Witcher 3 Expansion Will Be at Gamescom, Witcher 4 in 2028
CD Projekt RED (CDPR) has officially pulled back the curtain on the future of the Continent, providing a long-awaited update that bridges the gap between the legendary Witcher 3 era and the highly anticipated next generation of the franchise. In a decisive move, the developer confirmed that the upcoming The Witcher 3 expansion, Songs of the Past, will take center stage at Gamescom 2026, while also providing a concrete, albeit distant, release window for the fourth mainline installment.
A Return to the Wild Hunt: Songs of the Past
The gaming community has long clamored for more content set within the world of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, a title that redefined the open-world RPG genre upon its 2015 release. CEO Michal Nowakowski broke the silence via a strategic social media video statement, confirming that Songs of the Past is not merely a rumor but a flagship title for the developer's upcoming exhibition cycle.According to Nowakowski, fans can expect a massive deep-dive into the expansion during the Gamescom 2026 Opening Night Live showcase on August 26, 2026. The studio is pulling out all the stops, with the content slated to be playable at the official CD Projekt RED booth on the show floor. Furthermore, the studio has hinted at a series of "RED Streams" throughout the event, which will likely provide technical breakdowns, developer interviews, and potentially a showcase of new mechanics that aim to refresh the classic Witcher 3 combat loop.
Songs of the Past is currently earmarked for a 2027 release on modern platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. By focusing exclusively on current-gen hardware, CDPR aims to push the REDengine—or perhaps even UE5 integrations—to its absolute limit, potentially offering graphical fidelity that rivals the Witcher 3 Next-Gen Update.
The Witcher 4: Ciri’s Path and the 2028 Horizon
While Songs of the Past will dominate the conversation at Gamescom, the "elephant in the room" remains The Witcher 4. Since its shock reveal at The Game Awards 2024, speculation has been rampant regarding the direction of the series after Geralt of Rivia’s saga concluded.The biggest revelation remains the confirmation that Ciri will serve as the protagonist. This is a massive shift for the series; unlike Geralt, who functioned as a seasoned professional Witcher, Ciri’s mechanics are expected to revolve around her mastery of Elder Blood, spatial teleportation, and the unique political weight she carries as the daughter of Emhyr var Emreis.
Nowakowski emphasized the sheer scale of the project during his update:
"We have over 500 developers currently dedicated to the production of the next Witcher title. This is our most ambitious project to date, and we are targeting a 2028 release window."
Behind the Scenes: The Scale of Development
To put that 500-person team into perspective, this represents a significant portion of CDPR’s total workforce. The studio is leveraging lessons learned from the post-launch recovery of Cyberpunk 2077 and the monumental success of the Phantom Liberty expansion to ensure The Witcher 4 meets the high standards of the franchise. By signaling a 2028 window, CDPR is clearly aiming to avoid the crunch-heavy culture of the past, opting for a sustainable, multi-year polish phase.What This Means for Fans
For long-time fans, this announcement is a double-edged sword. While the wait for the next main game is still several years away, the inclusion of Songs of the Past serves as the perfect "bridge" content to keep the franchise momentum alive.The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt remains a masterpiece of narrative design, available on Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. As we look toward 2026 and beyond, the focus shifts from Geralt’s retirement to Ciri’s potential destiny, promising a future that feels both nostalgic and daringly new.
Stay tuned to Davanix for ongoing coverage of Gamescom 2026 and further technical deep-dives into the upcoming expansions.
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