The Witcher 3 Returns: Massive Remaster and ‘Songs of the Past’ Expansion Announced
In a stunning turn of events that underscores the enduring legacy of one of gaming’s most celebrated titles, CD Projekt Red has unveiled a massive slate of new content for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Twelve years after the base game first captivated audiences, the developer has finally detailed its long-awaited expansion, Songs of the Past, while simultaneously announcing a comprehensive Remastered edition that promises to overhaul the experience from the ground up.
A Definitive Upgrade
The Witcher 3 – Remastered edition is set to launch on September 29th, arriving on the Switch 2 and Battle.net for the first time. In a player-friendly move, the remaster will be provided as a free upgrade for all existing owners of the base game.
Developed in collaboration with the external studio Yigsoft, the remaster is far more than a simple visual polish. It introduces significant gameplay refinements, including an overhauled combat system featuring new finishers, fresh animations, and an adaptive camera. The update also adds a reimagined skill tree for greater character flexibility, a new transmogrification system for armor and gear, “immersive meditation,” and cross-platform mod support. As an added bonus, all existing expansions—Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine—have been made free for all base game owners effective immediately.
Journeying to Letten
The centerpiece of this announcement is the debut of the Songs of the Past trailer, which provides our first look at the new region of Letten. Described as an overgrown, lush fantasy landscape, Letten serves as the ancestral homeland of Geralt’s companion, Dandelion.
The footage reveals a darker, more mysterious tone, showcasing Geralt battling warped arboreal monsters and uncovering “buried secrets” tied to local rural traditions. Intriguingly, the trailer confirms that Geralt will utilize a specialized chain weapon, bearing a striking resemblance to the one wielded by Ciri in teasers for the upcoming The Witcher 4. CD Projekt Red noted that this gear pays homage to the legendary chain Geralt used against the Striga Princess in the original Witcher 1 trailer—a nod to the source material’s roots.
A Legacy Continued
The existence of Songs of the Past is a historical anomaly in the gaming industry. Releasing major, full-sized expansions over a decade after a game’s initial launch is virtually unheard of. Originally teased in May of this year, the expansion is being co-developed by Fool’s Theory and aims to deliver a narrative of deep consequence, threatening not just the land of Letten, but the bond between Geralt and Dandelion.
This revival comes at a busy time for CD Projekt Red, which is currently deep in development on the next mainline entry, The Witcher 4, slated for 2028. As the studio balances the future of the franchise with these unexpected gifts for its past masterpieces, fans are left wondering if this new content can capture the same lightning-in-a-bottle magic that made the original 2015 release a genre-defining landmark.
We will have further updates on the expansion following its showcase at Gamescom this week.
