Witcher 3: Songs of the Past demo highlights CDPR's writing

During the media and business days of Gamescom 2026, attendees at the CD Projekt Red booth had the opportunity to view the first gameplay showcase for Songs of the Past. This expansion arrives eleven years after the initial release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, following the base game and the previous expansions Blood & Wine and Hearts of Stone. While rumors about the add-on have circulated for over a year, the studio has focused on ensuring the new story meets the high expectations established by the original trilogy.

The demo emphasized how the narrative picks up directly from the conclusion of the main storyline. In the game, players transition immediately to Letten, a bucolic region reminiscent of Somerset, to investigate local mysteries and conspiracies. Despite the real-world time gap between releases, the in-game continuity feels immediate, with Geralt waking up in the new region and interacting with familiar characters like Dandelion.

A key aspect of the expansion is the consistency of Geralt's characterization. The writing team has maintained the character's established traits, including his gruffness and wry humor, ensuring that his reactions feel authentic even after a decade. This continuity is achieved through careful attention to detail, such as subtle character interactions and dialogue that reflect his long-standing relationship with the world and its inhabitants.

The narrative design in Songs of the Past trusts the player to interpret subtle cues and complex social dynamics. For example, a scene involving Geralt, Dandelion's cousin Lilla, and their matriarch showcases tight writing and effective cutscene direction. The interaction reveals underlying tensions and character motivations without explicit exposition, allowing players to engage with the story through observation and inference.

Quest design in the expansion continues the series' tradition of morally complex scenarios. A showcased quest involves Lilla recounting the tragic fate of Count Humbert de Lettenhove, who was driven mad by his love for a witch. The quest leads to a confrontation with a reanimated knight in a thorn-covered garden, blending chivalric romance with the series' characteristic dark fantasy elements. This approach ensures that even straightforward quest structures carry emotional weight and narrative depth.

CD Projekt Red has stated that the story for Songs of the Past was written years ago, with development paused for various reasons before resuming. The expansion is set to release on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027, continuing the studio's commitment to rich storytelling and character-driven gameplay in the Witcher universe.