The Witcher 3’s Song of the Past DLC is set to release in 2027, by which time the game will have already received a remaster with significant changes for modern consoles. Developers will update it graphically and make technical improvements. Representatives from CD Projekt RED noted that this provided the basis for implementing some of the ideas considered in the original game, but that the authors were then hampered by technical limitations. The add-on’s game director Jakub Rokosz and CD Projekt Red senior mission designer Despoina Anetaki spoke to BBC News about some of these points.
One of these elements is Geralt’s Chains, which he will use in the expansion. Rokosz said the developers discussed the weapon while working on The Witcher 3 more than a decade ago. Later it could not be implemented due to some technical issues. After upgrading the game engine and systems for the remake, the necessary conditions were finally in place to achieve smooth animations and mature chain mechanics. Anetaki noted that the mechanic also fits well with Andrzej Sapkovsky’s books, in which Geralt uses chains in combat.
Severe technical limitations previously did not allow the creation of new Leiten regions. Rokosh said that in early prototypes, it was impossible to ride the Roach normally in the area’s dense forests. Large amounts of vegetation, small shrubs, and other objects require changes in the horse’s locomotion and navigation systems.
Additionally, Letten was created to create a rich, self-contained world. The developers have updated the NPC system to allow the area’s residents to use horses, carts, and boats and perform more actions without Geralt’s direct involvement. As a result, settlements in the area will appear more vibrant than in the original game, and the behavior of the residents will become part of the overall world simulation.
Another thing that wasn’t possible in the original The Witcher 3 was the large amount of open water in the center of Leiten. According to the developers, the viewing range allows players to see a large number of objects and characters at the same time, so the developers had to optimize the engine’s work with space and environments so that everything technically works at the appropriate level. In the original version of The Witcher 3, this density of distant objects and details created additional limitations.
CD Projekt RED stated that the addition of “Song of the Past” is directly related to the technical rework of “The Witcher 3”. Rokosh said that several factors had to be met for the project to appear, and the changes in the remake were one of the key conditions. Let’s remember that the original game was released on Xbox One and Playstation 4 generation consoles.
Previously, the developers confirmed that it would be possible to play the Ballad of the Past add-on directly from the menu, without having to browse the original game.
