CD Projekt is using The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past expansion as more than a nostalgia delivery system. The newly revealed add-on will tell its own Geralt-led story after the events of The Witcher 3, but the studio says it will also help warm up the room for The Witcher 4. Not officially a prologue, mind you. Just “in a way” a prologue, which is the kind of careful wording investor calls were invented to produce.

How the expansion connects to The Witcher 4

CD Projekt joint CEO Michał Nowakowski discussed the expansion while speaking to investors, where he was asked how the project fits into the wider franchise, why it has moved to 2027, and whether the upcoming Witcher trilogy might receive expansions of its own.

Nowakowski said the studio’s first goal is simply to give fans a strong reason to return to The Witcher 3’s world.

“First and foremost, we really wanted to deliver a great experience to the fans, a really cool expansion that's going to make people happy that they can come back to The Witcher 3 setting,” he said.

He then acknowledged that Songs of the Past also has a broader franchise function, even if CD Projekt is not framing it as required homework for The Witcher 4.

“Of course, indirectly, yes, it is a reminder [of the franchise for fans],” Nowakowski said. “It is, in a way, a prologue, although it's not a prologue in a verbatim way of [being] a prologue for the actual The Witcher 4. Yes, you can look at it as it's a way to maintain certain chatter on The Witcher 3. All of those are side effects, additional side effects. The core thing for us, from our perspective, is really delivering a high-quality, fun experience to the existing fans of The Witcher.”

In other words: yes, it helps keep the series visible while CD Projekt builds its next flagship RPG. No, the studio would rather you not call it a marketing bridge too loudly.

What CD Projekt has revealed about the story

Songs of the Past is a standalone adventure starring Geralt, set after The Witcher 3. CD Projekt has not fully detailed the plot yet, but during a livestream for Witcher fans, the studio offered a few clues about what players can expect.

One notable tease is Geralt’s new third sword, which appeared in artwork released for a springtime festival. The studio suggested that this weapon will matter to the expansion’s story, not merely sit on Geralt’s back as fantasy fashion. Given that Witcher gear tends to come with history, curses, political trouble, or all three, that detail feels deliberate.

Dandelion, Geralt’s bard friend and professional complication generator, is also confirmed to appear. His presence suggests CD Projekt is leaning into the familiar character dynamics that helped make The Witcher 3 endure far beyond its original release window.

For longtime players, the pitch is clear: return to a version of the Continent they already know, with enough new story material to justify the trip.

Why Songs of the Past moved to 2027

The expansion had previously been expected this year, but CD Projekt now plans to release Songs of the Past in 2027.

“We had a moment where our plans assumed that Songs of the Past would be released this year,” Nowakowski said.

He said the delay came after discussions with the development team, with the studio deciding that a later launch would give the project a better chance of landing well with players.

“We decided together with the development team, that the game will be launching in 2027, to be honest, to achieve the best possible result from the consumer standpoint, which in the end, frankly speaking, is the only ultimate thing that really matters.”

That phrasing will sound familiar to anyone who has watched big-budget game development in the last decade. Delays are rarely celebrated by audiences, but rushed releases have developed something of a reputation for going poorly. CD Projekt, of all studios, does not need that lesson printed twice.

CD Projekt’s financials and staffing show where the priorities are

The expansion arrives during a busy period for CD Projekt. In its latest financial results, the company reported first-quarter revenue of 191 million PLN, about $52.5 million, up year-on-year. Net profit reached 106 million PLN, about $29 million.

Chief Financial Officer Piotr Nielubowicz said the performance came from “solid sales of our key titles and the revenue from their inclusion in the subscription catalogues.”

The company now employs 975 people, an increase of more than 40 since February. Its staffing breakdown also makes the current strategy plain:

  • More than 500 employees are working on The Witcher 4.
  • 163 people are assigned to Cyberpunk 2.
  • Around 80 people are developing the multiplayer Witcher spin-off Project Sirius.
  • 24 people are building the studio’s new intellectual property, codenamed Hadar.

The Witcher 4 still has no release date, but CD Projekt has previously outlined a highly ambitious plan to launch The Witcher 4, The Witcher 5, and The Witcher 6 within a six-year period. That schedule is doing a lot of work, and apparently not leaving much room for leisurely side quests on the production calendar.

Do not expect expansions for the next Witcher trilogy soon

Asked whether the new Witcher trilogy could receive expansions like The Witcher 3 did, Nowakowski was blunt. The answer is not an absolute never, but it is close enough for planning purposes.

“The plans are pretty ambitious,” he said. “It would be difficult, to be very honest, for us to add an expansion to the upcoming trilogy. This is where we are here and now with this particular issue.”

That is a notable shift from The Witcher 3 era, where Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine became major parts of the game’s legacy. CD Projekt now appears focused on delivering a full trilogy at speed, rather than building large post-launch expansions around each entry.

Separately, the studio also highlighted the success of its Cyberpunk Trading Card Game campaign, which raised $28 million on Kickstarter. CD Projekt said that made it the platform’s most successful gaming project ever, and the third-largest Kickstarter campaign of all time.

For now, Songs of the Past looks like a farewell tour, a refresher, and a runway all at once: Geralt gets another story, fans get one more return to The Witcher 3, and CD Projekt gets to keep the franchise conversation alive while the next era takes shape.