More than sixty million copies, over 250 Game of the Year awards and, eleven years on, still the reference point for open-world storytelling. In 2026 CD PROJEKT RED made both expansions free for owners and announced a free Remastered upgrade, which makes The Witcher 3 the easiest recommendation on the site.
Quests written like short stories
Geralt's search for Ciri runs across a war-torn continent drawn from Slavic folklore, and the main plot is almost the least of it. Side quests are written as self-contained stories, choices change the state of the world, and three different endings follow from how you have treated the people around you.
The two expansions are among the best add-ons ever made: Hearts of Stone, a tight, dark ten-hour tale, and Blood and Wine, a whole sunlit new region, Toussaint.
The 2026 upgrades
CD PROJEKT RED says the Remastered upgrade, free on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S from 29 September 2026, brings new visuals, reworked combat and traversal, a revamped skill tree and transmog. A native Switch 2 version launches the same day. A third, paid expansion, Songs of the Past, is due in 2027.
Where it stumbles
Combat has always been the weak link: an unreliable lock-on, long animations and awkward crossbow handling. Some open-world activities feel like filler and the interface is clumsy. PC requirements rise with the Remastered update, so check the new specification before buying for an older machine.
Who should buy it
Anyone who has not played it. At current sale prices, a game of more than fifty hours with two acclaimed expansions costs less than a cinema trip for two.
Plays well
- Some of the best writing in any game
- Two superb expansions, now free
- A world you can lose a hundred hours in
- DRM-free on GOG; no in-game store
Watch for
- Dated combat
- Some filler activities
- Clumsy menus
- PC requirements rise with the Remastered update
Screenshots and key art: CD PROJEKT RED, from the official Steam store page, cropped to remove on-image logos. Shown for review.
The checkout: buying The Witcher 3 in the UK
The Complete Edition includes the base game, both expansions and every free add-on. When we checked, it was on sale in three stores: £17.49 on the PlayStation Store (PS5) and £19.99 on GOG until 7 October 2026, and £19.99 on the Xbox Store until 8 October 2026. Steam had it at its full £39.99. On Switch the Complete Edition is £45.99, and the Switch 2 Remastered version is on pre-order at £45.99.
GOG is CD PROJEKT's own store, and its copy is DRM-free: no activation, no connection needed, GOG Galaxy optional. If you own the base game anywhere, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine have been free since 25 August 2026.
| Store | Platform | Edition | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GOG | PC | Complete Edition (DRM-free) | £19.99 | 50% off until 7 Oct 2026 |
| Steam | PC | Complete Edition | £39.99 | |
| PlayStation Store | PS5 | Complete Edition (PS5) | £17.49 | 50% off until 7 Oct 2026 |
| Xbox and Microsoft Store | Xbox Series X|S | Complete Edition | £19.99 | 50% off until 8 Oct 2026 |
| Nintendo eShop | Switch 2 | Remastered (Switch 2, out 29 Sep 2026) | £45.99 | Pre-order |
| Nintendo eShop | Switch | Complete Edition (Switch) | £45.99 |
Extras and what they add
| Extra | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine | Both story expansions, free for every owner since 25 Aug 2026. | Free |
| Songs of the Past | A third story expansion due in 2027; price not announced. | TBA |
| Soundtrack (Steam) | Base game score; expansion scores £6.19 each. | £8.29 |
In-game spending
None. There is no in-game store or currency, and nothing is sold inside the game. PEGI shows no in-game purchases notice.
Subscriptions
Not in Game Pass or the PS Plus catalogues. It is worth watching the sales instead: it is discounted often and deeply.
Paying at each store
| Method | Steam | PS Store | Xbox Store | Nintendo eShop | GOG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debit card | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit card | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| American Express | No | Yes | Some | No | Some |
| PayPal | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Pay | No | Yes | No | No | Some |
| Google Pay | No | No | No | No | Some |
| paysafecard | Yes | Yes | Some | No | Some |
| Klarna / pay later | Yes | No | Some | No | Some |
| Phone bill | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Bank transfer | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Store gift card | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
If you change your mind
| Store | Game refund rule | Money goes back to |
|---|---|---|
| Steam | 14 days, under 2 hours played | Card or PayPal, or Steam Wallet (your choice) |
| PlayStation Store | 14 days, if not downloaded | Original method where possible, else wallet |
| Xbox and Microsoft Store | Usually 14 days, little play | Original method; balance-paid back to balance |
| Nintendo eShop | No refunds once bought | Faulty or statutory cases: same method |
| GOG | 30 days, even if played | GOG Wallet or original method (your choice) |
GOG's refund policy is the most generous of the eight stores, which makes its DRM-free copy the safest purchase if you are unsure.
Questions about The Witcher 3
Are The Witcher 3 expansions free now?
Yes. CD PROJEKT RED made Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine free for every owner on 25 August 2026.
Do I need to buy the Remastered version?
No. Remastered is a free upgrade for owners on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S from 29 September 2026. The Switch 2 version is a separate purchase.
Where is it cheapest?
On 25 September 2026: the PlayStation Store at £17.49 until 7 October, then GOG and the Xbox Store at £19.99.
Is the GOG version really DRM-free?
Yes. It needs no activation or online connection, and the GOG Galaxy launcher is optional.
Sources
Every price, date and policy above was checked against these pages on 25 September 2026.