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PATCH 2026.11.15

Does The Witcher 3 Next-Gen Update Give You Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine?

By VGSources Team 9 min read

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Yes. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s next-gen package includes both major expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. If you own only the base game, CD PROJEKT RED’s current policy says you receive both expansions at no extra cost when you update the game to its latest version.

The important distinction is between the free 2022 next-gen upgrade for existing owners and the Complete Edition packaging that launched alongside it. The upgrade was free for eligible PS4, Xbox One and PC owners; the Complete Edition was the product described as containing the base game, both expansions and additional content. That policy has since been broadened, and the publisher’s 2026 Remastered announcement again confirms both expansions are included, even for players who previously owned only the base version.

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Does the Witcher 3 next-gen update include the expansions?

It does. The two story expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, are included with the current base-game package rather than requiring a second purchase. CD PROJEKT RED’s support FAQ says owners who do not already have the expansions receive them at no extra cost and should update the game to install them.

This answer applies to the current ownership policy, not just the wording used in the original 2022 announcement. In September 2026, CD PROJEKT RED also said the two expansions are included in the upgrade to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered, including for players who owned only the base game.

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The official support FAQ is the clearest source for the practical answer: update the game, and the expansion content is installed as part of the current package.

What did the 2022 next-gen announcement actually promise?

The December 2022 announcement described two related but different products. First, existing owners of the original game on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC could upgrade to the next-gen version for free. Second, the Complete Edition was presented as the all-in package containing the base game, Hearts of Stone, Blood and Wine and 16 pieces of additional content.

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That wording matters because “free next-gen update” did not originally mean that every store listing was a Complete Edition purchase. It meant an upgrade path for people who already owned the game. The Complete Edition was the edition name used for a new purchase that bundled all previously released content. CD PROJEKT RED’s launch announcement sets out that distinction.

The current support policy removes most of the practical separation for base-game owners. The publisher says the standalone expansion products have been delisted and that the Base Game has been replaced by the Complete Edition, with the expansion content merged into it. In other words, a player does not need to hunt down separate expansion licenses simply because an older store page used different edition names.

What do I receive in each ownership situation?

Ownership situation What you should receive What to do
You own only the base game Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine at no extra cost under the current policy Update the game to its latest version
You bought an expansion separately in the past The expansion remains in your library, while its content is patched into the current Base Game package Install the latest game update and use the same account
You bought the 2022 Complete Edition The base game, both expansions and the included extra content Install or update the Complete Edition normally
You are moving to the 2026 Remastered release Both expansions are included in the free upgrade, including for base-game-only owners, according to the release announcement Check the upgrade offered for your platform and account

The exact storefront label can vary by platform and by when the license was purchased. The content policy is the part that remains consistent: both major expansions are now part of the package for eligible owners.

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How do I install Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine?

For a base-game owner, the required action is an update rather than a separate expansion purchase. The support FAQ’s instruction is to update The Witcher 3 to the latest version so the expansion content is installed.

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  1. Use the account that owns the game. If you have multiple platform accounts, make sure the game is being launched from the account that originally purchased or claimed it.
  2. Check for the latest game update. Use your platform’s normal update function. The exact menu wording differs between PC launchers and consoles, so look for the game’s update or software-management command rather than a separate expansion product.
  3. Allow the complete download to finish. The expansions are now integrated into the current game package, so an update may be larger than a routine bug-fix patch.
  4. Restart the game after updating. If the title was open during the update, close and relaunch it so the revised content and license information are re-read.
  5. Check the game-management screen if content is missing. On consoles, the game’s manage-content or add-on page may show the installed expansion data separately even though the store now treats it as part of the Base Game.

If the expansions still do not appear, first confirm that the update completed and that you are using the same account that owns the game. A store page that says “Complete Edition” is not, by itself, evidence that you need to buy anything again; the publisher says the content has been merged into the current package.

Are the expansions free on PS4 and Xbox One?

Yes. CD PROJEKT RED’s FAQ specifically says that Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine are available as free downloads on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The publisher also says the original game and its two existing expansions remain available and supported on previous-generation consoles.

This is separate from the question of future technology upgrades. The support guidance says future expansions and updates built on the 2022 Next Gen Update will not be available on PS4, Xbox One or Nintendo Switch. That restriction concerns future content and next-gen features; it does not remove the two released expansions from those systems.

Does Nintendo Switch get the expansions?

The published support guidance distinguishes existing content from future next-gen development. The two released expansions remain available as part of the existing game offering, while future expansion content and updates built on the 2022 Next Gen Update are not planned for Nintendo Switch.

