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The Witcher 3 expansion rumors: what’s being said about Zerrikania and Kovir

11 January 2026
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13 min.
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The Witcher 3 expansion rumors: what’s being said about Zerrikania and Kovir

Summary:

Rumors about a fresh add-on for The Witcher 3 have picked up again, mostly because multiple outlets are now pointing to the same idea: something new may be in the works, and it may involve a brand-new region. The spark that got everyone talking is reporting that references IGN Poland, which said it had heard about potential plans years ago but chose not to publish at the time because the tip came from only one source. Now that other chatter is circling, that earlier claim is being discussed more openly, including the suggestion that the team once looked toward Zerrikania, a far-off eastern land known in Witcher lore for deserts, danger, and dragon stories. At the same time, even the rumor itself admits plans can change, and names like Kovir get mentioned as possible alternatives, which tells us this may have moved around internally even if the core idea stayed alive.

The key thing to keep straight is the difference between “reported” and “announced.” Right now, the public conversation is built on reporting, analyst talk, and the kind of secondhand signals that can be interesting without being a guarantee. That’s not a buzzkill, it’s just good survival instincts. If anything, treating this like a campfire story we’re all leaning in toward makes it more fun: we can talk about why Zerrikania would feel fresh compared to the familiar swamps, cities, and isles, and why Kovir would push a completely different vibe with cold coasts, money politics, and merchant power plays. We can also think about how a late add-on could act like a bridge toward the next Witcher era, without needing to pretend we know the exact plan. Until CD Projekt Red puts a clear statement on the table, the smartest move is to enjoy the possibilities while keeping your feet planted on solid ground.

The Witcher 3 expansion is being talked about … again

Right now, the most accurate way to talk about this is simple: several gaming outlets are reporting renewed chatter that The Witcher 3 could receive an additional add-on long after its major expansions. That chatter includes the idea of a completely new region, not just a small quest drop or a minor patch. The specific detail that’s getting repeated is that IGN Poland said it heard about potential plans years ago but didn’t publish then because it came from only one source. That matters, because it frames the claim as something the outlet treated cautiously rather than a quick hype push. It also matters because the same reporting keeps stressing what we should stress too: there’s no official announcement on a new expansion, no storefront listing, and no release date confirmed by CD Projekt Red. So we’re dealing with a mix of reporting and interpretation, and we should keep it in that box. Still, the reason people care is obvious. The Witcher 3 is the kind of game where “one more ride” sounds tempting, like finding an extra coin in your winter coat and suddenly deciding you’re buying the fancy coffee.

Why outlets are revisiting older whispers now

The timing is the whole story here. The older “we heard something” claim only becomes a headline when the broader background noise gets louder, and that’s exactly what’s happened. Recent reporting ties the renewed discussion to a combination of industry talk, analyst commentary, and references to CD Projekt’s investor-facing language that hints at something additional arriving for an existing game. When that kind of corporate wording shows up, it doesn’t magically confirm a Witcher 3 add-on, but it does give rumor-watchers something sturdier than vibes. That’s why IGN Poland’s “we sat on this for years” angle suddenly feels relevant to a wider audience. It’s like a weather forecast where one dark cloud means nothing, but five dark clouds and a weird wind start making you look for an umbrella. The sensible takeaway is not “it’s happening,” but “more people are pointing at the same corner of the room.” And when that happens in games, the conversation always heats up, whether the final reveal is huge, modest, or not Witcher-related at all.

What a new region would change for The Witcher 3

If we’re talking about an add-on that introduces a new region, we’re talking about real work. A new region is not just sand textures and a few palm trees slapped into the distance. It’s quest routing, NPC schedules, voice work, combat tuning, loot balance, economy balance, and that invisible Witcher magic where a place feels lived-in instead of like a theme park. The Witcher 3 has a high bar for regional identity, and you can feel it when you go from muddy war-torn villages to big-city alleys to island cliffs that look like they were carved out of storm clouds. So the “new region” claim is exciting because it suggests something with weight, but it also raises expectations fast. If it’s real, it would need to justify its existence in story terms, not just as a map you jog across while picking herbs. That’s why regions like Zerrikania or Kovir catch attention. They’re not small side streets off Novigrad, they’re totally different directions on the compass, and that implies a fresh tone, fresh conflicts, and fresh monsters to match.

