The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt refuses to fade into gaming history. Just when fans thought Geralt’s adventures were truly over, fresh rumors suggest CD Projekt Red might have one more trick up its sleeve – a brand new expansion potentially launching in May 2026.
The May 2026 Prediction
Polish financial analyst Mateusz Chrzanowski from Noble Securities recently made waves by predicting a paid add-on for The Witcher 3 would arrive in May 2026. The analyst didn’t pull this date from thin air. He estimates the expansion could sell around 11 million copies at $30 each, with a production budget of approximately $14.5 million. According to Chrzanowski, this release would kick off the actual marketing campaign for The Witcher 4.
This isn’t just analyst speculation. Polish gaming industry commentator Borys Nieśpielak has mentioned multiple times on podcasts that Witcher 3 DLC is in development at Fool’s Theory, claiming confirmation from several independent sources. Fool’s Theory is the same studio currently working on the remake of the original Witcher game, and it’s led by Jakub Rokosz, who previously worked as a quest designer on The Witcher 2 and 3.
Why This Makes Sense
CD Projekt Red announced back in May that it has \”one more patch\” planned for The Witcher 3, now scheduled for 2026. Originally slated for late 2025, this update was supposed to bring cross-platform mod support to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Some skeptics wonder if fans are conflating a simple patch with a full expansion, but the timing lines up suspiciously well with the DLC rumors.
The studio hasn’t been shy about keeping The Witcher 3 alive. The game received a massive next-gen update in December 2022, complete with Netflix-inspired DLC content. Nearly a decade after launch, the game still maintains a healthy player base and has sold over 60 million copies as of May 2025. That’s the kind of install base that makes additional content financially viable.
The Witcher 4 Connection
Here’s where things get interesting. The Witcher 4 won’t arrive before 2027, as CD Projekt Red confirmed during a recent financial call. The game only entered full production in late 2024, meaning there’s a significant gap between now and the next mainline entry. A 2026 expansion for The Witcher 3 would perfectly fill that void while building hype for the upcoming sequel.
Industry watchers speculate the DLC could serve as a narrative bridge between The Witcher 3 and 4. With Ciri confirmed as the protagonist of The Witcher 4 (revealed at The Game Awards 2024), an expansion exploring her journey after the events of Wild Hunt would make perfect narrative sense. It would give fans something substantial to play while waiting for 2027, and it would set the stage for the new trilogy CD Projekt Red is planning.
Learning from Past Success
If CD Projekt Red does release new DLC, it has incredibly high standards to meet. The Witcher 3’s previous expansions – Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine – are widely considered some of the best DLC ever created. Hearts of Stone delivered a tight, emotionally resonant story, while Blood and Wine added an entire new region roughly the size of some standalone games.
The numbers speak for themselves. Hearts of Stone achieved a 22% attach rate, meaning nearly one in four players who owned the base game bought the expansion. Blood and Wine did even better with a 24% attach rate. These figures are exceptionally rare in the gaming industry, where DLC often struggles to reach double-digit attachment rates. CD Projekt Red proved that players will pay for quality expansions that offer genuine value.
What Could the DLC Include?
Details remain scarce, but several possibilities emerge based on context clues. The expansion could explore Ciri’s witcher training in more depth, introduce new regions beyond the base game’s map, or delve into storylines left dangling from the main game. With Fool’s Theory at the helm – a studio intimately familiar with The Witcher universe – fans can expect quests that feel authentic to the series.
The reported $14.5 million budget suggests something more substantial than the Netflix-themed content from the next-gen update but perhaps not as massive as Blood and Wine. That positions it somewhere between Hearts of Stone’s focused storytelling and Blood and Wine’s expansive world-building. If the 2-5 hour playtime estimates circulating online prove accurate, players would get a meaty experience without the 30+ hour commitment of Blood and Wine.
The Waiting Game
CD Projekt Red hasn’t officially confirmed any of these rumors. The company remains tight-lipped about its plans beyond the delayed 2026 patch. That secrecy could mean the project is still early in development, or it could indicate CD Projekt Red wants to surprise fans with an announcement closer to launch.
What we do know is that CD Projekt Red has ambitious plans for The Witcher franchise. The studio aims to release The Witcher 4, 5, and 6 within a six-year period starting in 2027. That aggressive timeline suggests the company is confident in its production pipeline and eager to capitalize on renewed interest in the franchise. A 2026 expansion for The Witcher 3 would fit perfectly into that broader strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Witcher 3 DLC officially confirmed for 2026?
No, CD Projekt Red has not officially announced any new story DLC for The Witcher 3. The May 2026 date comes from analyst predictions and reports from Polish gaming industry insiders, not from the developer itself.
Who is developing the rumored Witcher 3 expansion?
According to multiple reports, Fool’s Theory is developing the expansion. This Polish studio is also working on The Witcher 1 remake and is led by former Witcher quest designer Jakub Rokosz, who worked on The Witcher 2 and 3.
How much will the new Witcher 3 DLC cost?
Analysts estimate the expansion would be priced around $30, similar to previous major Witcher 3 expansions. However, this is speculation based on industry standards rather than confirmed pricing.
Will the DLC connect to The Witcher 4?
While unconfirmed, many industry watchers believe the DLC could serve as a narrative bridge to The Witcher 4, potentially focusing on Ciri’s story between the two games. This would help build anticipation for the 2027 release of the next mainline entry.
How long will the new expansion be?
Based on the estimated production budget of $14.5 million, the expansion would likely fall somewhere between Hearts of Stone (10-15 hours) and Blood and Wine (20-30 hours) in terms of content. Some sources suggest a 2-5 hour experience, though this remains unverified.
When is The Witcher 4 coming out?
CD Projekt Red has confirmed The Witcher 4 will not release before 2027. The game entered full production in late 2024, with current estimates pointing to a late 2027 or 2028 launch window.
Can I still play The Witcher 3 on current-gen consoles?
Yes, The Witcher 3 received a next-gen update in December 2022 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, featuring improved graphics, ray tracing, faster load times, and additional content. The game looks and plays better than ever on modern hardware.
Final Thoughts
Whether this rumored expansion materializes in May 2026 or remains wishful thinking, one thing is clear – The Witcher 3 continues to cast a long shadow over the RPG genre. The game has sold over 60 million copies, inspired a hit Netflix series, and maintained an active player base for nearly 11 years. If CD Projekt Red does have one more adventure planned for this beloved title, fans will undoubtedly show up in force.
For now, we wait. CD Projekt Red will likely remain silent until it’s ready to make an official announcement. But with The Witcher 4 still years away and clear evidence of ongoing work on The Witcher 3, the possibility of one final expansion feels more plausible than ever. May 2026 might just bring us back to the Continent one more time.