Full Breakdown
CD Projekt Red Announces “Songs of the Past” Expansion for *The Witcher 3*
5/28/2026, 11:42:23 AM
Core Announcement
Polish studio CD Projekt Red confirmed that *The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt* will receive a third story expansion, Songs of the Past, slated for release in 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The expansion will again place players in the role of Geralt of Rivia and is being co-developed with Fool’s Theory, a studio of former CD Projekt Red veterans.
Background & Context
The original game launched in 2015, selling over 60 million copies and earning 250 Game of the Year and 1,000 industry awards. Its first two expansions—*Hearts of Stone* (Oct 2015) and *Blood and Wine* (2016)—were released within a year of each other and are widely regarded as benchmarks for single-player DLC. *Songs of the Past* will be the first major addition in more than a decade.
Development Partners
Fool’s Theory comprises industry veterans who worked on *The Witcher 3* and are currently handling the **remake of *The Witcher 1***. CD Projekt Red’s press release describes the partnership as “a team comprising industry veterans who worked on *The Witcher 3*.”
Data & Technical Details
To accommodate the new content, CD Projekt Red updated the PC minimum specifications: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 / Intel Core i5-8400, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 / AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT (8 GB VRAM), 12 GB RAM, 70 GB SSD, and Windows 11 (64-bit). The expansion will not support older consoles or HDD storage.
Market Reaction & Investor Sentiment
Following the announcement, CD Projekt Red’s shares fell about 4 % on the Warsaw exchange. Analyst Michal Wojciechowski (Ipopema Securities) noted that the market had expected a 2026 release, suggesting the later timeline contributed to the dip.
Impact on the Witcher Franchise Timeline
CD Projekt Red has indicated that *Songs of the Past* is intended to “bridge the story gap” between *The Witcher 3* and the upcoming Witcher 4, which will feature Ciri as the protagonist and is not expected before 2027. The expansion therefore serves both as a narrative continuation for Geralt and a strategic buffer before the next mainline title.
Official Statements & Responses
CD Projekt Red’s communications emphasized that the expansion is a “full narrative adventure” and that more details will be released in “late summer 2026.” The studio also clarified that the early reveal resulted from an accidental leak on the RED Launcher, prompting a shift from the planned REDstreams announcement.
Criticism & Opposition
Investors expressed concern that the 2027 launch could cannibalize anticipation for *Witcher 4* and delay revenue from the next flagship title. Some analysts questioned whether a large DLC for a ten-year-old game would meet commercial expectations.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact release window: most official channels cite 2027, while early rumors and analyst commentary suggested a 2026 launch. No concrete information about the expansion’s setting, new regions, or gameplay innovations has been disclosed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Medallion's humming... that can only mean one thing! It's time to announce The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past!” — CD Projekt Red, X post
- “We originally planned to make this big reveal during our REDstreams tomorrow, but let’s say we found something we didn’t yet expect on RED Launcher” — CD Projekt Red, official statement
- “Songs of the Past will return players to the role of legendary monster slayer Geralt of Rivia for a brand new adventure when it launches in 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC,” — CD Projekt Red press release
- “This brand new expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will take you to the Path with Geralt of Rivia once more.” — CD Projekt Red, X post
- “Analyst Michal Wojciechowski from Ipopema Securities said the market had expected the expansion to be released in 2026.” — Analyst Michal Wojciechowski, Reuters
What’s Next
CD Projekt Red promises a detailed reveal in late summer 2026, likely at Gamescom or a similar event. The announcement will clarify narrative scope, pricing, and whether the expansion will introduce a new region, further shaping expectations for *Witcher 4* and the franchise’s long-term roadmap.
