You Can Claim A Free Digital Upgrade of The Witcher 3 Remastered on Switch 2 Using Physical Cartridges

The Witcher 3 Remastered has officially launched across all major platforms, including the Nintendo Switch 2. While owners of the original digital release receive the update automatically, an unexpected discovery suggests that physical media owners have an even easier path to securing the new version—and they don’t even need to keep their original cartridge to play it.

Following the game’s release on September 29, players have reported a straightforward method to secure the digital remaster. By inserting an original Nintendo Switch cartridge of The Witcher 3 into a Switch 2 console, users can trigger the upgrade process from within the game menu. Once the digital copy of the remastered edition is claimed, the original cartridge is no longer required to play the updated title.

The ‘Borrowing’ Method

Social media reports, including insights surfaced by Wario64 and discussions on Reddit, confirm that the verification process is one-time only. Users like Erik_REF have demonstrated that after inserting the physical cartridge to claim the digital remaster, the physical copy can be handed off to another player—or returned to a library—without revoking the original user’s access to the new digital version. This effectively means you can borrow a friend’s physical copy, perform the upgrade, and retain full access to the remastered RPG on your own console.

Why it matters

For players, this is an incredibly consumer-friendly way to transition to the upgraded version of The Witcher 3 without needing to purchase the game a second time. It offers a low-friction entry point for fans who already own the game on older hardware, or those who can temporarily access a physical copy. Since the digital entitlement becomes tied to your account upon claiming, it simplifies your library management on the Switch 2, removing the need to swap physical carts for this specific title.

It is unlikely this mechanic will be patched, given that it appears to be a systemic verification feature rather than a simple oversight. If you have an old copy of The Witcher 3 collecting dust, or a friend who owns it, you can now secure the definitive edition of the game without additional costs.