The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past makes Letten worth the return

TOKYO, Japan – When CD Projekt Red announced The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past, it would have been easy to dismiss it as a nostalgia play. After all, this is a new expansion arriving more than a decade after Geralt’s last major adventure.

After seeing nearly an hour of gameplay at Tokyo Game Show 2026, however, Songs of the Past feels like much more than a return trip. Between a beautifully realized new region, substantial visual upgrades, and a new hook tool that refreshes combat, the expansion already looks like a strong reason to revisit The Witcher 3.

The demo begins with Geralt searching for the missing Dandelion in Letten, the bard’s homeland. While the mystery surrounding his disappearance drives the expansion’s opening hours, it was Letten itself that emerged as the true star of the presentation.

The opening sequence showcases a countryside far removed from the war-ravaged landscapes many players associate with The Witcher 3. Rolling fields, rivers winding through the countryside, boats gliding across the water, and villages surrounded by vibrant greenery immediately establish a brighter and more inviting setting.

Combined with denser foliage, improved lighting, and upgraded environmental detail, Letten often looked like a completely new area rather than an addition to a 2015 game.

The foliage was particularly impressive throughout the demo. Forests felt denser, flowers blanketed hillsides, and sunlight filtered naturally through trees and windows alike. Interior scenes inside the Lettenhove estate also benefited from the visual overhaul, with softer lighting and richer environmental detail helping sell the location as a lived-in family home.

The world feels more alive in smaller ways, too. Villagers appear more dynamic thanks to improved NPC behavior, while simple interactions add extra charm.

In one brief moment, Geralt stopped to pet a dog, earning an audible reaction from the audience. It’s a small touch, but one that reinforces the sense that Letten is a place worth spending time in before its darker secrets begin to surface.

That contrast between beauty and horror was one of the demo’s strongest elements. As Geralt and Dandelion’s cousin Lilla journey toward the mysterious Garden of Thorns, colorful countryside gradually gives way to twisted vegetation, oppressive forests, and monstrous plant-based creatures lurking beneath the surface.

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Combat

Combat receives a notable addition through a new chain hook tool. The hook can be used to target enemies from a distance, slow time, and pull foes into melee range for quick follow-up attacks.

During the demonstration, it proved especially useful against new monsters, allowing Geralt to break through defenses, isolate targets, and set up brutal finishing moves.

While combat still looks unmistakably like The Witcher 3, the hook gives Geralt another option alongside his swords, Signs, and crossbow, adding a fresh layer to encounters without fundamentally changing the formula fans already know.

Based on what was shown at Tokyo Game Show, Songs of the Past understands exactly what made The Witcher 3 memorable in the first place. The mystery surrounding Dandelion is intriguing, but it was Letten’s scenic waterways, lush landscapes, denser foliage, and lived-in atmosphere that left the strongest impression.

The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past launches in 2027 for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2.

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