The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt launched in 2015 and became one of the most beloved RPGs of all time. CD Projekt Red gave it two massive expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, with the latter serving as what felt like the perfect farewell to Geralt of Rivia. But now, multiple reports suggest that farewell wasn’t quite as final as we thought. According to Polish industry insiders and financial analysts, The Witcher 3 is getting one more expansion in 2026, nearly a decade after its original release.
The Rumor That Won’t Go Away
The first whispers of new Witcher 3 content surfaced in summer 2025 when Polish games industry insider Borys Nieśpielak claimed that Fool’s Theory, the studio currently remaking The Witcher 1, was secretly developing an expansion for The Witcher 3. At the time, many dismissed it as wishful thinking. Why would CD Projekt Red return to a decade-old game when they’re busy with The Witcher 4, The Witcher 1 remake, and a multiplayer Witcher spinoff?
But the rumors refused to die. In December 2025, Polish Noble Securities analyst Mateusz Chrzanowski added fuel to the fire with a detailed forecast claiming he expected a paid Witcher 3 expansion to launch in May 2026. Chrzanowski went further, predicting the DLC would cost around $30, sell approximately 11 million copies, and carry a production budget of roughly $14.5 million. He also suggested the release would kick off the actual marketing campaign for The Witcher 4, which he expects in late 2027.
Speaking to Eurogamer, Nieśpielak doubled down on his original claim, stating that several independent sources had verified the information. He pointed to cryptic comments in CD Projekt Red’s November 2025 financial report where CFO Piotr Nielubowicz said there was a chance that new content hinted upon in recent calls and reports may see release in the coming year, having an impact on the company’s results. While Nielubowicz didn’t name The Witcher 3 specifically, the timing certainly raises eyebrows.
Joint CEO Michal Nowakowski added another breadcrumb during a follow-up investor call, mentioning an other project that Fool’s Theory was working on alongside the Witcher 1 remake and support for future Witcher titles. CD Projekt Red’s official response to all these reports? The company does not comment on rumor or speculation. That’s their standard line, but it’s also not a denial.
What Could This Expansion Be
If the rumors prove true, the biggest question is what form this expansion takes. Blood and Wine positioned itself as Geralt’s final adventure, a beautiful send-off where the White Wolf could retire to his vineyard in Toussaint. Going back feels risky from a narrative standpoint. However, CD Projekt Red has confirmed that Ciri will be the protagonist of The Witcher 4, creating an obvious narrative gap that new content could fill.
The most popular theory circulating among fans is that the expansion serves as a bridge between The Witcher 3 and The Witcher 4, potentially explaining how Ciri transitions from the end of Wild Hunt to becoming a full witcher in the upcoming game. The Witcher 3 had multiple endings, and one of them seemingly had Ciri die fighting the White Frost. CD Projekt Red has mentioned in interviews that she didn’t actually die, but that ending needs resolution if Ciri is taking the lead in the next trilogy.
The DLC could also explain how Ciri lost her Elder Blood powers, which appear absent in The Witcher 4 footage. It might show the moment Geralt officially passes the torch, and finally answer the lore-breaking question of how Ciri underwent the Trial of the Grasses to become a witcher when established canon says women can’t survive the process. These narrative threads need addressing before The Witcher 4 launches, and an expansion focusing on this transition makes perfect sense.
Another possibility is that players control Ciri rather than Geralt in this expansion. This would give CD Projekt Red a chance to let fans experience Ciri’s gameplay before committing to The Witcher 4 while also testing mechanics and gathering feedback. It’s a smart move that builds hype while managing expectations.
As for scope, the $30 price point suggests something substantial but not quite on the level of Blood and Wine. For comparison, Cyberpunk 2077’s Phantom Liberty expansion also cost $30. That was a meaty expansion with a new district, major story content, and significant gameplay additions. If The Witcher 3’s rumored expansion matches that scale, fans are getting real value, not just a couple of missions.
The Practical Challenges
While the rumors sound exciting, there are legitimate reasons to be skeptical. CD Projekt Red has moved all its future projects to Unreal Engine 5. The Witcher 4 and The Witcher 1 remake are both being built on Epic’s engine. However, The Witcher 3 was developed using CD Projekt Red’s proprietary REDengine, which the company is no longer actively developing or supporting.
Creating a new expansion for The Witcher 3 means working in outdated technology that the studio has essentially abandoned. That creates workflow challenges and raises questions about resource allocation. Why dedicate developer time to old engine tech when the entire company is focused on Unreal Engine 5 development?
Fool’s Theory provides a potential answer. As an external studio, Fool’s Theory could handle the expansion while CD Projekt Red’s internal teams remain focused on The Witcher 4 and other Unreal Engine projects. Fool’s Theory has proven experience with The Witcher universe through the remake work, and studio founder Jakub Rokosz previously served as a quest designer on The Witcher 2 and 3. If anyone outside the core team could make authentic Witcher 3 content, it’s them.
There’s also the workload question. Fool’s Theory is already remaking The Witcher 1, reportedly providing support on The Witcher 4, and now supposedly developing a Witcher 3 expansion. That’s a lot of plates spinning simultaneously. Reports suggest work on the Witcher 1 remake has slowed as resources shifted to other priorities. Could that be because the team is working on this rumored expansion?
The Business Case Makes Sense
From a business perspective, a new Witcher 3 expansion is surprisingly logical. The game has sold over 60 million copies worldwide. Even if only a fraction of that player base buys new DLC, the sales potential is enormous. Chrzanowski’s prediction of 11 million copies at $30 each equals $330 million in revenue against a $14.5 million production budget. Those numbers would make any publisher’s eyes light up.
