Why CD Projekt Red Should Look to the Books for The Witcher's Future
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Following CD Projekt Red's announcement of upcoming Witcher 3 DLC, industry commentary highlights why future games in the franchise should directly adapt Andrzej Sapkowski's original book series rather than continuing past the novels' canon.
CD Projekt Red recently confirmed that fresh DLC is heading to The Witcher 3 under the title Songs of the Past. While we wait for the expansion to drop in 2027, studio executives have hinted that the new content will serve as a bridge toward the Ciri-led Witcher 4. Even so, the title of the upcoming project sparks a larger conversation about the franchise. Writing at Polygon, Austin Manchester makes a strong case for why future Witcher games should stop moving the timeline forward and finally adapt Andrzej Sapkowski's original novel series.
The existing trilogy takes place after the books, meaning a massive library of source material remains largely untouched by the games. While CD Projekt Red has occasionally dipped into the novels for flashbacks and familiar faces like Regis, fans have never experienced core literary milestones like the Thanedd Coup in interactive form. The early short stories practically read like structured side quests, while the later novels introduce complex factions, shifting alliances, and a tight-knit band of companions that could easily support multi-character gameplay or deep dialogue systems.
For a player base that treats digital worlds as long-term second homes, diving deeper into established lore rather than inventing entirely new post-canon chapters offers a compelling hook. Whether Songs of the Past ends up leaning into the past or setting up the next numbered entry, tapping directly into the novels gives developers a goldmine of proven storytelling. It is time to let players experience the literature that started it all, blending the studio's open-world mastery with the narrative depth of the books.
Tags: The Witcher 3, CD Projekt Red, Gaming News, RPG
Original article: Polygon