The Witcher 3: Songs Of The Past Free Playable Demo Officially Confirmed

1 hour ago 12

witcher 3 wild hunt songs of the past expansion key art

Published Aug 21, 2026, 6:00 AM EDT

James is a gaming writer from London who has spent thousands of hours exploring titles from every genre. Though he has a particular affinity for multiplayer titles like World of Warcraft, Destiny 2 and League of Legends, he has also put thousands of hours into single-player experiences, from deep RPGs to epic PC strategies. When he's not playing or writing, he can usually be found supporting his beloved Brentford FC.

The announcement that The Witcher 3 would be gettting a new story DLC more than ten years on from the games initial release was a genuine moment in gaming as a whole. Designed to bridge the narrative gap between that game and the upcoming Ciri-fronted sequel, it could be the last time we ever see Geralt as the protagonist.

As such, fans are expecting a proper send-off, in whatever form that might come in. The DLC is set to launch next year, on an as yet unannounced date, and there are quite literally millions of players waiting in the wings to see what developer CD Projekt Red has been cooking up.

Now, it has emerged that they won't have to wait too long to do just that, as Songs of the Past is set to be publicly shown off for the first time this month.

Geralt of Rivia in full armor with a sword on his back in The Witcher 3 Game

Over on the official CD Projekt Red website, the developer shared a brief statement confirming that Songs of the Past would be available as a playable demo at Gamescom 2026, which is set to go ahead in Cologne next week (August 26).

"Players and press attending Gamescom in Cologne, Germany can receive a guided presentation of Songs of the Past at the CD PROJEKT RED booth. Showcases of the brand-new expansion will be held in the business area and in the entertainment area.

"Songs of the Past will return players to the role of legendary monster slayer Geralt of Rivia when it launches in 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. It adds a new chapter to The Witcher 3, a game that has sold more than 65 million copies since its release in 2015 and is the winner of more than 250 Game of the Year awards and 1,000 industry awards."

As reported by GameRant, pictures have started to emerge of the CDPR booth at the show itself, which is heavily decorated in art from the game. Many online are speculating that it could feature the Belleteyn festival, which has only been mentioned in passing up to this point, though that remains an unconfirmed fan rumor.

The developer hasn't confirmed exactly how much of the DLC will be available to players this time around, but if Songs of the Past can deliver what fans are expecting of The Witcher in this brief preview, then it should be more than enough to generate plenty of excitement for the full release.