It is officially January 2, 2026, and the gaming world is buzzing with what might be the most unexpected comeback in RPG history. After months of "vibrations" and leaks, it now seems almost certain that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will receive a third major expansion this year—a full decade after Blood and Wine supposedly closed the book on Geralt of Rivia.
While CD Projekt Red (CDPR) remains tight-lipped, a combination of financial reports and analyst leaks has painted a very clear picture of what’s coming.
The "Smoking Gun": CDPR’s Earnings Call
The turning point came during a recent financial report where CDPR's CFO, Piotr Nielubowicz, made a remarkably candid statement. He noted that "new content hinted upon in recent calls and reports may see release in the coming year," explicitly mentioning that this content would have a meaningful impact on the company’s 2026 financial results.
Combined with CEO Michał Nowakowski mentioning an "other project" being handled by Fool's Theory (the studio also remaking The Witcher 1), the dots have effectively been connected.
The Leaked Details: Price, Date, and Scope
Polish analyst Mateusz Chrzanowski of Noble Securities recently published a report that has set the community on fire. According to his data:
Expected Release: May 2026 (coinciding with the game’s 11th anniversary).
Price Point: $30.00—suggesting a substantial expansion on par with Hearts of Stone or Blood and Wine.
Sales Forecast: Analysts expect it to sell 11 million copies within its first year.
The "Bridge" Strategy: The DLC is reportedly designed to serve as a narrative bridge to The Witcher 4 (Project Polaris), which is currently projected for a Q4 2027 release.
Will Ciri Be the Protagonist?
The most popular theory among fans is that this expansion will shift the perspective to Ciri.
Narrative Setup: Since Geralt’s story ended so perfectly in Toussaint, a "prequel" or "interquel" following Ciri would allow CDPR to set up her role as the lead in the new trilogy without disturbing Geralt’s retirement.
The Power Problem: Some speculate the DLC will show how Ciri "lost" or "stabilized" her Elder Blood powers, explaining why she won't be completely invincible when The Witcher 4 begins.
Technical Hurdles
The most interesting challenge is the engine. CDPR has moved all future projects to Unreal Engine 5, but The Witcher 3 runs on the aging REDengine 3.
Fool's Theory to the Rescue: The studio's head, Jakub Rokosz, was a senior quest designer on the original Witcher 3, making his team the perfect choice to return to the old tools for one last ride.
What We Know is Confirmed for 2026
Even if the story DLC remains a "rumor" for a few more weeks, CDPR has officially confirmed one final technical update for The Witcher 3 arriving in 2026:
Cross-Platform Mod Support: This update (via mod.io) will allow console players (PS5/Xbox Series X) to download and play many of the massive community-created mods previously exclusive to PC.
Are you ready to pay $30 for a new chapter in a 10-year-old game, or should Geralt stay retired in the sunshine of Toussaint? Let us know in the comments!
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