Zerrikania in Witcher lore and why it keeps coming up

Zerrikania is the rumor magnet because it’s both familiar and unseen. It’s part of Witcher lore, it gets referenced, and it carries a strong identity that’s easy to picture: harsh landscapes, long travel distances, and cultures that feel far removed from the Northern Kingdoms. That “far removed” part is doing a lot of heavy lifting. After dozens of hours in Velen’s misery, Novigrad’s chaos, and Skellige’s wind-battered pride, a place that plays by different rules sounds refreshing. It also gives writers room to surprise us without contradicting what players already know from the game’s core regions. If we imagine a Zerrikania setting, the appeal is not only visual. It’s thematic. Geralt is a professional monster problem-solver, but he’s also a stranger almost everywhere he goes, and an eastern region could crank that feeling up. New customs, new politics, new dangers, and a different relationship with magic could make Geralt feel like he’s walking into someone else’s story, which is exactly where the best Witcher quests tend to live.

Dragons, deserts, and the Manticore thread

One reason Zerrikania fits the imagination so well is that it naturally invites different monster storytelling. Deserts and steppes don’t just look different, they change the rules of survival. Water becomes precious, travel becomes risky, and small mistakes get punished fast. That’s perfect Witcher territory, because Geralt stories shine when the environment itself feels like a predator with patience. The “dragon” angle also comes up often in lore discussions around Zerrikania, and whether that becomes literal or stays mythic, it’s a strong hook. Then there’s the Manticore thread that fans love to point at: the Manticore school gear is associated with the broader world beyond the familiar kingdoms, and that association makes “eastward expansion” feel less random. Even if none of that becomes part of a real add-on, it explains why Zerrikania keeps returning as the setting people want to believe. It’s a ready-made mood, like a new spice blend that you can almost smell before you open the jar.

How The Witcher 3 already points east in small ways

The Witcher 3 is full of little breadcrumbs that make distant places feel real, even when we never visit them. We read books, hear tavern talk, and catch namedrops that expand the map in our heads. That’s why an eastern region rumor lands: the game already trained us to imagine a bigger world beyond the playable borders. The smartest version of an eastern add-on wouldn’t need to “explain the whole east,” because that would turn mystery into homework. It would just need to use those breadcrumbs as seasoning, then deliver a tight story that stands on its own. Think of it like hearing about a legendary restaurant for years, then finally visiting and finding out it’s not the entire city’s food scene, it’s one incredible meal that makes the stories feel earned. If a new region happens, it should respect that balance. Give us enough context to feel grounded, but keep the wider world large and strange. That’s one of the reasons The Witcher’s setting feels alive in the first place.

Kovir as the alternate rumor and what that suggests

Kovir shows up as the “maybe it changed” option, and it’s a fascinating contrast. If Zerrikania is heat, distance, and myths that feel like mirages, Kovir leans toward cold, commerce, and power built on money rather than conquest. That matters because it would shift the flavor of quests. In Kovir, a monster contract might still be a monster contract, but the human problems around it could look different. Merchants, financiers, political bargaining, and a more trade-driven society can create conflicts that are less about armies and more about leverage. That’s classic Witcher material too, because Geralt is always getting dragged into human messes that are more dangerous than any claws. The fact that Kovir is mentioned as a possibility also tells us something important about the rumor space: even the people sharing the idea acknowledge uncertainty and change over time. Internal plans can move. Priorities can shift. Teams can be reassigned. So Kovir is less “here’s the confirmed map” and more “here’s proof the brainstorming board might have been messy.” Honestly, that’s believable in game development, where plans get rewritten the way Geralt rewrites someone’s confidence with a single raised eyebrow.

