owners of the original Switch version will receive the remastered upgrade at no cost, though this complimentary update operates differently from other platforms. Whilst PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S provide automatic upgrades to existing installations, Switch 2 requires users to manually download the Remastered edition as a separate product through the digital store. Those holding physical copies may likewise claim their free upgrade upon launch. For those without prior ownership, the game costs £45.99. The installation footprint has been specified at approximately 48.5 to 50 gigabytes, with minor discrepancies between official estimates and actual measured sizes.

The Switch 2 rendition incorporates considerable visual improvements in comparison to its Switch 1 predecessor. Enhancements include refined lighting systems and expanded environmental detailing, bringing the portable experience substantially closer to the visual presentation achieved on contemporary home consoles and personal computers.

The game launches on 29th September at 11:00 BST (12:00 CEST, 06:00 EDT, and 03:00 PDT). Pre-installation became available prior to the official release date, allowing players to prepare the full download in advance of launch day.

Where outlets differ

From the full account, which is AI-written from the sources:

Source 1 emphasises transactional and technical particulars—file size specifications, the separate download requirement, and pricing—whilst Source 2 prioritises visual quality enhancements and side-by-side technical comparisons with the Switch 1 version

Source 2 provides explicit launch times across multiple time zones; Source 1 references timing information via image without transcribing specific hours

Source 1 addresses the upgrade process for physical disc owners; Source 2 does not address this user category

Regarding file size, Source 1 presents both an official 50GB specification and a measured 48.5GB actual size, introducing internal variation

Source 2 contextualises the remaster within the original game's popularity and frames the Switch 2 port as a surprise announcement; Source 1 adopts a more straightforward technical register

Steelman: both sides, in good faith

The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.

The case for

The separate download approach is consistent with established Nintendo Switch practice and platform architecture. CD Projekt Red is offering the upgrade entirely free to existing owners, which is generous; the manual download process respects user autonomy over storage management and timing, allowing players to choose when and whether to download rather than having automatic installations imposed on them.

The case against

Players on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S receive seamless automatic upgrades, establishing the modern standard for free major game updates. The separate download requirement creates unnecessary inconvenience and storage complications for Switch 2 owners that their competitors don't face, representing a poorer user experience that disadvantages Nintendo players despite the console's comparable capabilities.

Explained simply

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a popular fantasy role-playing game released by Polish studio CD Projekt Red, where players control a witcher named Geralt and navigate a large world filled with monsters and people to interact with. The game has been released on multiple platforms over the years, and the developer is now releasing a remastered version with updated graphics and performance improvements. This remaster is coming to Nintendo's new Switch 2 console, alongside updated versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

The key difference between platforms lies in how existing players receive the upgrade. Those who own The Witcher 3 on the original Nintendo Switch will receive the remastered version free, but unlike on PlayStation and Xbox where upgrades happen automatically, Switch owners must manually download it as a separate product from the digital store. The remastered game is substantially larger than the original, with a download size of approximately 50 gigabytes, which reflects the improved graphics and requires considerable storage space.

For those who do not already own The Witcher 3, the remastered version costs £45.99 in the UK or $59.99 in the United States. Players who own the original game on physical Switch cartridges can also claim the free upgrade once the remaster launches. The requirement for manual downloading has created interest among players in purchasing used copies of the original version at reduced prices, as a way to gain access to the free upgrade more cheaply than buying the remaster outright.

Coverage · 14 sources

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