The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past Shows Its First Footage at Gamescom Opening Night Live on August 25

Eleven years after The Witcher 3 came out, we are about to see brand new footage of it. CD Projekt Red announced today that Songs of the Past, the third expansion for the game, makes its public debut during Gamescom Opening Night Live, and the date is locked: Tuesday, August 25, 2026.

What was actually announced

The studio's announcement covers its full Gamescom plans. New information on Songs of the Past will be revealed during Opening Night Live, the Geoff Keighley showcase that opens the Cologne event at 11am PT, 2pm ET, 8pm CEST. This will be the first proper look at the expansion since it was announced in May with a piece of key art and little else.

CD Projekt Red is also bringing the expansion to the show floor. Business visitors can see it at booth B065 in Hall 4.2 from August 26 to 28, and the public entertainment area hosts it at booths B030 and A031 in Hall 8.1 from August 26 to 30. The wording suggests hands-off showcases rather than a playable demo, but we will take any gameplay at this point.

What we know about Songs of the Past

The basics have been public since May. Songs of the Past is a full new expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, co-developed with Fool's Theory, a Polish studio staffed by veterans who worked on the original game. It puts us back in Geralt's boots for a brand new adventure, while Ciri heads off to lead The Witcher 4.

It launches in 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. That is the entire official picture right now: no story details, no region, no price. CD Projekt Red said in May that more details would come in late summer 2026, and an August 25 showcase fits that promise exactly.

Our take

A new expansion for an eleven year old game sounds strange until you remember which game this is. The Witcher 3 has sold more than 65 million copies, and Blood and Wine is still the bar most story DLC gets measured against. Handing development to Fool's Theory while the main studio builds The Witcher 4 is a sensible split, and the studio has resisted drip-feeding hype so far, which we appreciate.

The honest caveat: we have seen exactly one piece of art. Until August 25 we do not know if this is a Blood and Wine sized region or something smaller, so keep expectations parked until real footage lands. We will cover the reveal when the stream airs.