The North Awaits: Unpacking ‘Songs of the Past’, The New Witcher 3 Expansion

The landscape of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is set to expand once more. During the high-octane spectacle of Opening Night Live at Gamescom 2026, CD Projekt Red (CDPR) sent ripples through the gaming community by officially unveiling Songs of the Past. This new expansion, developed in collaboration with Fool’s Theory, promises to whisk players away to a region previously only whispered about in lore: Letten, the ancestral home of Geralt’s irrepressible bard companion, Dandelion.

While the reveal trailer teased the atmospheric beauty of this new locale, it left many map-obsessed fans scratching their heads. Where exactly is Letten? In a world as vast and politically fragmented as the Continent, geography is rarely just a setting—it is a narrative force.

Mapping the Unknown: Locating Letten

For those looking for the "too long; didn’t read" version, the answer is simple: it lies in the North. However, for the cartographers of the Witcher fandom, the specifics are far more intriguing. Peter Gelencser, World Director of Songs of the Past at Fool’s Theory, provided much-needed clarity during a recent CDPR livestream.

"The whole thing plays out in Letten," Gelencser explained. "It’s somewhere half-way between Kovir and Kaedwen. If you go to the Gulf of Praxeda, take the Buina River to the east, and take a right on the Nimnar River, you will find this lovely place on the southern shore."

Geographically, this places the expansion deep in northern Redania, putting it in close proximity to Gelibol and the infamous Blaviken. This positioning is significant. It places the narrative arc of Songs of the Past in a region distinct from the central theaters of the base game, which focused heavily on southern Redania and Temeria. Furthermore, its northern proximity links it thematically and spatially to the upcoming The Witcher 4, which is confirmed to be set in the kingdom of Kovir.

By choosing this location, CD Projekt Red is effectively bridging the gap between the conclusion of Geralt’s trilogy and the future of the franchise, allowing players to traverse the northern frontier that will likely define the next generation of Witcher storytelling.

The Idyllic Underbelly: A Seasonal Shift

Karolina Kuzia-Rokosz, the Vision Director at Fool’s Theory, describes Letten as a stark departure from the war-torn marshes of Velen or the gritty streets of Novigrad. The region is depicted as an "idyllic, calm" slice of the Polish countryside, brought to life during the vibrant season of spring.

The expansion centers around the Belleteyn festival, an ancient holiday celebrating the end of winter. Visually, this translates to a world bathed in crisp, morning light, with blooming vegetation and saturated colors. However, seasoned Witcher players know that beauty in this universe is almost always a mask. "There is a darker underbelly to this place," Gelencser teased, suggesting that while the surface aesthetic is one of pastoral peace, the narrative will inevitably descend into the moral ambiguity and lethal threats synonymous with Geralt of Rivia’s profession.

Gameplay footage from the reveal showcased a sprawling, opulent estate—the family manor of Dandelion. It provides a rare glimpse into the bard’s aristocratic background, offering a humorous contrast to the wandering, often destitute life he leads alongside the White Wolf.

Chronology: Where Does This Fit?

One of the most pressing questions for fans is the timeline. The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine provided a definitive, heartfelt conclusion to Geralt’s story, leaving him to settle into a quiet retirement at his vineyard, Corvo Bianco.

Kuzia-Rokosz clarified that Songs of the Past picks up shortly after the events of Blood and Wine. "The events unravel after Geralt hoped to retire," she stated. The transition from the sunny, Mediterranean-inspired Toussaint to the crisp, northern spring of Letten provides a thematic shift from "happily ever after" back to the "yet another adventure" cycle that defines the life of a Witcher. It is a bridge between the closure of the third game and the transition into a new, potentially broader era for the IP.

Supporting Data and Technical Ambitions

The announcement of Songs of the Past did not arrive in a vacuum. It was accompanied by the surprise reveal of a comprehensive Witcher 3 Remastered edition. This version promises to be more than a simple visual polish; it will overhaul core gameplay systems, including combat, to bring the ten-year-old title closer to modern standards.

The technical scope of Songs of the Past is equally ambitious. It is slated for release on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and notably, the Nintendo Switch 2. This multi-platform approach suggests that the engine powering the expansion is highly scalable, allowing for the lush, detailed landscapes of Letten to be rendered across a variety of hardware profiles.

Internal sources suggest that the concept for Songs of the Past has been in the conceptualization phase for years. This is not a hastily assembled piece of DLC; it is a project that has been gestating since the completion of the base game, allowing for a level of narrative cohesion and environmental storytelling that matches the quality of previous expansions like Hearts of Stone.

Official Responses and Developer Insight

The collaboration between CD Projekt Red and Fool’s Theory has been praised by industry analysts as a "perfect match." Fool’s Theory, known for their focus on isometric RPGs and deep environmental storytelling, brings a unique sensibility to the Witcher world.

During the Gamescom showcase, the developers emphasized that the expansion will focus heavily on character-driven quests. Early reports suggest that, in true Witcher fashion, romance options will be a central pillar of the player’s journey. By focusing on Dandelion’s roots, the story aims to humanize the secondary cast in ways the base game only hinted at.

Implications for the Future of the Franchise

The implications of Songs of the Past extend far beyond the addition of a new map and questline. By positioning the story in the north and near the setting of the next mainline entry, CD Projekt Red is laying the groundwork for a shared, interconnected universe.

1. Narrative Continuity: By revisiting Geralt after Blood and Wine, the developers are maintaining the emotional resonance of his retirement while satisfying the player base’s hunger for more content.
2. Technological Bridge: The use of a remastered core game alongside a new, modern-engine expansion serves as a litmus test for how the studio intends to maintain its legacy titles while pushing forward with the "Polaris" (Witcher 4) project.
3. World Building: The exploration of the northern territories provides a necessary expansion of the Witcher map, filling in the blank spaces of the Continent and fleshing out the political and cultural landscape of the region.

As we look toward 2027, Songs of the Past stands as a testament to the enduring popularity of the Witcher saga. It is a reminder that in the world of monsters and magic, the most interesting stories aren’t just found on the road, but in the places we call home. Whether it’s the crisp morning air of Letten or the looming mystery beneath its surface, Geralt’s final, or perhaps penultimate, journey is shaping up to be a masterful swan song—or, more appropriately, a legendary ballad.