Key takeaways
- Songs of the Past is The Witcher 3's first expansion in over a decade, launching in 2027 with a new chain weapon.
- The chain mechanic allows Geralt to grapple and drag monsters into melee range, fundamentally changing combat from the current dodge-and-position system.
- This expansion serves as Geralt's final adventure, with Ciri taking the lead role in The Witcher 4 launching in 2028.
- A free remaster of the base Witcher 3 will release in fall 2025, bridging content between now and the expansion's 2027 launch.
After more than ten years without new story content, The Witcher 3 is receiving a major expansion titled Songs of the Past. CD Projekt Red used Gamescom to unveil the DLC’s gameplay for the first time, highlighting a new chain-based weapon that allows Geralt to grapple and drag monsters toward him—a mechanic that fundamentally changes how combat encounters unfold compared to the sign-casting and tactical positioning that currently define monster hunts.
Reimagining Combat with the Chain Weapon
The new weapon represents a departure from Witcher 3’s established engagement patterns. The game’s current approach favors distance management: players dodge, cast signs to set up advantages, and carefully position themselves before closing gaps on enemies. The chain weapon inverts this dynamic by allowing Geralt to control enemy distance from the outset, dragging foes into melee range regardless of their positioning or inclination.
Grappling Mechanics and Tactical Implications
The gameplay footage demonstrated the chain reeling monsters directly toward Geralt after impact. This removes one layer of the typical cat-and-mouse positioning that currently requires extensive movement. Enemies that might normally maintain distance or use positioning advantages can be forcibly brought into range for immediate dismemberment and execution.
A Tool Returning to Its Origins
The weapon appeared originally in the opening sequence of the first Witcher game in 2007, making its return a deliberate callback to franchise history. By bringing this tool into Songs of the Past, CD Projekt Red connects the new content thematically to the series’ foundation while introducing a gameplay element that has never existed in The Witcher 3 until now.
Letten: The Region and Its Mysteries
Songs of the Past takes place in a region called Letten, described during Miles Tost’s Gamescom presentation as possessing an outwardly peaceful and idealistic character that masks something far more sinister beneath. Geralt’s investigation of this contradiction will drive the expansion’s narrative and gameplay challenges.
Environmental Storytelling Through Contrast
The presentation of Letten as a beautiful location hiding darkness positions the region as a character in itself. This thematic framework allows CD Projekt Red to explore moral ambiguity and corruption through both setting design and quest structure, consistent with The Witcher 3’s strongest narrative moments.
Timeline and Geralt’s Final Adventure
CD Projekt Red has not announced a specific release date but has stated that Songs of the Past will launch sometime in 2027. The studio is framing this expansion as Geralt’s concluding chapter. After Songs of the Past releases, the protagonist role will shift to Ciri, Geralt’s adoptive daughter and ward, in The Witcher 4.
The Witcher 4 and the Franchise’s Next Era
The Witcher 4 is confirmed for 2028, positioning the two releases as major milestones in CD Projekt Red’s long-term roadmap. Rather than simply continuing Geralt’s story indefinitely, the studio has chosen to end his active narrative with Songs of the Past and pivot to Ciri as the franchise’s lead character. This structural decision provides closure while promising continuity through familial connection.
Gamescom’s Role in the Reveal
Miles Tost, CD Projekt Red’s level design lead, presented the gameplay footage and story details on stage at Gamescom ONL. His willingness to discuss the expansion’s setting and mechanics suggests the studio has confidence in the content and sees value in early communication with the fanbase during development.
Bridging the Gap to the Expansion
Before Songs of the Past arrives in 2027, players will receive a free remaster upgrade of the base Witcher 3 in fall 2025. This remaster will update the game’s visuals and performance for current-generation systems without restructuring core gameplay mechanics, effectively refreshing the experience while the studio continues developing the expansion.
Strategic Planning and Franchise Direction
The spacing of these releases reveals deliberate planning across multiple years. A free remaster maintains engagement with existing players and introduces new audiences to the base game. Songs of the Past provides narrative closure for a beloved protagonist. The Witcher 4’s focus on Ciri ensures the franchise evolves beyond Geralt while leveraging established character relationships and world lore.
By introducing a weapon that changes combat fundamentals, Songs of the Past demonstrates that mechanical innovation will accompany this narrative transition. CD Projekt Red is not simply retreading familiar ground but using the expansion to test new gameplay directions that may inform Witcher 4’s design.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Songs of the Past release?
The expansion is scheduled to launch sometime in 2027, with no specific month confirmed yet.
What new weapon was revealed for the expansion?
A chain weapon that functions like a grappling hook, allowing Geralt to pull monsters toward him for close-range combat.
What happens to Geralt after Songs of the Past?
Songs of the Past marks Geralt's final playable adventure; he will be replaced by Ciri as the protagonist in The Witcher 4, arriving in 2028.
