CD Projekt Red and Fool's Theory have offered a glimpse into The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past, the game's third expansion pack, which is slated for release next year. The expansion continues Geralt's adventures 12 years after the base game's launch and precedes the in-development Witcher 4, which will feature Ciri as the protagonist.
A New Mystery in Letten
The playable demo showcased an early quest titled 'A Bed of Thorns,' which begins in Letten, the homeland of Geralt's companion, Dandelion. While Geralt's past is well-documented, Dandelion's history, particularly his life as Julian Alfred Pankratz, Viscount de Lettenhove, remains more enigmatic. The expansion appears poised to explore this unexplored facet of his character. Geralt's arrival at his stern grandmother's estate, and his interactions with Dandelion's cousin Lilla, establish the initial narrative. Although the writing quality is still early to judge, the characters and their motivations were effectively conveyed within a single scene, suggesting that the quality bar has been maintained despite Fool's Theory, a studio comprised of CDPR veterans, taking the lead.
The immediate objective is to locate the missing Dandelion. Geralt experiences visions of a "Garden of Thorns," which Lilla recognizes, setting the stage for a journey into a potentially dangerous and mysterious location.
A Familiar Setting with Enhanced Visuals
Letten is depicted as a beautiful region, distinct from the war-torn Continent, drawing comparisons to the idyllic setting of Blood and Wine. The developers indicate that Songs of the Past will be of a comparable size, potentially offering around 30 hours of gameplay. The environment blends Nordic midsummer aesthetics with English and Polish countryside influences. These visuals are further enhanced by the recently announced remaster of The Witcher 3, which includes higher-resolution textures and path-tracing lighting, making the decade-old game appear more visually modern, particularly in its natural environments.
Combat and Progression Tweaks
The demo featured combat encounters, including a battle with a Swarmion, a creature armored by a cloud of hornets. This encounter highlighted the reintroduction of Geralt's silver chain, a weapon from the original Witcher game. The chain allows for grappling enemies at a distance, wrenching them into melee range, and targeting specific body parts for critical hits. While these additions add flair, the extent of the combat system's changes remains to be fully seen. Similarly, details on the upgraded character progression systems are scarce, though new skill pages with a distinct tree layout suggest a potential re-thinking of how Geralt's abilities are organized and unlocked.
The Garden of Thorns and its Guardian
The journey leads Geralt and Lilla to the Garden of Thorns, a formidable wall of branches laced with violets and skulls. The demo showed two approaches: a violent confrontation, where Geralt cuts through the gate, and a potential intellectual solution. The former resulted in Geralt being separated from Lilla by growing vines and facing enemies like Giant Centipedes and Swarmions. The path eventually leads to a well, where Geralt confronts the Slumbering Knight, a boss fight against a corrupted noble. This knight bears the sigil of Lettenhove, suggesting a connection to Dandelion's lineage.
The demo concludes with Geralt descending into the well, facing a twisted wooden figure, hinting at the core mystery of Dandelion's disappearance. The expansion promises more of the beloved Witcher 3 experience, with new story content, characters, and a rich new setting, providing a compelling reason to return to the acclaimed RPG.