Nintendo Switch 2 users have discovered a way to obtain a digital copy of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered by using a physical cartridge of the original Switch version. Once the digital version is downloaded, the physical cartridge is no longer required. This method allows the same cartridge to be used multiple times across different Switch 2 accounts, as demonstrated by a Reddit user named Erik_REF, who shared the process on September 29. He and his brother each used the same cartridge on their respective Switch 2 consoles to unlock the remastered version on their own Nintendo accounts. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered was released on September 29, 2026, on PC, PS5, Xbox Series, and Nintendo Switch 2. It is available for free to all owners of the original game. On Switch 2, players have found that it is the physical cartridge, not the owner's account, that grants access to the Remastered version. The trick allowing free access comes from Erik_REF and has been shared by other users online. Once the Remastered version is requested, it is linked to the Nintendo account, and the Switch 1 cartridge is no longer needed to play. The process involves inserting a Switch cartridge of the original game, updating the Switch 2 to the latest firmware, and launching the game from the home screen. Selecting the option to retrieve the Remaster in the main menu redirects to the Nintendo eShop, where users can "buy" the Remaster for 0 € via the free download button. The license is then linked to the account, and the game can be played once the download is complete. The cartridge can be removed and returned if borrowed, as the Remastered version launches without it. Physical copies of The Witcher 3 are increasing in value due to this feature, as they can be borrowed or rented to access the remastered version without needing to keep the cartridge. This practice is also applicable to other games, such as Hogwarts Legacy. The Witcher 3 Remastered is not available on the original Nintendo Switch, but the base game provides access to the remastered version on Switch 2. CD Projekt Red had promised free upgrades for owners of the physical version, and this method appears to allow multiple uses of the same cartridge. The remastered version includes numerous improvements such as enhanced combat, movement mechanics, redesigned mount handling, improved enemy behavior, a revised skill tree, armor transmogrification, an enhanced photo mode, new finishers, and more. Additional features include compatibility with multiplatform mods, a new quest tracking system, immersive meditation, refined animations, user interface improvements, a redesigned loot system, improved motion blur, new accessibility options, a modernized tutorial, HDR improvements, reworked foliage shadows, ray tracing improvements, a reworked global lighting system, a new model and tone mapping system. These updates are intended to prepare for the release of Songs of the Past, the third expansion of The Witcher 3, which will be a paid release. The exact release date for Songs of the Past is still unknown, but it is expected in 2027. The remastered version offers improved visual quality on Switch 2 through more modern and realistic lighting and reflections, though it does not include a 60 FPS mode. Unlike Microsoft's Disc to Digital initiative, CD Projekt Red does not require players to keep their physical cartridge on Switch 2 after unlocking the digital version. This has led to speculation about whether this is an oversight or a strategic move to attract more Nintendo players to the franchise ahead of The Witcher 4. Some users have noted that this feature could lead to increased resales of physical copies, as players may choose to sell their cartridges once the remastered version is unlocked.