The expansion also provides marketing momentum for The Witcher 4. Bringing lapsed players back to The Witcher 3 through new content puts the franchise front of mind again. It reminds people why they loved these games while setting up plot threads that will pay off in the sequel. It’s a calculated strategy to maintain engagement during the long gap between major releases.
CD Projekt Red could also use the expansion to introduce new players to the series. A 2026 relaunch of The Witcher 3 with fresh content gives the company another chance to sell the Complete Edition to people who skipped it the first time. With improved console performance thanks to the next-gen update released in 2022, the game runs better than ever on PS5 and Xbox Series X. Adding new story content sweetens the deal considerably.
When Could We See an Announcement
If the expansion exists, when might CD Projekt Red officially announce it? Nieśpielak originally suggested The Game Awards 2025 as a potential reveal window, but that event came and went with no Witcher 3 announcement. However, the company did reveal The Witcher 4 gameplay footage during that show, which may have been considered enough Witcher content for one event.
With the rumored May 2026 release date, an announcement would need to happen relatively soon. CD Projekt Red typically provides at least a few months of marketing lead time before major releases. A reveal in early 2026 followed by a May launch would match their typical promotional cycle for expansions.
The company has been burned by over-promising and under-delivering in the past, particularly with Cyberpunk 2077’s troubled launch. They’ve become much more conservative about announcements, preferring to reveal projects closer to completion. If this expansion is real and targeting May 2026, it’s presumably far enough along that a reveal makes sense.
One More Patch First
Adding another wrinkle to the situation, CD Projekt Red announced in May 2025 that The Witcher 3 would receive one more patch adding cross-platform mod support across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. That patch was originally scheduled for late 2025 but was delayed to 2026 with no firm release window mentioned.
Could this delayed patch actually include preparation work for the rumored expansion? Updating the game’s infrastructure, fixing compatibility issues, and ensuring stability across platforms would be necessary groundwork before launching new content. The timing certainly lines up suspiciously well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Witcher 3 expansion confirmed?
No, CD Projekt Red has not officially confirmed any new expansion for The Witcher 3. The information comes from multiple reports by Polish industry insiders and financial analysts, but the company itself only states it does not comment on rumor or speculation.
When would the Witcher 3 expansion release?
According to analyst predictions, the expansion could launch in May 2026. However, without official confirmation from CD Projekt Red, this date should be treated as speculation.
How much would the expansion cost?
Reports suggest the expansion would be priced at approximately $30, similar to Cyberpunk 2077’s Phantom Liberty expansion. This price point indicates substantial content rather than a small mission pack.
What would the expansion be about?
While no official details exist, speculation suggests the expansion would bridge the gap between The Witcher 3 and The Witcher 4, potentially explaining Ciri’s transition to becoming a full witcher and resolving unanswered plot threads from Wild Hunt’s various endings.
Would you play as Geralt or Ciri?
This is unknown, but many fans theorize the expansion might feature Ciri as the playable character, allowing CD Projekt Red to introduce her gameplay mechanics before The Witcher 4 launches.
Who is developing the expansion?
According to reports, Fool’s Theory is handling development. This is the same studio currently remaking The Witcher 1 for CD Projekt Red and employs former Witcher 2 and 3 developers.
Why would CD Projekt Red make new content for a 10-year-old game?
The Witcher 3 has sold over 60 million copies and maintains a huge player base. New content could generate significant revenue while building marketing momentum for The Witcher 4. It also provides an opportunity to address narrative gaps between games.
Wasn’t Blood and Wine supposed to be Geralt’s final adventure?
Yes, Blood and Wine was positioned as Geralt’s send-off. However, if the new expansion focuses on Ciri or bridges the narrative to The Witcher 4, it wouldn’t necessarily contradict that farewell.
Will the expansion work on the old REDengine?
The Witcher 3 runs on CD Projekt Red’s proprietary REDengine, which the company no longer actively develops since moving to Unreal Engine 5. Any expansion would need to be built using the existing engine, which presents technical challenges but remains feasible.
When might CD Projekt Red announce this expansion?
If the expansion exists and targets a May 2026 release, an official announcement would likely happen in early 2026 to provide marketing lead time. However, this is pure speculation without confirmation.
Final Thoughts
The possibility of new Witcher 3 content in 2026 represents either one of the most exciting surprises in recent RPG history or an elaborate case of wishful thinking that got out of hand. The evidence pointing toward a real expansion keeps piling up. Multiple independent sources making similar claims, cryptic financial report language from CD Projekt Red executives, and the sound business logic all suggest something is genuinely happening behind the scenes. Yet the lack of official confirmation and the practical challenges of developing new content for decade-old technology using an abandoned engine leave room for doubt. What we do know is that CD Projekt Red loves surprising fans with unexpected content. They’ve done it before with free DLC, next-gen updates, and bonus quests. The company clearly wants to maintain The Witcher 3’s legacy while building anticipation for the franchise’s future. If this rumored expansion proves real, it offers one final chance to experience the world that defined a generation of RPG gaming. Whether that means another ride across Velen with Geralt, a new adventure with Ciri, or something completely unexpected, the prospect of returning to The Witcher 3 with fresh eyes and new stories is genuinely exciting. We’ll likely know the truth soon enough. If May 2026 really is the target window, CD Projekt Red can’t stay silent much longer. Until then, Witcher fans will keep scouring financial reports and parsing executive quotes for clues, hoping that one more path awaits on the Continent.