More than ten years after the release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Geralt of Rivia is preparing for another major adventure. CD Projekt RED is gradually unveiling the third full-fledged expansion pack, titled Songs of the Past, which will take players to a completely new area, bringing dozens of quests, new enemies, and significant changes to the combat system. In addition, the add-on is being developed alongside a comprehensive remaster of the entire game and is intended to be the final major chapter in Geralt's story before The Witcher 4.
Songs of the Past is set to be a truly large expansion pack
Songs of the Past is not meant to be a small addition or a few-hour DLC. CD Projekt RED describes the project as the third full-fledged expansion for The Witcher 3, following on from the successful add-ons Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine.
Michał Nowakowski, CEO of CD Projekt, hinted that the scope of the new adventure will be closer to the extensive Blood and Wine than the smaller Hearts of Stone. The studio has not yet revealed the exact game length, but available information suggests that the game will offer dozens of new quests, new points of interest, and many hours of additional content.
This in itself suggests that CD Projekt is not planning a nostalgic return to an old game, but another truly extensive adventure.
Geralt is heading to the new region of Letten
The main setting of the expansion will be a previously unknown land called Letten, which is said to be linked to Marigold's past. The well-known bard is set to play a much more important role this time than in the original The Witcher 3.
At first glance, Letten may seem almost idyllic. The fertile landscape, traditional villages, festivals, and local folklore are said to conceal much darker secrets.
An ancient curse and an ancient evil are said to be hidden in the heart of the land, which Geralt will gradually uncover.
The choice of Letten may also be an interesting reference to Andrzej Sapkowski's book world. Marigold is a nobleman, and his title is associated with Lettenhove. CD Projekt is likely using a relatively minor element known from the books and developing it into a whole new region.
Marigold will have a significantly larger role
Geralt is traveling to Letten specifically because of a personal matter involving his long-time friend. The official description suggests that not only the fate of the new region, but also one of Geralt's closest friendships will be at stake.
This could mean a much greater emphasis on the relationship between Geralt and Marigold.
In The Witcher 3, the bard was an important supporting character, but the main emotional storylines of the game focused primarily on Ciri, Yennefer, and Triss. Songs of the Past could therefore address one of the less-utilized aspects of the original game and show Geralt's friendship with Marigold in a much more personal way.
Decisions will once again change the fate of the entire region
CD Projekt wants to preserve one of the most characteristic elements of the entire Witcher series: decisions where it is not clear from the outset which option is the right one.
Geralt will make choices during his investigation into the origin of the curse that can affect not only individual characters, but also the future of the entire Letten region.
The studio is likely to once again use a model known from stories such as The Bloody Baron or the Blood and Wine expansion, where seemingly small choices often have surprising and long-lasting consequences.
New monsters, mutagens, and an unusual weapon
The new area will, of course, also bring previously unseen opponents. CD Projekt has already confirmed new types of monsters, but more details about them will be revealed later.
Geralt will also receive new mutagens, which should further expand the possibilities for character development.
One of the most interesting features will be a chain that can be used directly in combat. Geralt can use it to pull enemies closer or control larger groups of opponents.
For fans of the series, this is also a significant return to the past. Geralt used a chain in the legendary introductory cinematic of the first Witcher game in 2007 during a fight with a striga. "Songs of the Past" seems to deliberately reference the very beginnings of the series, both by its name and some gameplay elements.
Along with the DLC comes a major remaster of The Witcher 3
“Songs of the Past” is being created alongside a new version of “The Witcher 3” itself.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered is scheduled to be released on September 29, 2026, and current owners of the game will receive a free upgrade.
The remaster will not only bring improved graphics. The developers are also planning changes to combat, Geralt's movement, the functionality of signs, the skill tree, and monster behavior. The control scheme for Aard should be improved, and new finishing animations or the ability to change the appearance of equipment independently of its statistics may be added.
“Songs of the Past” is being created using these changes.
The result will not only be new content set in the technically original game from 2015, but also an adventure built on a significantly modernized version of “The Witcher 3.”
Fool's Theory is working on the development
CD Projekt RED is collaborating with the studio Fool's Theory on the project, which is well-known among "Witcher" fans.
People who worked on the original games of the series are also working at the studio, and Fool's Theory is also preparing a remake of the first "Witcher."
According to previous information, approximately 190 developers were involved in “Songs of the Past,” with a large part of the team coming from Fool's Theory. CD Projekt RED has creative oversight of the project.
The data disk was originally considered for release in 2026, but the publisher ultimately decided to postpone it to 2027 so that the developers would have more time to complete the game.
PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series and Switch 2
“Songs of the Past” is being prepared for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Owners of older PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles will not receive the new expansion.
On PC, the technical requirements will also be increased. The new version of “The Witcher 3” already requires Windows 11, DirectX 12, and an SSD, while support for older technological standards will gradually end.
Geralt's last adventure before "The Witcher" 4
“Songs of the Past” has one more important task: to remind players of the world of “The Witcher” before the arrival of the new saga.
The data disk is not intended to be a direct prologue to "The Witcher" 4, but CD Projekt calls it a kind of thematic bridge between Geralt's era and the new chapter in the series, in which Ciri will take on the main role.
“The Witcher” 4 is currently planned for release in 2028.
If the current schedule remains unchanged, fans can look forward to three significant "Witcher" years: first, a remaster of “The Witcher” 3 in 2026, followed by “Songs of the Past” in 2027, and then “The Witcher” 4.
Mysteries surrounding the story remain
CD Projekt is still keeping many of the most interesting details to itself.
It is not yet clear how the data disk will interact with the different endings of the original Witcher 3, whether characters like Ciri, Yennefer, or Triss will appear, or if Regis, Zoltan, or Priscilla will return.
However, the studio has hinted that Geralt will also encounter familiar characters from his past during this new journey.
Furthermore, a theory has emerged among fans that the festival visible in the early materials from Letten may be Belleteyn, an important holiday in the Witcher world associated with Geralt and Yennefer, among other things. However, CD Projekt has not yet confirmed this interpretation.
One thing is becoming increasingly clear based on recent information: Songs of the Past does not appear to be just a nostalgic add-on to the old game. If the developers fulfill their ambitions, it could be a full-fledged third major adventure in The Witcher 3 and a true farewell to Geralt before Ciri definitively takes over the main role.
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