Witcher 3 Expansion Brings Back Old Friends and New Monsters

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's upcoming expansion, "Songs of the Past," is an official downloadable content (DLC) expansion developed by CD Projekt Red for the 2015 role-playing game (RPG). This expansion directly addresses long-standing player demand by reintroducing classic characters and adding new, lore-accurate monsters to the game world, solving the community's desire for deeper narrative continuity.

Key Facts

What Is the Songs of the Past Expansion?

“Songs of the Past” is a narrative expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt that functions as a return to form for CD Projekt Red, focusing on character-driven storytelling and classic monster-hunting gameplay. It is designed to give fans "exactly what they want" by prioritizing nostalgia and established lore over experimental mechanics.

The expansion was showcased in a 50-minute behind-closed-doors preview, which revealed a heavy emphasis on reunions with iconic characters. The developer aims to bridge the gap between the original game's episodic structure and the more connected, open-world style of modern RPGs, providing a familiar yet comprehensive experience for veterans of the series.

Which Old Friends Return in Songs of the Past?

Ciri and the vampire Regis are the primary returning characters confirmed to appear in the "Songs of the Past" expansion, joining protagonist Geralt of Rivia in the new storyline. Their inclusion is the central pillar of the expansion's marketing and narrative hook.

According to the preview, the dynamic between these characters drives the plot, presenting a narrative that feels like a direct continuation of the relationships players built in the base game and its previous expansions. The source material notes that seeing Geralt interacting with these characters "hits all the right notes" for long-time fans, indicating CD Projekt Red is leveraging emotional investment as a key selling point.

What New Monsters Are Introduced?

The expansion introduces at least two new menacing creatures: the Wraith of the Forgotten and a Striga, both of which require players to utilize specific Witcher signs and preparation to defeat.

The 50-minute preview demonstrated combat scenarios featuring these new adversaries. The Wraith of the Forgotten is depicted as a high-level specter encounter, while the Striga encounter appears to test the player's knowledge of classic Witcher lore. These monsters are not just palette swaps; the preview suggests they utilize new attack patterns and require specific potion and bomb loadouts, reinforcing the traditional preparation-based gameplay that defines the franchise.

Where Does the Expansion Take Place?

The expansion occurs in a previously unexplored region of the Continent, featuring a vast new landscape that includes an underground elven town, offering a distinct shift from the war-torn zones of the base game.

The presentation revealed a map that is significantly different in topography from Velen or Skellige. The source material describes this area as a "new land to explore" that includes the aforementioned subterranean elven settlement, providing a unique aesthetic for dungeon-crawling and urban questing. The environment design focuses on verticality and ancient ruins, presenting a mystery that is not directly tied to the Nilfgaardian war main quest.

How Does This Expansion Compare to the Base Game?

Compared to the main narrative of The Witcher 3, "Songs of the Past" offers a more contained, character-centric story, prioritizing nostalgia and fan service over the sprawling political conflict of the Wild Hunt.

• Scope: While the base game focuses on finding Ciri amid a massive war, this expansion focuses on a new adventure with these characters.
• Combat: The new monsters (Wraith of the Forgotten, Striga) are designed to challenge players at high levels, introducing mechanics not seen in the base game's bestiary.
• Setting: The expansion's new region is described as distinct, offering the underground elven town which contrasts with the human-dominated cities of the base game.

This expansion appears to lean heavier into the "monster hunting" aspect of the Witcher contract system, rather than the political intrigue that dominated the original release.

Who Is This Expansion For?

This expansion is specifically designed for veteran players of The Witcher 3 who have completed the main story and are seeking closure or continuation for their favorite characters, particularly the adopted father-daughter dynamic between Geralt and Ciri.

It is also intended for players who appreciate lore-accurate monster lore and classic RPG expansion formats. The inclusion of Regis—a character who played a significant role in the "Blood and Wine" expansion—suggests this content is aimed at players who have followed the franchise through its entirety, rewarding them with deeper narrative payoffs rather than introducing the world to new players.

Common Questions

Is there a specific release date for the expansion?

Currently, no exact release date has been announced. The source material from the preview confirms only that "Songs of the Past" is planned for release in Fall 2025, with the price point remaining undisclosed.

Does the expansion require a high level character to play?

While the article does not specify a minimum level requirement, the preview indicates that players will face the new Wraith of the Forgotten and Striga monsters. These are typically high-level adversaries in the Witcher universe, suggesting that end-game gear and potions are recommended.

Will the expansion feature characters from other Witcher games?

The preview confirms that Ciri and Regis will be central figures, but it does not mention other characters outside of Geralt's inner circle. The source material highlights the return of these specific friends as the main draw, leaving the inclusion of others unknown.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based exclusively on a single preview report published by Kotaku, detailing a 50-minute behind-closed-doors presentation of the expansion. All facts regarding characters, monsters, and locations are derived directly from that demonstration.

Primary Source: Kotaku — "50 Minutes Behind Closed Doors With The Witcher 3's Songs Of The Past Shows An Expansion Giving Fans Exactly What They Want"

Methodology Note: No pricing, performance metrics, or technical specifications were provided in the source material; therefore, those attributes are marked as unknown. The article was last updated on [May 23, 2025].