More than ten years after Geralt of Rivia first rode out of White Orchard, CD Projekt Red is bringing him back. On May 27, 2026, the studio announced The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past, a brand-new expansion for a game that has now sold over 60 million copies. It is the third major expansion in the game’s history, and it arrives years after most fans assumed The Witcher 3 was finished getting new content. Here is everything CD Projekt Red has actually confirmed about Songs of the Past, a full refresher on the base game and every expansion that came before it, and where this leaves The Witcher 4.
Key Takeaways
- Songs of the Past is real: CD Projekt Red officially announced the third Witcher 3 expansion on May 27, 2026, with Geralt of Rivia returning as the playable character.
- Release window: it launches in 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC. No exact date yet.
- Who is making it: CD Projekt Red is co-developing Songs of the Past with Fool’s Theory, a studio staffed by veterans who worked on The Witcher 3 and which is also building the Witcher 1 remake.
- Story is under wraps: plot, gameplay, and pricing are unrevealed. CD Projekt Red says more details arrive in late summer 2026.
- The bigger picture: the expansion lands ahead of The Witcher 4 (codenamed Polaris), a separate Ciri-led game built in Unreal Engine 5 that will not release before 2027.
Songs of the Past: Everything Confirmed So Far
CD Projekt Red revealed Songs of the Past on its official The Witcher channels, reportedly earlier than planned after a game launcher leak gave it away. The studio kept the reveal short on purpose, so it is worth separating what is actually confirmed from what is still a mystery.
| Detail | What We Know |
|---|---|
| Title | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past |
| Type | Third major expansion |
| Protagonist | Geralt of Rivia returns as the playable character |
| Release window | 2027 (exact date not announced) |
| Platforms | PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, PC |
| Developers | CD Projekt Red, co-developed with Fool’s Theory |
| More info | Late summer 2026 |
What is not confirmed is just as important. CD Projekt Red has revealed nothing about the plot, the setting, the gameplay scope, or the price. The studio described Fool’s Theory as a team of industry veterans who worked on The Witcher 3 itself, which is reassuring for fans worried that an outside studio might not capture the feel of the original. Everything else, including whether Songs of the Past ties directly into the wider Witcher saga, is still speculation until the late summer 2026 details drop.
The Witcher 3 Base Game: A Quick Refresher
If you are coming back after years away, here is the quick version. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt launched on May 19, 2015, built by CD Projekt Red on its REDengine 3 over roughly three and a half years and a budget around 81 million dollars. You play as Geralt, a monster hunter searching for his adopted daughter Ciri, who is being chased across the Continent by the Wild Hunt, a band of spectral riders led by the elven king Eredin.
It became one of the most acclaimed games ever made, winning more than 200 Game of the Year awards and selling over 60 million copies. The game launched on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, then reached Nintendo Switch on October 15, 2019, and finally PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S on December 14, 2022. That long tail of platforms is a big reason the audience is still here a decade later.
Every Witcher 3 DLC and Expansion So Far
Before Songs of the Past, The Witcher 3 already had one of the most generous post-launch records in the medium. Here is the full history.
The 16 Free DLCs
In the weeks after launch, CD Projekt Red released 16 free DLC packs at no cost to anyone who owned the game. These ranged from cosmetic extras like new armor sets and alternate looks for Geralt, Yennefer, and Triss to meaningful additions including a New Game Plus mode and extra contracts. We covered the original rollout back when it happened in our piece on the Witcher 3 free DLC packs. It set a tone of goodwill that the paid expansions then lived up to.
Hearts of Stone (2015)
The first paid expansion arrived on October 13, 2015. Hearts of Stone is a tighter, story-driven adventure built around Olgierd von Everec, a seemingly immortal nobleman, and the mysterious Gaunter O’Dimm, one of the most memorable antagonists in the entire series. It adds around 10 hours of new questing and is widely regarded as one of the best pieces of DLC ever made.
Blood and Wine (2016)
The second and far larger expansion launched on May 31, 2016. Blood and Wine sends Geralt to Toussaint, a colorful Nilfgaardian duchy untouched by the war, to hunt a mysterious beast. It is practically a small game on its own, with a sprawling new region, dozens of hours of content, and an ending that gives Geralt a proper send-off. For years, Blood and Wine was treated as the franchise’s farewell to him.
