Will There Be a New Expansion for The Witcher 3 This Year?

UPDATE 4.10PM GMT: CD Projekt Red has stated that they do not comment on rumors or speculation, which aligns with their usual approach.

UPDATE 1.30PM GMT: I communicated with Borys Nieśpielak, the original source of the Witcher 3 expansion rumors. He claims his information was corroborated by multiple independent sources. Although he had no additional details beyond what was discussed in his podcast, he pointed me towards a relevant piece from a recent earnings call transcript, which he believes has gone unnoticed by many.

During the earnings call, CD Projekt's CFO, Piotr Nielubowicz, mentioned, "Given our current progress, there is a chance that new content hinted at in recent calls and reports may see release in the coming year, possibly affecting our results and enhancing the likelihood of meeting the earnings conditions for the first stage of the incentive program." While this statement is vague, it does indicate the potential release of new content this year. Could this indeed be accurate?

ORIGINAL STORY 11.30AM BST: Speculation is swirling about whether a new paid expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will be released in 2026. This rumor has been circulating widely while I've taken a break over the holidays.

Borys Nieśpielak, a reliable figure in the Polish gaming industry, mentioned during the summer last year that Fool's Theory, the studio responsible for remaking The Witcher 1 for CD Projekt Red, is working on a new Witcher 3 expansion. He reinforced this claim ahead of The Game Awards in December, where he anticipated an announcement. However, such an announcement did not materialize.

This does not necessarily dismiss the rumor, as Polish Noble Securities analyst Mateusz Chrzanowski also weighed in on December 16, post-The Game Awards, suggesting, "We expect the next paid add-on (DLC) for The Witcher 3 to be released in May 2026," based on a Google translation of a report from a Polish website.

"We anticipate sales of 11 million copies at $30 each next year, with a production budget estimated at PLN 52 million. The release should propel the marketing campaign for The Witcher 4," added Chrzanowski, who also predicts that The Witcher 4 will arrive in Q4 2027.

Could this rumored Witcher 3 expansion be the unannounced project mentioned in a recent CD Projekt Red financial report? It makes sense strategically to launch the marketing for The Witcher 4 with new content for The Witcher 3, which could also serve a narrative purpose by bridging the transition from Geralt to Ciri as the lead character. Additionally, a paid expansion could provide financial support as anticipation builds for The Witcher 4.

However, there are valid doubts as well. A significant concern is the shift to Unreal Engine 5 for development, as both The Witcher 4 and the remake of the original Witcher are being created using this new engine. If Fool's Theory is already engaged with these major projects, why allocate them to develop something for the previous generation's engine, the Red Engine?

CD Projekt Red is known for its substantial investments in expansions, as evidenced by Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty and The Witcher 3's Blood and Wine, which offered extensive content. These expansions are designed to be developed internally, ideally shortly after a major game's release.

Since it has been a decade since The Witcher 3 debuted, many of the original team members have moved on, making it challenging to recreate the same passion and expertise that brought the game to life. Moreover, diverting talent from significant projects like The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2 seems unlikely.

There's also the question of who the expansion would focus on—Geralt again? Given the intent to introduce Ciri as the series' new protagonist, it seems counterproductive to reestablish Geralt in the limelight while developing Ciri's storyline for the next game. Blood and Wine served as an ideal swan song for Geralt, creating uncertainty around the necessity of a new story for him.

I have reached out to Nieśpielak, Chrzanowski, and CD Projekt Red for further clarification. In the meantime, what are your thoughts on the matter?