# The Witcher 3: Songs of Past looked alright in its behind-closed-doors preview, though I’m more enticed by the remaster’s combat upgrades

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-witcher-3-songs-of-past-looked-alright-in-its-behind-closed-doors-preview-though-im-more-enticed-by-the-remasters-combat-upgrades/
- Published: 2026-09-01T21:19:19+00:00
- Updated: 2026-09-02T03:29:50+00:00
- Original publisher: Rock Paper Shotgun
- Original article: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-witcher-3-songs-of-past-looked-alright-in-its-behind-closed-doors-preview-though-im-more-enticed-by-the-remasters-combat-upgrades
- Topics: Culture, Entertainment, Europe, Gaming, Music, Travel

## Key points

- Witcher 3 Remastered's combat overhaul impressed more than paid DLC
- Remaster launches 29 September, free to existing owners
- Songs of the Past expansion adds silver chain weapon, new region Letten

## Summary

Rock Paper Shotgun's hands-off Gamescom preview of The Witcher 3's Songs of the Past expansion left the outlet more excited about the free Remastered edition's combat overhaul than the paid expansion itself. The preview, jointly run by CD Projekt Red and co-developer Fool's Theory, largely focused on reworked combat, movement, UI and role-playing systems coming to the base game's Remastered version, which launches on 29th September, well ahead of the expansion, and is free to existing owners.

Combat in the remaster looked notably more fluid, with faster, better-strung combos and smarter camera targeting during group fights, addressing long-standing criticism of the original 2015 game. Songs of the Past will add a silver chain weapon that lets Geralt drag enemies in for cinematic finishing moves, alongside a new region called Letten and creatures including the Thornbloom and the hornet-shielded Swarmion; however, the outlet felt the expansion itself still lacked a clear justification for existing, with the free combat improvements proving the more compelling draw.

## Coverage

- [Rock Paper Shotgun: The Witcher 3: Songs of Past looked alright in its behind-closed-doors preview, though I’m more enticed by the remaster’s combat upgrades](https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-witcher-3-songs-of-past-looked-alright-in-its-behind-closed-doors-preview-though-im-more-enticed-by-the-remasters-combat-upgrades)
- [GamesRadar+: CD Projekt "never thought about" charging The Witcher 3 owners for the remaster: "This is the CDPR way"](https://www.gamesradar.com/games/the-witcher/cd-projekt-never-thought-about-charging-the-witcher-3-owners-for-the-remaster-this-is-the-cdpr-way/)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.