The Witcher 3 Base Game Owners Now Get Both Expansions Free

Update, September 29, 2026: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered is now out. See our launch coverage for unlock times, download sizes and who upgrades for free.

Players who already own the base version of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt are getting considerably more content without buying the Complete Edition separately. CD PROJEKT RED has made Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine available to base game owners at no extra cost, while The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered arrived on September 29, 2026 as a free upgrade on qualifying current generation platforms.

There is another significant benefit for Xbox players. Remastered supports Xbox Play Anywhere, allowing eligible digital owners within Microsoft's ecosystem to access the game across Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and supported Xbox handheld devices without purchasing separate console and PC versions.

Base game owners now receive both major expansions

The biggest immediate change applies to anyone who owns only the original game.

CD PROJEKT RED's official support documentation confirms that Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine are now included with the base game. Players who do not already own the expansions receive access at no additional cost. On supported versions, updating The Witcher 3 is enough to install the added content.

The storefront structure has also changed. CD PROJEKT RED says the standalone expansions have been removed from sale and the previous base game listing has been replaced by the Complete Edition, with Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine incorporated into the package. Existing owners keep any expansion licenses they already had.

That distinction matters because saying every owner simply receives a new separate Complete Edition license could be misleading. What CD PROJEKT RED has officially confirmed is that the two expansions are being incorporated into the base game entitlement, giving existing owners the content associated with the Complete Edition without requiring another purchase.

Players who already have saves do not need to start over because CD PROJEKT RED says existing save files remain compatible. Cross Progression will also continue to function.

Xbox Play Anywhere adds PC access for eligible owners

The September 29 Remastered release brings an additional advantage to the Xbox ecosystem.

Xbox Wire confirms that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered supports Xbox Play Anywhere across Xbox Series X|S, PC, and supported Xbox handheld devices. Microsoft's Xbox Play Anywhere system allows an eligible digital game purchased through the Xbox Store or Microsoft Store to be played on supported Xbox consoles and Windows PCs at no additional charge.

For players who regularly move between a console and PC, that means the Microsoft ecosystem no longer requires separate eligible purchases of The Witcher 3 for those two devices now that Remastered is out.

Xbox Play Anywhere also supports carrying game progress between compatible devices, making it possible to continue the same adventure when moving between Xbox and PC. Xbox describes Play Anywhere titles as sharing game progress, add ons, and achievements across supported devices.

There is an important ownership distinction. Microsoft's official Play Anywhere documentation specifically describes the entitlement in relation to digital games obtained through the Xbox Store or Windows Store. NEXTARCA therefore does not recommend assuming that possession of an original physical Xbox disc alone automatically grants a Windows PC license unless Microsoft or CD PROJEKT RED provides explicit entitlement instructions for that scenario.

Xbox Wire separately confirms that disc based Xbox owners of the base game can claim Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine through the Store at no additional cost. That confirmation applies to the expansions and should not automatically be interpreted as confirmation of a Play Anywhere PC entitlement for every physical copy.

Remastered arrived September 29

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered launched on September 29, 2026.

CD PROJEKT RED says the upgrade will be available to existing owners on qualifying versions of PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. A native Nintendo Switch 2 version is also available, with existing owners of the original Nintendo Switch edition eligible to claim the Switch 2 Remastered version at no additional cost.

The official Witcher website describes Remastered as an updated version featuring changes to visuals, performance, gameplay, and other systems. The package includes Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, meaning players returning for the Remastered release will have Geralt's two major existing expansions available alongside the main campaign.

For existing owners, there is therefore no need to purchase the two older expansions separately. Base game owners can update their existing copy to obtain Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, while players within the eligible Xbox digital ecosystem also get the benefit of Xbox Play Anywhere.

The next confirmed milestone is Songs of the Past, a paid expansion due in 2027.