Massive expansion could reshape the world of Geralt, but is it really coming?
Since the latest reveal, a lot of leaks and rumors have been going around about The Witcher 3. The new information has completely turned fan ideas on their heads. People in the community were sure for months that the next DLC would take them to Zerena, a lively and strange place that had been hinted at in the story.
The setup was there, the signs were everywhere, and fans had already started to pack their bags, so it made sense. Everyone thought those places were where they were supposed to be, but a new leak from a very trusted insider has shown that they weren’t.
Along with the shocking new site, the rumor suggests that CD Projekt Red is also taking steps behind the scenes that point to a very big event. From adding The Witcher 3 to subscription services in a quiet way to a PR silence that is out of character, things are starting to fall into place. It’s hard to call it an accident; people in the industry say these moves feel planned and are getting players ready for a big release.
The Zerena idea, which was once very popular, seems to be dead, at least for now.
Different people have different responses to this news. Some players may be let down after being excited about the idea of a new, colorful setting. Velen is, after all, war-torn, muddy, and sad. Still, a lot of experienced gamers say this setting goes perfectly with the dark fantasy mood of The Witcher 3. This area’s dark tone is not a problem; it fits with the main style of the series’ stories and gives them a rich background that players already love.
From the point of view of growth, the leak makes sense. It would take years of work to build a whole new area like Zerena, with new weather systems, NPC cultures, buildings, wildlife, and other things. Since CD Projekt Red’s main company is working on The Witcher 4 and their Boston team is stepping up work on the Cyberpunk sequel, they don’t have many resources to use on a new location. By making Velen bigger, developers can reuse high-quality assets and add a huge new place to play in without starting from scratch.
This plan makes it possible for amazing DLC to be developed.
The team doesn’t have to spend years making new sand textures and desert plants. Instead, they can spend their money on deep tasks, lots of voice acting, complicated character arcs, and tough new monster hunts. Velen’s mud, swamps, and dark streets have already been used to make deeply devastating stories, like the Bloody Baron questline, which was one of the best parts of The Witcher 3.
There are also rumors that this DLC could connect The Witcher 3 and The Witcher 4, which makes staying in Velen a reasonable choice from a story point of view. It would have been a strange choice to send Geralt to a continent that is far away and not linked to anything else.
Instead, expanding into familiar ground keeps things going and keeps players interested in a world they already know very well. This is similar to what CD Projekt Red did with Cyberpunk: Phantom Liberty, which was to add Docktown to Pacifica instead of starting from scratch and building a city.
The leak also showed what the price might be $30.
This number doesn’t mean a small drop in material. Most small DLCs cost between $5 and $10, and The Witcher 3 has always had free expansions with smaller changes. When you pay $30, you get a big, premium expansion like Blood and Wine or Phantom Liberty, with a fully fleshed-out main story, branching dialogue options, cinematic scenes, and maybe even fan-favorite characters coming back.
The business reason for this move is just as strong. The Witcher 3 was just added to Xbox Game Pass, which is an odd choice for a game that is still selling very well on Steam. Analysts in the industry think this is a smart move: by giving the game away for free to millions of players, CD Projekt Red can hook both new players and long-lost fans, making sure they have the most active players before the paid DLC comes out.
It’s interesting that the studio hasn’t denied the reports outright. Being unwilling to say no to a claim directly is often used as a “soft confirmation” in the gaming business. CD Projekt Red is known for actively managing expectations. Their lack of answers to specific questions about the 2026 expansion could be an intentional move to build up natural excitement and let the gaming press amp it up.
Finally, the update gives developers a chance to fix long-standing problems with the game’s gameplay.
Many people have said that The Witcher 3’s combat is too light or shallow compared to current RPGs. In Cyberpunk: Phantom Liberty, CD Projekt Red showed that it could change how things work. A similar method could bring swordplay back to life, making battle feel heavy, precise, and dangerous while also giving even seasoned veterans a new experience.
In the world of The Witcher, everything points to a huge event coming up. Fans have every reason to be excited, thanks to the venue leak, smart business moves, and the $30 price tag. While we still don’t know if the DLC will live up to our hopes, one thing is certain: Velen’s mud, grime, and dark fantasy atmosphere may once again show that the Witcher’s best stories come from the shadows, not the fields.
