Eleven years after its debut, The Witcher 3 returns with a surprise expansion
In short: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is receiving a third expansion, Songs of the Past, slated for 2027. Developed by CD Projekt Red and Fool's Theory, this new chapter pulls Geralt out of retirement for a fresh adventure in the northern region of Letten, focusing on his enduring bond with Dandelion.
The expansion, announced in May 2026, arrives over a decade after the game's previous add-on, Blood and Wine. While the base game concluded with Geralt settling into a quiet life on his Toussaint vineyard, the narrative team decided that a plea from his closest companion, Dandelion, would be the only catalyst strong enough to draw him back into action. The story, which originated from scrapped concepts written years ago by Ola Motyka and Philip Weber, serves as an intimate character study rather than a direct adaptation of Andrzej Sapkowski's novels.
Set in the rural, folklore-rich region of Letten in northern Redania, the expansion introduces players to Dandelion's ancestral home and family, including his cousin Lilla. Gameplay remains largely consistent with the original title, which developers believe has aged remarkably well. However, Geralt gains a new tactical tool: a silver chain wrapped around his arm, capable of managing large groups of enemies. This weapon, which previously appeared in the 2007 Witcher game's cinematic intro, functions similarly to existing signs or bombs.
Production of the expansion is handled by Fool's Theory, a studio founded in 2015 by former CD Projekt Red designer Jakub Rokosz. The project, estimated to cost 52 million zł, is intended to build momentum for the upcoming The Witcher IV. To support the expansion's technical demands, CD Projekt Red is shifting to exclusive DirectX 12 support, effectively ending compatibility for the older DirectX 11 version. The expansion will launch on modern hardware, including the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows, and the Nintendo Switch 2, following a slight delay from its original 2026 target to ensure polish.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past
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