Switch 2 owners may be able to claim a digital copy of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered without buying the original game. A licence loophole involving the physical Switch release can unlock the remaster on multiple consoles.
Released on 29 September, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered has quickly become the best-reviewed new release of 2026. The updated action RPG includes improved visuals and performance, along with refinements to its skill system and combat mechanics.
The remaster is offered as a free upgrade to people who own a digital copy of The Witcher 3, regardless of edition. On most platforms, the upgraded version replaces or updates the existing game. Switch 2 handles the process differently: the remaster downloads as a separate title, adding the Switch 2 Edition to the user’s digital library.
How the Switch 2 upgrade loophole works
As reported by Kotaku, inserting a physical copy of the original Switch game into a Switch 2 can grant a digital licence for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered.
Once the licence is created, the cartridge does not need to remain in the console. The remastered game is added to the Switch 2 owner’s digital library as an additional copy, allowing the same physical cartridge to be used on other Switch 2 systems.
That means someone who does not own The Witcher 3 digitally or physically may still be able to access the remaster by borrowing an original Switch cartridge from a friend or library. The process effectively turns one physical copy into a way to activate the free upgrade on multiple consoles.
A generous upgrade with an uncertain future
The Witcher 3 has sold millions of copies worldwide during the past decade, and many dedicated players have purchased it on more than one platform. Because the remastered release is designed as a free upgrade for existing owners, CD Projekt Red and Nintendo may have little incentive to close the loophole.
There is no guarantee that the activation method will remain available. Switch owners with an original physical copy may therefore want to check whether it unlocks the remaster before the process is changed.
For more gaming and hardware coverage, browse the RETROCADE Arcade Blog, explore the arcade video collection, or compare options in the Arcade Machine Buying Guide.
Leave a Reply