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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesNo. You can start The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past after finishing the main story of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt; completing Blood and Wine is not required. Playing it first is recommended if you want the story in chronological order, because Songs of the Past takes place later and adjusts some story details based on whether you finished the earlier expansion.
What the developers say about starting the expansion
Fool’s Theory creative vision director Karolina Kuzia-Rokosz told VGC, in comments reported by GamesRadar in October 2026, that players can start Songs of the Past immediately after finishing the base game’s main story. She said players do not have to finish either of the earlier expansions first.
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That makes Blood and Wine optional as a prerequisite—not a requirement to unlock or begin the new expansion. The developer’s stated starting point is completion of the main story.
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Why playing Blood and Wine first can still make sense
It comes earlier in the story
Kuzia-Rokosz described the earlier expansions as preceding Songs of the Past in the timeline. The new story follows Geralt’s wish to retire before his best friend asks him for one last favor. If you want to experience Geralt’s story in chronological order, play Blood and Wine before the new expansion.
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Your completion history affects continuity
The developers say Songs of the Past continues differently depending on whether you finished Blood and Wine, with differences carried through the story, dialogue, and consequences. The interview report does not identify the exact scenes or outcomes that change, so it is not possible to say what a player who skips the expansion will miss in detail.
Which order should you choose?
- You have finished the main story but not Blood and Wine: You can begin Songs of the Past without completing it first. Play Blood and Wine beforehand if chronological continuity matters to you.
- You are new to The Witcher 3 or want the full story in sequence: Finish the main story, then play the earlier expansions before Songs of the Past. That is a narrative recommendation, not an access rule.
- You are deciding whether to wait: There is no need to delay Blood and Wine for the new expansion. CD PROJEKT’s Q1 2026 financial statement schedules Songs of the Past for 2027, but does not give a firm launch date.
What is confirmed about Songs of the Past
CD PROJEKT describes Songs of the Past as a third expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, developed with Fool’s Theory. On the company’s Q1 2026 earnings call, joint CEO Michał Nowakowski distinguished it from smaller free DLC and described it as an expansion. He compared its scope to Blood and Wine, while noting that such a comparison is subjective; the transcript did not announce a price. The available company materials establish a planned 2027 release year, not a specific date.
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Songs of the Past is an expansion for the base game. Nothing in the developer comments says that owning Blood and Wine is necessary to play it.
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