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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Steam’s May 18, 2015 date is the original release date of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, not the launch date of its Remastered edition. CD PROJEKT RED says the remaster became available on September 29, 2026, as a free upgrade for qualifying owners. The game’s Verified badge and a black-screen report from 2018 also need their dates and context: neither establishes how the remastered build performs on every Steam Deck or Linux setup today.
Why does Steam show a 2015 release date?
The Steam listing’s May 18, 2015 date refers to the original game’s release on Steam. SteamDB records the corresponding release timestamp as May 18, 2015, at 22:00 UTC. It is not the release date of the Remastered edition. Steam’s store listing and SteamDB’s app record preserve the original listing context.
CD PROJEKT RED announced that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered was available on September 29, 2026. The publisher described it as a free upgrade for current owners on GOG, Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. It also described a free upgrade path for owners of the original Nintendo Switch version moving to Nintendo Switch 2. The publisher’s launch announcement is the source for the date and eligibility details.
What does the Remastered edition include?
According to CD PROJEKT RED, the remaster includes Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, including for owners who previously had only the base game. The publisher also lists visual and performance enhancements, path tracing on PC, an overhauled skill system, improved combat and animations, a refreshed UI, and cross-platform Mod.io support. These are the publisher’s descriptions of the release; they should not be read as independent performance measurements.
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![The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Standard - Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41kEYL0NfuL._SL160_.jpg)
- A WHOLE WORLD TO EXPLORE. AT HOME AND ON THE GO.
- Developed to take advantage of everything Nintendo Switch has to offer, the game delivers a truly powerful on-the-go experience.
- A gigantic and limitless open world to explore Sail through open seas, dive in search of long lost artifacts or gallop your mount into combat-the world of the Witcher beckons to be explored. Visit the luxurious and corrupt city of Novigrad, face the frigid cold of the wind-swept Skellige islands, and challenge the dark forces roaming the forlorn, war-ravaged No Man's Land. While on the road, use your special witcher senses to hunt down ferocious monsters and earn gold. Do anything you want, anytime you want!
- Unparalleled novel-like story, spanning over 100 hours of gameplay With over 100 hours of core and side-quest gameplay, The Witcher combines the intense, plot-driven pull of traditional RPGs with the freedom of choice only open world games can offer. Develop Geralt's skills to create your unique gameplay experience, make choices and face their consequences that will stay with you throughout the entire game.
- Tactical, responsive, multi-layered combat Brutal, tactical and highly responsive, the combat system of The Witcher elevates skirmish mechanics to an entirely different level. Fight foes intimately, one on one, or seamlessly switch from one enemy to another as you devise your own strategies to beat the countless opponents in the game. Use the crossbow to bring down monsters just out of reach, and employ real world physics as your weapon-smash foes into walls and use the environment to your advantage.
Does the Verified badge apply to the remastered build?
CD PROJEKT RED announced that The Witcher 3 was Steam Deck Verified on March 11, 2022, writing, “We’re pleased to confirm that our game has been Verified for Steam Deck Compatibility.” The announcement establishes when the publisher reported the status.
SteamDB currently lists the game’s compatibility category as Verified, but records a test timestamp of March 27, 2026—before the remaster’s September 29 launch. That record therefore does not establish that the remastered build received a post-launch Steam Deck test. SteamDB also notes that using an external Bluetooth or USB controller requires manually switching controller configuration. Its listing is a third-party database record, not a guarantee of performance on every Deck model or game version. See SteamDB’s compatibility details.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What does the 2018 Proton black-screen report tell us?
Very little about the current remaster. On November 18, 2018, a user opened a report in Valve’s Proton issue tracker titled “Witcher 3 (292030) – black screen :/”. The reporter described a black screen with no sound while using Proton 3.16 on a GTX 850M. It documents one person’s experience with that configuration and version, not a general Linux compatibility finding. Read the historical Proton report.
A separate September 2018 Steam Community discussion described a launch failure after Windows file-system repair on a game installed to an NTFS drive. That player said deleting the Proton prefix and allowing Steam to recreate it restored launch. This is an individual account of an old problem and workaround, not a broadly established fix for current installations. Read the Steam discussion.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
Rank #4
![The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Complete Edition Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41GuNyQ2DiL._SL160_.jpg)
- CD PROJEKT , The Witcher are registered trademarks of CD PROJEKT S.A. The Witcher game CD PROJEKT S.A. Developed by CD PROJEKT S.A. All rights reserved. The Witcher game is based on the prose of Andrzej Sapkowski. All other copyrights and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Rank #3
- Built for endless adventure, the massive open world of The Witcher sets new standards in terms of size, depth and complexity
What can you conclude before playing on Steam Deck or Linux?
- The 2015 Steam date identifies the original game’s storefront release; the remaster’s announced availability date is September 29, 2026.
- The Verified announcement is from 2022, and the SteamDB-listed compatibility test predates the remaster. The available records do not establish a post-launch retest of the remastered edition.
- The Proton black-screen report and prefix workaround are configuration-specific reports from 2018. They do not establish a current, widespread Proton defect or guarantee that the reported workaround applies to a present-day issue.
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.
