Polygon has previewed the first gameplay demo for Songs of the Past, an upcoming expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt shown at Gamescom. The 11-year-old RPG remains hugely popular, and the expansion follows the format of the acclaimed Blood and Wine add-on, offering a new region, fresh quests and enemies, and a story centred on the backstory of fan-favourite bard Dandelion, all while retaining Geralt's familiar dry humour.

In the demo, Geralt retrieves Dandelion's stolen lute and, after meeting the bard's cousin Lilla, uncovers a deeper mystery leading into the "garden of thorns". There he faces two new enemy types, the acid-spitting Thornbloom and hornet-shielded Swarmion, using a new chain weapon that can pull foes in for brutal new finishing moves, before a boss fight against an undead knight. Lilla also appears to be a potential new romance option for Geralt. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past is due for release in 2027 and can be wishlisted now.