The Witcher 3's 2027 DLC requires Windows 11 and an SSD — no exceptions

CD Projekt Red has announced that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will raise its minimum PC requirements when the new DLC Songs of the Past launches in 2027 — and the changes cut off anyone still running Windows 10 or a traditional hard drive. This is the third major paid expansion for the 2015 RPG, co-developed with Polish studio Fool's Theory. The catch: no graphics upgrade has been announced to justify the hardware push.

The new minimums

According to CD Projekt Support, the updated requirements are:

- OS: Windows 11 (Windows 10 no longer supported) - CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 or Intel Core i5-8400 - GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 or AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT (8 GB) - RAM: 12 GB - Storage: 70 GB SSD — HDDs are out completely - API: DirectX 12

The CPU and GPU bars are modest. The real bite is the SSD mandate and the Windows 11 requirement. CD Projekt ties the OS change directly to Microsoft ending Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025 — the same logic already applied to Cyberpunk 2077. The SSD requirement is framed around faster asset streaming, not visual fidelity.

What this means for you

If you're on Windows 10 with an HDD, this isn't a software update — it could mean replacing a motherboard and CPU to get Windows 11 running properly on older hardware. That's a significant ask for a game you already own.

There is a fallback. Steam and GOG both allow rolling back to a previous game version via beta branches, so you can keep playing the current build indefinitely. Epic Games Store users have no equivalent option, per Windows Forum analysis.

The expansion is being co-developed with Fool's Theory — the same Polish studio already remaking the original Witcher 1. Geralt returns as protagonist. Full story details were held back and are expected later in summer 2026. Pricing has not been announced.

The bigger picture

It's rare for a 2015 title to hike hardware requirements without a simultaneous visual upgrade. CD Projekt's move signals confidence that its current PC audience has already moved on to SSDs and Windows 11 — but players who haven't may feel pushed rather than invited into the new expansion.