CD Projekt RED announced a third expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt titled "Songs of the Past" on Wednesday [1].
The announcement comes as the studio prepares players for the next era of the franchise. By adding significant new content to a legacy title, the developer aims to keep the community engaged while the studio continues work on The Witcher 4 [2].
Scheduled for release in 2027 [1], the expansion arrives long after the original game's debut. The new content will be released 12 years after the initial 2015 launch [3], and 11 years after the game's second expansion [3].
This move leverages the massive enduring popularity of the title, which has sold 60 million copies [3]. The developer said the expansion is designed to provide new experiences for fans during the wait for the series' next numbered installment [2].
Because of the new content, the studio is updating the system requirements for the game [2]. These changes ensure that the added technical demands of "Songs of the Past" are supported across compatible platforms. The announcement was shared globally through the company's official channels [1].
“The expansion arrives 12 years after the initial 2015 launch.”
The decision to release a major expansion more than a decade after the base game's launch is an unusual move in the gaming industry. It suggests that CD Projekt RED views The Witcher 3 as a persistent revenue stream and a critical tool for maintaining brand loyalty while the studio manages the high-risk development cycle of the next primary franchise entry.
