Full Breakdown
Witcher 3: “Songs of the Past” Expansion Set for 2027 Release, First Look at Gamescom Opening Night Live
7/22/2026, 7:45:00 PM
Core Event – Expansion Announcement and Upcoming Reveal
CD Projekt Red confirmed that *The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt* will receive a third, large-scale expansion titled Songs of the Past, slated for a 2027 launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. The studio announced that the expansion’s first public showcase will occur during Gamescom’s Opening Night Live presentation on August 25.
Background & Context – Prior Expansions and Development Partnership
The original 2015 release of *The Witcher 3* was followed by two major add-ons—*Hearts of Stone* (2015) and *Blood and Wine* (2016). *Songs of the Past* arrives 12 years after the base game and 11 years after *Blood and Wine*. Development is being handled jointly by CD Projekt Red and Fool’s Theory, the studio responsible for the upcoming remake of the first *Witcher* title.
Timeline
- May 27, 2026 – CD Projekt Red announced the expansion, confirming the 2027 release window and the Gamescom reveal plan.
- August 25, 2026 – Opening Night Live at Gamescom will present the first look at *Songs of the Past*.
Data & Statistics
- Release window: 2027 (no exact day disclosed).
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (current-generation hardware only).
- Series gap: The expansion follows the 2016 *Blood and Wine* add-on, marking the longest interval between major *Witcher 3* expansions.
Official Statements & Responses
Joint CEO Michal Nowakowski described the expansion as “in a way, a prologue,” while emphasizing that it is not a literal prologue to the forthcoming *Witcher 4* project. He added that the primary goal is to deliver a “great experience to the fans” and to rekindle enthusiasm for the *Witcher 3* setting. Earlier in May, Nowakowski told investors that CD Projekt Red is working on a “proper big expansion” and hinted at additional, smaller-scale content slated for release within the same year.
Verbatim Quotes
- “First and foremost, we really wanted to deliver a great experience to the fans, a really cool expansion that’s going to make people happy that they can come back to The Witcher 3 setting,” — Michal Nowakowski, joint CEO
What’s Next – Scheduled Reveal at Gamescom
The first visual and narrative details of *Songs of the Past* will be unveiled during Gamescom’s Opening Night Live on August 25. The event will be livestreamed globally, with the presentation scheduled for 2:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM PT.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- No precise launch date within 2027 has been disclosed.
- System requirements for the expansion have not been published.
- While CD Projekt Red has framed the expansion as “connected” to the next mainline title (codenamed *Polaris*), no independent confirmation of a narrative bridge to *The Witcher 4* exists.
