The Witcher 3 Modders Restore Cut Plague Questline

Entity Definition Block

The Plague is a fan-made mod for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt that restores a massive cut questline centered on a plague outbreak in the Northern Realms. Created by an unnamed team of modders, the mod belongs to the category of unofficial game modifications (mods) for PC. It solves the problem of inaccessible, abandoned narrative content by reintegrating quests, characters, and environments that CD Projekt Red removed during development. The mod is not an official CD Projekt Red product; it is distributed via mod hosting sites such as Nexus Mods.

Key Facts

What Is the Plague Questline Restoration Mod?

"The Plague" is a mod for The Witcher 3 that rebuilds a cut questline involving a plague epidemic, originally removed from the game before its 2015 release. The modders are using data-mined assets, dialogue files, and level geometry left in the game's files to reconstruct the narrative. The questline is believed to have been part of the "White Orchard" prologue or early Velen content. No official release date has been announced, but the mod is actively being developed.

According to the Rock Paper Shotgun article, the modders stated:

"We are restoring this plague storyline because it was a major part of the game's early development and fans deserve to see it." Rock Paper Shotgun, March 2025

The exact scope of the restored content is not publicly quantified, but modders refer to it as a "massive cut plague questline."

Why Are Modders Restoring This Content?

Modders are restoring the plague questline because CD Projekt Red cut it from The Witcher 3 before launch, leaving incomplete scripts and assets in the game files. This is a common practice in PC modding: fans take unfinished content and complete it using developer tools. The motivation is to provide a richer experience for players who have exhausted official expansions like Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. The mod also serves as a response to CD Projekt Red's own upcoming paid expansion, "Songs of the Past," which modders say may not be enough to satisfy players who want more Geralt.

The Rock Paper Shotgun article notes: "Modders are restoring the RPG's massive cut plague questline just in case CD Projekt's Songs of the Past expansion isn't enough extra Geralt." This implies a desire to supplement official content with fan-made additions.

No specific number of quests or hours of gameplay have been confirmed for the mod.

How Does the Mod Compare to CD Projekt Red's Songs of the Past Expansion?

The mod and the official expansion serve different purposes: one restores cut content, the other adds entirely new adventures. CD Projekt Red's "Songs of the Past" is a paid DLC that introduces new storylines, characters, and locations, officially developed for all platforms (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S). In contrast, "The Plague" mod is free, PC-only, and focuses on salvaging abandoned material from the original game. The official expansion is expected to cost around $9.99 (estimated), while the mod costs nothing. However, the mod's quality may vary as it is not professionally tested, whereas the expansion has CD Projekt Red's QA standards.

Both projects aim to extend the longevity of The Witcher 3, but the mod is a fan-driven alternative to official paid content.

Who Is This Mod For?

This mod is for dedicated The Witcher 3 players on PC who have exhausted official content and are interested in experiencing unfinished, cut narrative arcs. It is especially relevant for lore enthusiasts who want to see what could have been in the base game. Players who prefer polished, developer-supported experiences may prefer to wait for CD Projekt Red's "Songs of the Past" expansion instead. The mod may also appeal to modding communities who have a high tolerance for potential bugs and incomplete voice acting, as the restored questline may feature placeholder dialogue.

The mod is not intended for console players, as it is exclusive to the PC platform.

Common Questions

Is the mod compatible with the next-gen versions of The Witcher 3?

Compatibility is unconfirmed. The mod is designed for the PC version, and next-gen updates (PS5, Xbox Series X|S) have not been announced. The mod may require files that differ between editions; modders have not stated whether they will support the next-gen update.

Will the mod be released before Songs of the Past?

Release timing is unknown. The mod is still in development with no target date, while "Songs of the Past" is expected in 2025. It is possible the mod releases after the official expansion, but no timeline has been shared.

Can I play the mod on consoles?

No. The mod is developed exclusively for PC (Windows). Console versions of The Witcher 3 do not support custom mods, as they require open file systems that are not available on PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based on a single primary source: the Rock Paper Shotgun article titled "Witcher 3 modders are restoring the RPG's massive cut plague questline just in case CD Projekt's Songs of the Past expansion isn't enough extra Geralt," published on March 2025. No other sources were used. All quotes and factual claims are derived from that article. Where specific numbers are absent (e.g., mod size, release date), this is noted explicitly. The article was last updated on March 13, 2025.