How a late add-on could fit between Wild Hunt and the next saga

The big narrative question is not “can it exist,” but “where does it sit without feeling awkward.” The Witcher 3 already has strong endings, and its major expansions add weight without breaking the core arc. So if another add-on arrives, it would need a reason to exist that doesn’t step on toes. The cleanest approach would be a story that feels like a self-contained adventure, the kind Geralt could plausibly take between larger life-changing events. That’s how Witcher storytelling often works anyway. A contract becomes a mystery. A mystery becomes a political problem. A political problem becomes a moral headache. And then Geralt walks away with scars, a little money, and the familiar feeling that the world didn’t get fixed, it just got nudged. If the broader franchise is moving toward a new era, a late add-on could also function as a tonal handoff, not by shouting “here’s what’s next,” but by quietly setting themes that matter later. The trick is subtlety. The moment it starts feeling like a trailer you have to play, it stops feeling like The Witcher.

Scope expectations: new map, new quests, or a focused storyline

When people hear “expansion,” they immediately picture something enormous, and that’s where expectations can sprint ahead of reality. A smart add-on does not need to be the size of a continent to be memorable. Sometimes the best Witcher experiences are smaller and sharper, like a blade that’s been honed until it’s almost rude. If there’s a new region, the scope could still be focused: one major settlement, a handful of villages, a strong central questline, and side quests that branch in satisfying ways. That kind of structure could deliver the feeling of a fresh place without demanding a massive overhaul. It would also allow the team to keep quality high, because the Witcher formula depends on writing, pacing, and consequences that actually stick. So as we think about “new region,” it helps to picture a curated slice rather than an endless desert stretching to the horizon. Give us a place with character, secrets, and a few unforgettable moments, and we’ll remember it longer than a bigger map filled with filler. Nobody boots up The Witcher 3 hoping for a checklist. We boot it up hoping for stories that punch us in the feelings, then steal our lunch money on the way out.

Who might build it and why that matters for quality and tone

One reason this rumor has legs is that some reporting and chatter points to outside involvement, including the idea that a support studio could be responsible. That matters because The Witcher 3’s tone is specific. It’s grim, but not joyless. It’s funny, but not goofy. It’s heartfelt, but it rarely begs for applause. Any team touching this world needs to understand that balancing act. If another studio is involved, the big question becomes whether they can match the voice, the quest structure, and the “choices with consequences” texture that defines the experience. The upside is that an experienced studio can absolutely deliver great work, especially if they collaborate with the right people and have access to the right tools. The downside is that even small tonal shifts can feel loud in a game fans know by heart. It’s like adding a new musician to a band with a legendary sound. If they get it right, it feels fresh. If they get it wrong, the audience notices in the first chorus. So the “who” part matters, even if the “who” is still being discussed rather than confirmed.

Technical reality check: engine limits, patches, and platform updates

There’s also the practical side: The Witcher 3 is an older game that has already gone through major updates, including the modern console and PC improvements that arrived years after launch. That history is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it proves the game can be maintained and improved over time, and that the team cares about keeping it playable and attractive on newer hardware. On the other hand, building a significant add-on inside an older framework can be tricky, especially if you’re trying to do something visually and mechanically distinct like a desert region with new creatures, new effects, and new systems. It’s not impossible, it’s just not magic. That’s why it’s worth paying attention to the kind of official updates that are already planned, like platform features and mod-related improvements that have been discussed publicly. Those things can be unrelated to a new add-on, but they can also be the kind of groundwork you’d want in place if you were planning to keep the game in the spotlight. In other words, the tech layer can quietly tell you whether a “late addition” is plausible from a production standpoint, even when nobody is ready to say the quiet part out loud.