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Therefore, do not interpret “no future next-gen updates” as “the original expansions disappear.” It means the Switch version is not receiving the later generation of technical and content updates covered by that limitation.

What is the difference between Complete Edition and Remastered?

Complete Edition was the 2022 packaging name for the base game with both major expansions and 16 pieces of extra content. CD PROJEKT RED later announced a boxed Complete Edition for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X in January 2023.

In September 2026, the publisher announced that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered was available and that both expansions were included in the upgrade, even for people who had owned only the base game. The Remastered announcement also says it brings improvements to the game and its two expansions.

Because product names and store listings can change, check the live platform listing before buying a physical or digital copy. Confirm the platform, whether the listing is called Complete Edition or Remastered, and that the description explicitly includes Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. A January 2023 retail announcement is useful confirmation that a boxed Complete Edition existed, but it cannot guarantee that every current retailer still uses that exact name or has the same inventory.

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Will my saves and Cross Progression still work?

According to the support FAQ, save files remain compatible and Cross Progression continues to work as before. That means the expansion entitlement change is not supposed to require starting a new Geralt playthrough simply because the content is now merged into the Base Game package.

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Keep the game updated on the platform where the save was created, and use the same account when moving between supported versions. If a save is not visible, treat that as an account, synchronization or platform-version issue first rather than assuming the expansion license has invalidated it.

What if I already bought the expansions separately?

You do not lose those purchases. CD PROJEKT RED says existing expansion owners keep the expansions in their library, while the content is patched into the Base Game. The change affects how the game is packaged and installed, not whether an existing entitlement is respected.

This is also why an older purchase history may show separate expansion products even though a current store page presents one Complete Edition-style package. Both records can describe the same playable content after the integration update.

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Should I buy the Complete Edition or wait for a different listing?

If you do not own The Witcher 3, choose the current listing that clearly identifies your platform and includes both expansions. A physical Complete Edition for PS5 or Xbox Series X was announced by the publisher, but retail stock and naming can change. On supported platforms, the 2026 Remastered release may replace or supersede the older Complete Edition listing.

  • Already own the base game: update first; the current policy says both expansions are included at no extra cost.
  • Buying a new digital copy: read the current store description and confirm both expansion names before checkout.
  • Buying a physical copy: verify the disc’s platform, edition name and included content, especially where older Complete Edition stock is still listed.
  • Moving between generations: confirm that the upgrade path applies to your original platform license and account.
  • Using PS4, Xbox One or Switch: expect the released expansions to remain available, but not future updates built on the next-gen version.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Why might an expansion not appear after updating?

The most likely causes are an incomplete update, launching under a different account, or looking for a separate expansion product after the store has merged the content into the Base Game. Recheck the game’s update status, restart it, and inspect the platform’s installed-content screen.

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If you owned an expansion separately, confirm that the purchase history and the installed game are tied to the same platform account. If you are changing platforms or generations, verify the publisher’s current upgrade eligibility rather than assuming every edition transfers automatically. The support FAQ confirms save compatibility and Cross Progression, but platform storefronts can still display different labels during the transition from Complete Edition to Remastered.

Bottom line: the next-gen package includes both expansions

Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine are included. Existing base-game owners should update to the latest version instead of buying the expansions again, PS4 and Xbox One owners can download them for free under the current FAQ, and the 2026 Remastered upgrade also includes both expansions for base-game-only owners. The only major qualification is that future next-gen content is not coming to PS4, Xbox One or Nintendo Switch.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still buy Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine as separate products?

CD PROJEKT RED says the standalone expansions have been delisted and their content is now merged into the Base Game/Complete Edition package. If a retailer shows an old separate listing, check that it is legitimate and current before relying on it; the publisher’s present policy does not require a separate expansion purchase.

Why does my store still call the game Complete Edition instead of Remastered?

Storefront names can lag behind a publisher’s newer release branding, and physical stock may continue using the older name. Compare the listing’s platform and included-content description rather than relying on the title alone, because both expansion names should be stated explicitly.

Are the expansions available on the original console versions?

Yes, the released expansions remain available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and the support guidance distinguishes that existing content from future next-gen updates. Nintendo Switch likewise does not receive future content built on the next-gen update, but that limitation is not a cancellation of the already released expansions.

Do I need a new save to access the expansions after the update?

No new save is required by the ownership change. CD PROJEKT RED says existing save files remain compatible and Cross Progression continues to function, so an expansion not appearing should first be investigated as an update, account or synchronization problem.

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply. Prices as of November 15, 2026 5:37 am GMT+0530.

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