The Witcher 3 Remastered save transfer needs no work: the remaster is an update to the game you already own, so your old saves load and you carry on where you stopped. CD Projekt Red confirmed that achievements and trophies carry over too. The one catch is that every save's skill points are reset by the new skill tree, so Geralt's build has to be put back together.
What carries over in the Witcher 3 Remastered save transfer
- Saves: existing saves from the base game and both expansions load in the remaster.
- Quest progress, items and level: unchanged. The reset only touches skill allocation and settings.
- Achievements and trophies: kept. The remaster is not a separate game, so there is no new list to start over.
That applies on every platform that gets the Witcher 3 Remastered free upgrade: you keep playing the same game, now updated.
What resets: skill points and settings
- Skill points. The skill system was rebuilt into a tree with three ranks per skill, so every point you had spent goes back into your pool. You can spend them again as soon as the save loads. The Witcher 3 Remastered skill tree guide explains the new rules.
- Settings. Check graphics, controls and interface options after the update. Several menus moved: the HUD section is now called Interface, and accessibility options have their own menu. The PC settings guide lists what moved.
What to do when you load an old save
- Open the skill screen first and spend your returned points before you head into a fight.
- Reread every skill you pick. Some were renamed and rebalanced, so the numbers you remember may have changed.
- Turn on loot grouping in Settings, Gameplay if you want nearby loot in one window.
- Visit Yoana or Hattori if you want to change the look of your gear with Reforge transmog.
Back up your Witcher 3 saves on PC
On PC the saves live in Documents, The Witcher 3, gamesaves. Copying that folder before the first launch takes a minute and protects a long playthrough if anything goes wrong, and it is worth doing again before you try mods that change gameplay.
A stuck Wine is Sacred save stays stuck
The remaster fixes a bug where fast traveling out of Toussaint during the wine cellar objective of Wine is Sacred blocked the quest. CD Projekt Red notes that the fix is not retroactive: a save that is already stuck does not get repaired. The rest of the fixes are in the Witcher 3 Remastered patch notes.
Witcher 3 Remastered save transfer FAQ
Do old saves work in Witcher 3 Remastered?
Yes. Load them as usual. Only your skill points and settings reset.
Will I have to earn achievements and trophies again?
No. Achievements and trophies you unlocked stay unlocked, because the remaster updates the existing game.
Do I lose my skill points?
No. They return to your pool, ready to spend again on the new tree.