Here's the whiplash I can't stop thinking about. On September 23, CD Projekt Red posted an 11-second clip of Geralt burning Drowners in a swamp, original on one side and remaster on the other, and a lot of replies said the new version looked worse. Six days later the remaster went live, and within hours it had passed every concurrent-player record The Witcher 3 has ever set on Steam.
I haven't played the remaster yet, so this is not a review. It's my reading of a launch, built from the studio's notes and the reporting listed at the bottom, and I'll tell you where I'm guessing.
At a Glance
- The remaster launched September 29 on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2. Steam trackers reported a peak between about 118,000 and 120,700, depending on when they checked, against a previous record of 103,329.
- It's free for people who own the game, and base-game owners also get Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. The catch: your skill points reset because the skill system was rebuilt.
- The 94 Metascore comes from nine PC reviews, above the original's 92, but it's an early number.
- My take: the record is less about graphics than about a studio making it easy, and free, to say yes.
Six days between "looks worse" and a record
The complaints about the September 23 clip were specific. Dexerto reported that players said the fire no longer lit its surroundings, the colors looked muted and the fog was gone. That last point has an explanation: the original footage included a Foglet, the remaster clip didn't, and the clip also carried a work-in-progress label, according to The Express Tribune.
My opinion, for what it's worth: I understand the reaction, and I think it's a compliment. People love how the original looks, so any change feels personal. But "looks worse" is a cheap verdict when the upgrade costs nothing and your saves come along. Eleven seconds of swamp fire asked people to judge. A free download asked them to try. Trying won.
My table: The Witcher 3's four biggest Steam moments
I put this together from the reports listed below. The last column is my read, not a fact from any of them.
| Moment | Steam peak | My read |
|---|---|---|
| May 2015, original launch | Steam peak92,268 | My readThe starting line, and proof the game would outlive its launch window. |
| January 2020, Netflix season one | Steam peak103,329 | My readBorrowed attention. A hit TV series plus a Steam sale that cut the game to $11.99. The show's later seasons didn't repeat it. |
| December 2022, next-gen update | Steam peakAbout 89,000 | My readA free technical refresh that stayed below the 2020 peak. |
| September 29, 2026, Remastered | Steam peakRoughly 120,000 | My readFree, expansions included, a rebuilt skill tree, a 94 on launch day. No TV show needed. |
The 2022 row is the one I keep staring at. That update was also free, and it didn't top the record. The difference, I think, is that the 2026 version changes how the game plays, not only how it looks.
Why I think it worked, in five ranked reasons
1. Nobody had to decide anything. CD Projekt Red says anyone who bought the game can upgrade free within their platform ecosystem. Co-CEO Michał Nowakowski told GamingBolt that charging for it "was just never a question we asked ourselves." When the price of trying something is zero, the audience isn't fans anymore. It's everyone who ever owned the game.
2. It changes how the game plays. The skill system is now a tree with three ranks per skill, and the studio reworked how regular monsters behave. There's also Reforge, which lets you change how gear looks while keeping its stats. That gives lapsed players a real reason to return, not just a nicer coat of paint.
3. The reviews landed first. Video Games Chronicle reports the 94 puts it at the top of Metacritic's 2026 list and above the original's 92. GameRant adds that recent Steam reviews sit above 90% positive. Good scores in the morning make a download easy by lunch.
4. Newcomers got an easy on-ramp. GamingBolt reports a 50% launch discount through October 1, and CD Projekt Red also brought the game to Battle.net and Switch 2. I'd check your store for the current price.
5. There's something to look forward to. Songs of the Past, a paid expansion, is due in 2027, and GamesRadar reports The Witcher 4 is targeting 2028. CD Projekt Red says the expansion wouldn't have been possible without the remaster. If you want to be caught up, now is when you return.
Notice what isn't on the list: the Netflix show. TheGamer notes that seasons three and four didn't move the game's numbers. The 2026 record came from the game itself, and I find that the most encouraging part.
What the record doesn't prove
- It isn't sales. Steam concurrent players ignore PS5, Xbox, Switch 2, GOG, Epic and Battle.net.
- Free is a different achievement. Returning owners cost the studio less to reach than strangers on a paid launch. GamingBolt notes Cyberpunk 2077 is still CD Projekt Red's biggest Steam release.
- The 94 is early. It rests on nine PC reviews, and GamesRadar points out earlier Witcher 3 scores came from many more.
- Staying power is unknown. Inven Global asks whether returning players will stay until the expansion. So do I.
Before you update: what to know
- Skill points reset. According to the studio's notes, as reported by GamesRadar, existing points reset because of the new tree. KeenGamer says earned points return to your pool to respend, so screenshot your build first.
- Saves carry over. Pixel Twelve, citing CD Projekt Red, says saves, achievements and trophies transfer.
- The free upgrade stays in your ecosystem. It doesn't promise a free move between PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo and PC.
- PC players, back up. GamerFuzion suggests copying your gamesaves folder first, and says Steam's Betas tab has a Classic option if you want the old version. Pixel Twelve notes the patch notes don't promise older mods will work.
What I'm watching next
- September 30: Metacritic's page said user reviews open today. Early user scores tell a different story than critics.
- October 1: the reported end of the 50% launch discount.
- Coming weeks: whether concurrent players hold above the 2020 peak or fall back.
- 2027: Songs of the Past, set in a new region called Letten and described as similar in scope to Blood and Wine. No price yet.
- 2028: The Witcher 4 is targeting this window. VGChartz reports the Witcher 1 remake is on hold for now.
I'm grading how CD Projekt Red rolled this out, because I haven't played it. Free, expansions included, upfront about the skill reset, and backed by strong early reviews is about as good as a re-release gets. The one ding is that clip: judging your best work on 11 seconds of swamp fire was a self-inflicted wound the launch happened to cover.
Quick answers
What is The Witcher 3 Remastered's Steam player record?
Roughly 120,000 concurrent players on September 29, 2026, with trackers reporting between about 118,000 and 120,700. The previous peak was 103,329 in January 2020.
Is The Witcher 3 Remastered a free upgrade?
Yes, for anyone who owns the game, within the same platform ecosystem. Base-game owners also get Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. New buyers pay, with a 50% launch discount reported through October 1.
What is The Witcher 3 Remastered's Metacritic score?
94 on PC from nine reviews, as of September 29 and 30, against 92 for the original. It may change as more reviews arrive.
Will I lose my save or my skill points?
Your save carries over. Skill points reset because of the new skill tree, but earned points return to your pool.
Can I go back to the old version?
On PC through Steam, GamerFuzion says the Betas tab offers a Classic option. I couldn't confirm a rollback on consoles.
When does Songs of the Past come out?
2027, as a paid expansion. CD Projekt Red hasn't given a date or a price.
