11 years since it first launched, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is getting a brand new DLC called Songs of the Past. I can't believe it either, but after a flurry of awestruck "hell yeahs" in the GamesRadar+ Slack channel gave way to deeper thoughts (eventually), it's finally sinking in.
There's precious little to go on at the moment: so far we have a title, a release window (2027) and platforms (PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X), and the fact that it's being developed in tandem with Polish studio Fool's Theory.
That last thing catches my eye. Fool's Theory has worked on its own in-house games, like 2024's The Thaumaturge, and as a support studio for Baldur's Gate 3. But with a number of ex-CDPR devs on deck, it's also in charge of delivering a remake of the original Witcher game. That makes The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past the most important DLC in the RPG's already incredible line-up; it's the connective tissue between Geralt's past, present, and the series' future in The Witcher 4.
Back to the streets where we began
The Witcher 1 Remake made CD Projekt Red realize the "true impact" of not recording its old work
With a title that speaks to tales of monsters long since slain, Songs of the Past will likely be more of a prequel. Or at least feature snippets of Geralt's witchering days before Blood and Wine tied off his saga with satisfying, uplifting finality.
Perhaps the new DLC will be told in the vein of balladic retellings as per Reigns: The Witcher, one of the other best Witcher games out there. Maybe we will see a retired Geralt kicking back in a tavern, spinning tales of victory between high-stakes games of Gwent.
Either way, I'm not coming to Songs of the Past expecting massive changes to the overarching narrative of the core Witcher 3 games or DLCs, but a lively and action-packed collection of missions looked upon from behind nostalgia's rosy veil.
This would likely mean lower stakes for the DLC itself, but that's because there is something else riding upon this DLC other than the continuation of the RPG's story. As the lead developer for upcoming RPG The Witcher 1 Remake, Songs of the Past is Fool's Theory's chance to get behind the wheel and take Geralt for a test drive.
For that reason, I'll be appraising the new Witcher 3 DLC in an entirely different light. How does Fool's Theory handle CDPR's penchant for mystery, merging monster detective work and the forward-planning required to achieve victory with moments of nailbiting choice and consequence? How will the studio channel the character's complexity, from his voice to his attitude and the impact of certain narrative events that may or may not have happened yet? Most importantly, has it managed to secure Doug Cockle in reprising his iconic role in one of the best RPGs ever?
On the victor's path
It's a win-win in my mind, even if the die has yet to be cast.
The answers to all of these will no doubt influence a lot for the series going forward. The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past sounds like it will land during a particularly interesting time for both CD Projekt Red and Fool's Theory, in the leadup to Ciri's first leading role in a Witcher game as well as that all-important origin story remake.
With no release date confirmed for either at this point, it will serve to drum up some further hype around The Witcher as a whole while potentially being strategically placed to ensure a very steady stream of new Witcher content in the coming two years.
If Fool's Theory pulls this off the way I am confident it will, who knows what else might come of the partnership? CD Projekt Red is no stranger to recruiting a little co-dev help these days, having enlisted Virtuos Studios to handle the most recent slew of new Cyberpunk 2077 updates. More hands on-deck means more help in bringing players more of the games we love, meaning a little more money in CDPR's pocket and a little more insight into our favorite games.
It's a win-win in my mind, even if the die has yet to be cast. And just like Geralt playing his hand in Gwent, I'll be waiting to see where the cards fall.
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