The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past Announced at Gamescom 2026 With New Region

The Witcher 3 is set for another return as CD Projekt unveiled The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past during Gamescom 2026 Opening Night Live, presenting a cinematic trailer packed with folklore, quests, and a brand-new region to explore. Set around Geralt’s next big mystery, the remastered project promises a full technical refresh ahead of its 2027 release on modern platforms.

A remastered Witcher 3 chapter arrives with Letten

CD Projekt used the Gamescom reveal to frame Songs of the Past as the “final” act of Geralt’s journey, centered on an all-new explorable area called Letten. The trailer highlights the tone fans associate with the series—flowers, regional storytelling, and monsters lurking under idyllic scenery—while confirming the new territory will include quests, secrets, and encounters.

• Geralt will explore the new region of Letten.
• The expansion includes quests, monsters, and hidden secrets.
• A bard named Jaskier is tied to Lettenhove, suggesting he may play a meaningful role in the plot.
• The title Songs of the Past is directly connected to Jaskier’s connection to the region.

Fool’s Theory joins development—and Geralt gets a new weapon

CD Projekt RED has brought in Fool’s Theory, a studio known for The Thaumaturge, to help develop The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past. The studio is described as partially made up of former CD Projekt staff, and it’s also been working on the remake of the first Witcher game.

• Development is handled by CD Projekt RED with support from Fool’s Theory.
• Fool’s Theory includes some former members of the publisher.
• The studio is also involved in the remake of the first Witcher game.

During the reveal, Geralt’s new tool of choice was showcased: a chain weapon, reminiscent of the intro cinematic from The Witcher. CD Projekt’s messaging emphasized the “remastered” framing of this new chapter, positioning it as more than a simple add-on.

What’s included in the remaster and release details

Songs of the Past is positioned as the next step after the upcoming free remaster improvements. CD Projekt confirmed that the project will benefit from the same upgrade set scheduled for the remaster launching on September 29, with enhancements including visual improvements, path tracing, changes to skill trees, and new execution animations.

• The remaster improvements tied to September 29 include new visuals.
• Path tracing is part of the upgrade package.
• Skill tree updates are included.
• New execution animations are included.
• Switch 2 compatibility is listed among the remaster features.

CD Projekt also confirmed a rework to prior premium content: the earlier expansions Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine will be free going forward. The company framed this as a way to catch up if players only own the base game.

• Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine will become free.

In terms of timing, The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past is scheduled for 2027 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series consoles. A playable demo will be available during Gamescom’s Cologne event period, and CD Projekt indicated that The Witcher 4 is planned for 2028.

1. 2027: The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series.
2. Gamescom (Cologne): a demo will be available during the event.
3. 2028: The Witcher 4 is planned for release.

Looking ahead

With Letten at the center of the story and a chain weapon adding a fresh layer to Geralt’s kit, the Gamescom reveal sets Songs of the Past up as a major “full remaster” moment rather than a small expansion. For players planning to jump back in, CD Projekt’s promise of the September 29 upgrade improvements—and the move to make both previous expansions free—also suggests the next Witcher entry will be built to bring lapsed and new players into the same starting point.