How to stay excited without treating rumors like promises

This is the part where we protect your hype like it’s a fragile potion bottle in your inventory. You want to feel excited, because imagining Geralt in a new land is fun, and fun is the whole point. But you also don’t want to build a whole castle in your head and then get mad when reality delivers a cozy cottage instead. The best approach is to treat reporting as interesting information, not as a contract. If CD Projekt Red announces something clearly, that’s when we pop the champagne. Until then, we can talk about what makes sense, what would be cool, and what the game’s lore supports, without pretending we have a date circled on a calendar. It also helps to watch for the kind of signals that usually accompany real releases: official channels, clear product pages, formal statements, and details that go beyond “a source said.” Hype is like a good stew. Let it simmer. Don’t crank the heat so high that it burns the pot and fills the kitchen with smoke.

What we want if it happens: quests, monsters, choices, and surprises

If a new add-on really does happen, the wish list is not complicated, it’s just demanding. We want quests that start small and get messy. We want characters who feel like they could ruin our day with a single sentence. We want monsters that are not just bigger versions of old problems, but creatures that fit the ecology and myths of wherever we’re going. And most of all, we want choices that hurt in the good Witcher way, where there’s no clean “hero” button and you’re left staring at the screen thinking, “Well… that felt like the least awful option.” A new region should also bring new flavors to exploration. Different plants for alchemy, different crafting materials, different local superstitions, and contracts that reflect what people fear in that part of the world. If it’s Zerrikania, lean into harsh travel and strange legends. If it’s Kovir, lean into power games and cold pragmatism. Either way, the goal should be the same: make it feel like a place Geralt could walk into, solve one problem, and accidentally get tangled in ten more.

How to spot real signals vs noise

Rumor season is basically monster season, except the monsters are headlines and the silver sword is patience. So how do we separate real signals from noise? First, we pay attention to where information comes from and whether it’s being reported as verified or as speculation. Second, we look for consistency across reputable outlets, especially when they cite named documents, earnings materials, or direct statements rather than vague anonymous claims. Third, we watch official channels, because the moment something is real, marketing needs to exist somewhere, even if it starts quietly. And finally, we keep our expectations flexible. If the next meaningful update is “here’s a platform feature update” rather than “here’s a new map,” that doesn’t mean anything is dead, it just means the puzzle piece we got today is not the one shaped like a dragon. If we treat this like witcher work, we don’t charge in swinging. We investigate, we track, and we wait until the evidence stops being slippery. Then we act.

Conclusion

The Witcher 3 expansion chatter is exciting because it taps into something simple: we still want more time in a world that earned our attention. Reporting that references IGN Poland’s older, previously unpublished tip adds texture to the conversation, and the mention of Zerrikania or Kovir gives everyone a vivid mental picture to argue about in the best way. At the same time, nothing replaces an official announcement, and the healthiest way to handle this is to keep the difference between “reported” and “confirmed” crystal clear. If a new region add-on becomes real, we want it to feel like The Witcher at its best: sharp writing, meaningful choices, and a place that feels dangerous even when the sun is shining. Until then, we can enjoy the speculation like a tavern tale, fun to repeat, fun to debate, and not something we bet our last crown on.

FAQs
  • Has CD Projekt Red officially announced a new The Witcher 3 expansion?
    • No. The current conversation is driven by reporting, analyst commentary, and speculation rather than an official announcement.
  • Why is Zerrikania the region people keep mentioning?
    • Because it’s a well-known location in Witcher lore that feels distinct from the game’s existing regions, making it an easy and exciting setting to imagine for a new area.
  • What does the mention of Kovir suggest?
    • It suggests that if any plans existed, the target setting may have shifted over time, and it highlights that rumors often reflect evolving internal ideas rather than a locked plan.
  • Would a new region mean a huge add-on like past expansions?
    • Not necessarily. A “new region” could still be a focused slice with a strong storyline and curated quests rather than a massive map designed to maximize size.
  • What should we watch for if we want confirmation?
    • Clear statements from official channels, formal product listings, and specific details that go beyond anonymous claims, such as documented materials or direct quotes in context.
Sources
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