CDPR Accidentally Spoiled Their Own Expansion
On May 27, 2026, CD Projekt Red's own game launcher — the RED Launcher — inadvertently revealed the existence of a third expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt before the studio was ready to announce it. Originally slated for a proper unveiling during the Blood and Wine 10th anniversary REDstreams on May 28, the leak forced CDPR's hand and they pivoted to an official announcement on social media the same day.
""Medallion's humming... that can only mean one thing! It's time to announce The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Songs of the Past!" — The Witcher official X account
CDPR acknowledged the situation directly: "We originally planned to make this big reveal during our REDstreams tomorrow, but let's say we found something we didn't yet expect on RED Launcher." The studio remained good-humored about the slip, and fans — who have waited over a decade for this moment — largely didn't mind.
What Is Songs of the Past?
Details are still sparse, but here is everything confirmed so far. CDPR released a key art image showing Geralt unsheathing what appears to be a new sword, with his usual twin blades still on his back — suggesting the expansion's title may carry literal significance.
| Detail | Info | |
|---|---|---|
| Full Title | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Songs of the Past | |
| Release Window | 2027 | |
| Platforms | PS5, Xbox Series X\ | S, PC |
| Co-Developer | Fool's Theory | |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Not confirmed (current-gen only) | |
| More Details | Late summer 2026 |
This will be the third expansion for The Witcher 3, following Hearts of Stone (October 2015) and Blood and Wine (May 2016) — both of which received universal acclaim and are considered some of the best DLC content in gaming history. Whether Songs of the Past matches that legacy is the central question.
Before you buy: If you haven't played The Witcher 3 yet, the Complete Edition on Steam includes the base game plus both existing expansions. It frequently goes on deep discount during sales. Getting it now gives you plenty of time to catch up before Songs of the Past arrives in 2027.
Who Is Fool's Theory?
The co-developer credit caught many by surprise. Fool's Theory is a Polish studio with strong CDPR DNA:
- ▶Founded by veterans who worked directly on The Witcher 3 at CD Projekt Red
- ▶Developed The Thaumaturge (2024), a turn-based RPG set in 1905 Warsaw
- ▶Currently developing The Witcher 1 Remake (in collaboration with CDPR)
- ▶Deep familiarity with REDengine, the proprietary engine powering The Witcher 3
The logic behind co-development is clear: CDPR's main studio is focused on The Witcher 4 (built on Unreal Engine 5), while Fool's Theory handles the legacy REDengine content. It's an efficient use of expertise on both sides.
Updated PC System Requirements
CDPR used the expansion announcement to simultaneously update The Witcher 3's minimum PC requirements. These new specs take effect with the next update.
| Component | Old Minimum | New Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 7 64-bit | Windows 11 64-bit |
| CPU | Intel Core i5-2500K | Intel Core i5-8400 |
| GPU | GTX 660 / Radeon HD 7870 | GTX 1660 / RX 5500 XT 8GB |
| VRAM | — | 6 GB |
| RAM | 6 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage | 50 GB HDD | 70 GB SSD (required) |
| API | DirectX 11 | DirectX 12 (exclusive) |
Legacy hardware users: If your PC doesn't meet the new minimum specs and you still want to play The Witcher 3, CDPR will provide instructions for reverting to an earlier version of the game on Steam. Windows 10 support has also been dropped — Microsoft ended OS support last year, and CDPR is aligning accordingly.
Community Reaction — Joy, Relief, and Some Skepticism
The response across Reddit, Steam, and gaming forums has been overwhelmingly positive, though not without nuance.
""I honestly thought Blood and Wine was a perfect send-off for Geralt. The fact that there's another chapter coming is surreal. Day one regardless." — r/witcher community post, 28K upvotes
""RED Launcher spoiled their own game. That's peak CDPR energy honestly. Glad they just ran with it." — r/gaming top comment
""Fool's Theory doing this while also working on the Witcher 1 remake is a lot of plates spinning. Hope the quality holds up." — Steam discussion board
""The PC spec update is the only thing worrying me. My old rig handled W3 fine and now I need an SSD minimum? Time to upgrade I guess." — Steam community hub
The speculation about Songs of the Past's narrative role has also started in earnest. Many fans believe the expansion will bridge the events of The Witcher 3 and The Witcher 4, where Ciri takes over as the series' new protagonist.
The Bigger Picture — A Bridge to The Witcher 4
Songs of the Past sits at an interesting intersection in the franchise's timeline.
| Title | Protagonist | Status |
|---|---|---|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | Geralt | Released 2015 |
| Hearts of Stone | Geralt | Released 2015 |
| Blood and Wine | Geralt | Released 2016 |
| Songs of the Past | Geralt | Announced, 2027 |
| The Witcher 4 | Ciri | In full production |
CDPR has explicitly stated that more details on Songs of the Past will follow in late summer 2026 — timing that points strongly toward Gamescom 2026 Opening Night Live. Fans should expect a proper story trailer and possibly a release window confirmation there.
Should You Play The Witcher 3 Now?
The Witcher 3 has sold over 60 million copies and maintains an Overwhelmingly Positive rating on Steam (96% from 235,000+ English reviews). Following today's announcement, the game's concurrent player count surged significantly.
New player tip: You don't need to play The Witcher 1 or 2 to enjoy The Witcher 3. The in-game glossary covers all relevant backstory. The ideal order is: base game → Hearts of Stone → Blood and Wine. Budget roughly 80–120 hours for the full experience. Songs of the Past releases in 2027, so you have time.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt remains one of the greatest RPGs ever made — and if Songs of the Past lives up to the standard set by its predecessors, 2027 is shaping up to be a landmark year for the franchise.