Get ready to saddle up for one last ride, witcher fans! CD Projekt Red has unveiled “Songs of the Past,” the highly anticipated third expansion for The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt. Briefly showcased during Gamescom Opening Night Live, this expansion promises a heartfelt and engaging story centered around Geralt’s beloved bard companion, Dandelion. GameSpot was on hand for an exclusive preview, giving us a deep dive into the upcoming adventure.
A Bed of Thorns: Geralt Returns to Letten
After over a decade since their last fantasy-themed action-RPG release, CD Projekt Red is bringing Geralt back for what they describe as “one last ride before passing the torch.” In “Songs of the Past,” Geralt journeys to Letten, Dandelion’s hometown, where he embarks on a quest triggered by Dandelion’s missing lute. This sets off a chain of events that quickly reveals his friend might be in grave danger.
Letten is presented as a fully open-world location, allowing players the freedom to explore at their own pace. However, the main questline will eventually lead Geralt to meet Lilla, Dandelion’s cousin and a potential romantic interest for the grizzled monster hunter. During our preview, we saw an interaction where Geralt downplayed his feelings towards Lilla, with a developer comment referencing “team Yen,” suggesting that while new romances might blossom, some loyalties remain strong.
A Cursed Well and Familiar Foes
Like Geralt, Lilla believes Dandelion is in trouble. The quest quickly leads to the discovery of a cursed well, setting the stage for a mission titled “The Garden of Thorns.” Lilla accompanies Geralt on his search, leading him to this ominous location within Letten.
Combat is an integral part of the experience, and our preview included a boss encounter with the Slumbering Knight, a skeletal enemy covered in roots that could block and attack using extensions of these roots. Expect to see some familiar Witcher 3 enemies making a return as well.
A Gorgeous Upgrade: The Witcher 3 Remastered
While we didn’t get to witness the full conclusion of Geralt’s quest, our preview confirmed that “Songs of the Past” is shaping up to be a fully-fledged expansion. It’s a worthy investment for veteran players looking for one last adventure with Geralt, and an excellent entry point for newcomers eager to experience the world of The Witcher.
Adding even more excitement, The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt is getting a full remaster, which will be available free for all owners of the base game. This upgraded edition includes both previous expansions and boasts several improvements, including enhanced visuals, smoother combat, and new finishing moves.
All these enhancements will also be included in “Songs of the Past,” and Geralt looks fantastic with the updated graphics. The preview showcased improved textures for clothing, armor, and other details. Water effects are more realistic, foliage is richer, and background rendering has been significantly enhanced.
CD Projekt Red’s design lead, Miles Tost, revealed that NPCs have also been upgraded to create a more immersive world. Letten is populated with townsfolk going about their daily routines, while sheep and other livestock roam the area with purpose.
In terms of content, Tost stated that “Songs of the Past” is comparable in size to the Blood and Wine expansion, offering approximately 20 hours of additional gameplay. This should provide plenty of new adventures to keep players engaged until The Witcher 4 eventually arrives.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered launches on September 29 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2, while the “Songs of the Past” expansion is slated for release sometime in 2027. Get ready to say goodbye (for now) to Geralt of Rivia!
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