The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past – Gamescom Trailer Reveals First Gameplay and New Weapon

Despite making its debut back in 2015, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt managed to steal the spotlight during Gamescom’s Opening Night Live. The excitement stems not only from the surprise reveal of an extensive, free remaster arriving next month, but also because CD Projekt Red is delivering brand-new narrative content to the beloved RPG. Following its initial tease earlier this year, the upcoming expansion—titled Songs of the Past—finally received its first official gameplay showcase.

The cinematic preview presents an intriguing mix of pastoral beauty and creeping dread, depicting wreath-crowned villagers performing sunlit, pagan rituals reminiscent of Midsommar alongside murky marshlands bathed in dusk. Amid the wilderness, a grotesque arboreal entity directly summons the White Wolf: “Come, sword bearer, bane of beasts. Delve into darkness and see the truth of Letten’s beauty.”

That setting is Letten, an all-new territory created for the expansion. According to official details from CD Projekt Red, Letten is a bucolic province renowned for lush traditions, lavish pageantry, and fruitful harvests. Beneath that veneer of prosperity, however, slumbers an ancient corruption, forcing Geralt to confront previously unseen adversaries as he unravels the realm’s hidden horrors.

Combat enthusiasts also received a welcome surprise toward the trailer’s conclusion, which showcased Geralt wielding an unfamiliar, chain-tethered implement. In a post-presentation interview, Lead Level Designer Miles Tost revealed the gear is an explicit nod to the weapon seen in the cinematic intro of the original 2007 Witcher title. In gameplay, Geralt uses the chain to pull enemies within striking distance before executing a seamless decapitation.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past is slated to launch next year across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC, conspicuously bypassing the original Nintendo Switch hardware. The broader franchise also has plenty in store: The Witcher 4 is officially confirmed for a 2028 release starring Ciri, while fans can also keep an eye on The Blood of Dawnwalker, an upcoming dark fantasy project led by former CD Projekt Red veterans.