The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of those rare video games that has proudly stood the test of time. Part of that is thanks to how polished, ambitious, and groundbreaking CD Projekt Red's title was during its original release—even winning Game of the Year in 2015. However, a key aspect to consider when talking about the game's longevity is the many updates released throughout the last decade.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was home to one of the most acclaimed DLCs ever created: Blood and Wine, which took the world by storm in 2016. Additionally, CDPR launched a free next-gen update in 2022 that featured multiple visual and performance enhancements, including ray tracing and faster loading times. Fortunately, the tale didn't end there, as a Remaster of the 2015 adventure will come at no cost to everyone who already owns the game on September 29, 2026. But just in case that wasn't enough, CDPR still has one more surprise up its sleeve.
The final expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, titled Songs of the Past, is set to come next year, and it is already shaping up to be on par with Blood and Wine. The upcoming DLC will feature a completely new region filled with original quests, characters, villains, and even weapons. It was always clear Geralt wouldn't go quietly into the night, and now we have a look at all the horrors that lie in front of him thanks to a new gameplay video.
CD Projekt Red unveiled a new gameplay video for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past completely took over Gamescom 2026. However, since not everyone was able to fly to Cologne, Germany, to get a look at the highly anticipated expansion, CDPR released a gameplay video that does a fantastic job of giving us an idea of what to expect while barely scratching the surface of the surprises that await.
For starters, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past will take place in Letten, a region that is "comparable in scope" to Toussaint, the main setting of Blood and Wine. For reference, it can take up to 40 hours to complete The Witcher 3's previous DLC, so there's a chance that a similar play time could be in store yet again. What made Toussaint all the more fascinating wasn't its mere map size, but the number of quests it housed. Hopefully, Letten was created with the same goal in mind.
Very little is known about the story of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past. However, we learned that it is set during Belleteyn, a mystical festival that celebrates fertility and during which people pray for a good harvest. Furthermore, Letten is where one of Geralt's greatest friends, the bard Dandelion, was born. Speaking of the devil, Dandelion is the whole reason we're here. Someone in his house just passed, although it isn't revealed who or why. We'll accompany him during these turbulent times, as any good friend would. Unfortunately, it seems Dandelion ventured into the one place he wasn't supposed to: the dark and relentless Garden of Thorns.
This new location looks as if it were taken straight from a Tim Burton movie, filled with trees that have grown twisted branches and abnormally large roots. Destroyed houses are seen between the fog and leaves, while a huge full moon towers over the distant mountains. What makes this place all the more interesting is that you can actually hear voices in the background, likely those of the witch Naghag, who is a prominent part of the DLC.
Lilla, one of Geralt's new companions and Dandelion's cousin, actually narrates the legend of the witch during the gameplay deep dive:
"It tells of Humbert's mad, doomed love for a witch, the Naghag. Letten's villagers harmed the witch, and he spilled their blood in return—in the name of love. He threw their bodies down a well, and the Garden of Thorns sprung up around it. A garden that thirsts for blood to this day—Humbert's blood-lust grown flesh."
If there was ever any location that needed a witcher, it would certainly be the Garden of Thorns.
The gameplay video also gives us a small glimpse of Geralt's new weapon, "a chain that can be used for mid-range combat and new finishers." Players will be able to aim and throw the chain at enemy weak spots to automatically trigger a finishing move. Otherwise, he can use it to pull the adversary in and close the distance with them. Those who have read The Witcher books or seen the Netflix show's first season might recognize this iconic weapon as the same one Geralt employed against the Striga during one of his earliest adventures.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past is looking like a worthy farewell to Geralt of Rivia before we switch to keeping the Continent safe as Ciri in The Witcher 4. Better yet, this upcoming expansion will make the wait for CDPR's next title feel shorter.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past will be released in 2027.
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