Game of the Year Edition, the Next-Gen Update, and REDkit
CD Projekt Red bundled everything into the Game of the Year Edition on August 30, 2016, packing the base game, both expansions, and all 16 free DLCs together. Then on December 14, 2022, the next-gen update arrived as a free upgrade for existing owners, adding ray tracing, performance improvements, and a handful of extras inspired by the Netflix series. More recently, the studio released REDkit, the official modding toolset, bringing full Steam Workshop support and the ability to load community-made DLC-scale mods, with cross-platform mod support rolling out as well.
| Content | Released | What It Added |
|---|---|---|
| 16 free DLCs | 2015 | New Game Plus, cosmetics, extra contracts |
| Hearts of Stone | Oct 13, 2015 | ~10 hours, Olgierd and Gaunter O’Dimm |
| Blood and Wine | May 31, 2016 | Toussaint region, dozens of hours |
| GOTY Edition | Aug 30, 2016 | Base game plus all DLC bundled |
| Next-Gen Update | Dec 14, 2022 | Ray tracing, performance, Netflix extras |
| REDkit modding tools | 2024 onward | Official mod tools, Steam Workshop support |
| Songs of the Past | 2027 | Third expansion, details pending |
What This Means for The Witcher 4
Songs of the Past does not exist in a vacuum. CD Projekt Red is deep into The Witcher 4, codenamed Polaris, which was revealed at The Game Awards in December 2024. Unlike the expansion, The Witcher 4 is a brand-new game that swaps Geralt for Ciri as the playable lead, casts her as an aspiring witcher building her own reputation, and moves the series off REDengine onto Unreal Engine 5. The studio has confirmed it will not release before 2027, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC.
The two projects share more than a universe. Fool’s Theory, the co-developer on Songs of the Past, has also provided support on The Witcher 4 and is leading the remake of the original Witcher, which means the studio is woven through CD Projekt Red’s entire Witcher slate. Whether Songs of the Past sets up Ciri’s story or simply gives Geralt one last bow is exactly the kind of thing fans are speculating about, but CD Projekt Red has not confirmed any direct connection. Doug Cockle is confirmed to reprise Geralt in The Witcher 4, with Ciara Berkeley voicing Ciri.
Gear for a Witcher Replay
A Songs of the Past announcement is the perfect excuse to reinstall The Witcher 3 and run through Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine again before 2027. A comfortable controller and a way to keep it charged go a long way across a 100-hour RPG. Here is affordable gear for the replay, with live prices as of June 2026. If you need room for the install plus its mods, our guide to the best PS5 SSDs with heatsinks covers the drives worth buying.
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller
Premium feel and remappable paddles for marathon RPG sessions.
PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller
A reliable, affordable spare so a dead battery never ends a quest.
Razer Universal Charging Stand
Drop the controller on it between sessions and never hunt for batteries.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past real?
Yes. CD Projekt Red officially announced Songs of the Past on May 27, 2026, as the third expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. It is co-developed with Fool’s Theory, stars Geralt of Rivia, and is scheduled to launch in 2027.
When does Songs of the Past release?
CD Projekt Red has confirmed a 2027 release window for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC, but no exact date yet. The studio says more details, likely including the story and date, will arrive in late summer 2026.
How many expansions does The Witcher 3 have?
Counting Songs of the Past, The Witcher 3 will have three paid expansions: Hearts of Stone (2015), Blood and Wine (2016), and Songs of the Past (2027). The game also received 16 free DLC packs, a next-gen update, and the REDkit modding tools.
Do I need to play Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine first?
CD Projekt Red has not detailed how Songs of the Past fits into the timeline, so it is not yet clear. Playing the base game and both existing expansions is still the best way to be ready, and you have until 2027 to do it.
Is Songs of the Past the same as The Witcher 4?
No. Songs of the Past is an expansion for the 2015 game The Witcher 3 and stars Geralt. The Witcher 4 (codenamed Polaris) is a separate new game built in Unreal Engine 5 that stars Ciri and will not release before 2027.
Summary
The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past is a genuine surprise, an official third expansion for a decade-old game that brings Geralt back in 2027 on PS5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC, co-developed by CD Projekt Red and the Witcher 3 veterans at Fool’s Theory. Beyond the title, protagonist, platforms, and window, the studio is holding its cards close until late summer 2026, so treat any plot talk as speculation for now.
What is certain is that The Witcher 3 keeps proving how much life it has left, from 16 free DLCs and two of the best expansions ever made to a next-gen overhaul, official mod tools, and now a third expansion arriving right before Ciri takes over in The Witcher 4. If you have been meaning to replay it, the run-up to 2027 is the perfect window to start.