CD Projekt Red story director Marcin Blacha has shed some light on the upcoming expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, titled Songs of the Past. The expansion, which brings Geralt out of retirement to aid his friend Dandelion, is set in a new region called Letten. Blacha described the choice of setting as "a really natural way to go," allowing the studio to explore new narrative possibilities.
Letten is Dandelion's homeland, a place Geralt has not visited before. Dandelion returns to the region due to urgent family matters and enlists Geralt's help. According to Blacha, this new setting provides an opportunity to see Dandelion confront responsibilities he has long avoided, and in turn, observe how this impacts Geralt. "With a new region, there are new stories, and a lot of potential for players to discover a new side of a game they know so well," Blacha stated.
While the setting is new to both Geralt and the players, Blacha did not explicitly state whether other established regions were considered for the expansion. The focus appears to be on the fresh narrative potential offered by Letten.
Details regarding the antagonist in Songs of the Past remain scarce. Blacha would only confirm that Geralt will face "a new challenge" and that the foe is "a core part of the mystery of the region." The expansion is known to involve a curse, and some enemies appear to be people fused with trees, but further specifics have not been revealed.
Comparing the current level of detail to previous expansions, the synopsis for Blood and Wine on Steam was described as "not too much more specific" than the information provided for Songs of the Past, although it hinted at a nocturnal monster and a dark fairytale setting. In contrast, the Hearts of Stone expansion's synopsis offered more concrete details, including Geralt being hired by the "Merchant of Mirrors" and tasked with overcoming Olgierd von Everec, as well as mentioning recruiting a crew and partying with a ghost.
Blacha was reluctant to discuss returning characters beyond Dandelion, though he expressed anticipation for players' reactions to the new characters being introduced. He also declined to comment on whether Songs of the Past offers something that Blood and Wine, previously considered the end of Geralt's story in the games, could not. The studio has previously stated that the decision to create another expansion was carefully considered, with Dandelion's request for help serving as a suitable catalyst to draw Geralt back into action.
CD Projekt Red acknowledges the importance of concluding Geralt's narrative in a manner that respects the established story and the player's investment. While the studio aims to keep the plot's surprises intact, there is a perceived need to better communicate the reasons behind Geralt's return after a decade, a sentiment shared by those invested in his journey.
