A New Chapter for the White Wolf: CD Projekt Red Unveils ‘The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past’

Eleven years after the monumental release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, CD Projekt Red has surprised fans with a first look at a brand-new expansion titled Songs of the Past. Far from the war-torn battlefields and heavy political machinations that defined the base game, this upcoming journey invites players to explore a completely new, pastoral region: the peaceful country of Letten.

The expansion promises a intimate, character-driven narrative. Shortly after arriving in this quiet, bucolic land, Geralt discovers that his long-time companion, the flamboyant bard Dandelion, has vanished. What begins as a simple search quickly spirals into a complex Witcher contract, drawing the protagonist deep into the secrets of Dandelion’s mysterious family estate.

A Long-Awaited Labor of Love

The expansion is a collaborative effort between CD Projekt Red and Fool’s Theory, a studio known for their work on The Thaumaturge and the Silent Hill 2 remake. According to Fool’s Theory CEO Jakub Rokosz, this project is the result of a story concept that has been gestating for years.

“The story was conceived, way back when, in CD Projekt Red by writers Ola Motyka and Philip Weber,” Rokosz explained during an interview at Gamescom. “They had to put it aside for various reasons—the stars had to align, our studio had to grow, and so on. A few years later, the topic resurfaced and we started working on it.”

Exploring the ‘Bromance’

While the base game of The Witcher 3 spent significant time exploring Geralt’s complex ties to Ciri and various romantic interests, Songs of the Past aims to shine a spotlight on the often-overlooked bond between Geralt and his closest friend.

“We really wanted room to focus on how Dandelion complements Geralt when it comes to morality and grey areas,” says Rokosz. “We always did a lot of romances in Witcher 3, and there was never any place for a bromance, and that’s the thing we’re aiming for here.”

Senior quest designer Despoina Anetaki echoed this sentiment, noting that the expansion allows the team to explore the “philosophical” side of the bard that fans of Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels will recognize, but which rarely had the screen time it deserved in the previous games. “This expansion was a great opportunity to actually talk about Dandelion and make him a more fleshed-out character,” she added.

Scope and Expectations

Early hands-off demonstrations suggest that the writing, characterization, and direction maintain the high bar set by the original development team. In terms of size, CD Projekt Red has indicated that the expansion will be similar in scope to the critically acclaimed Blood & Wine, likely offering around 15 hours of core gameplay.

As the team continues to refine this deep dive into the Witcher’s world, it is clear that Songs of the Past is positioning itself as a distinct, heartfelt coda to the game’s legacy. Fans eager to reunite with Geralt and his bardic companion will have to wait a little longer, as the project is officially slated for a 2027 release.

For those interested in the history behind this project, you can read more about how this original story was resurrected from the archives.