Geralt’s next adventure will not come completely free of cost.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Release Date: May 19, 2015
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
With The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past, CD Projekt Red is not only bringing Geralt back for a new story, but also raising the technical baseline for the game. If your PC has been comfortably running The Witcher 3 for years, this DLC might be the moment where an upgrade becomes necessary.
TL;DR
- Songs of the Past updates The Witcher 3 PC requirements
- Windows 11 is now required
- SSD is mandatory, with HDD support dropped
- The game will now run only on DirectX 12
- Minimum specs are much higher than before
Table of content
New Minimum PC Requirements
The updated requirements for The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past are noticeably higher than the old baseline.
Why Are The Requirements Changing?
CD Projekt Red says the change is not random. It comes from a combination of new content, modern technology, and the need to move the game toward current PC standards.
The main reasons include:
- Windows 10 support ending in October 2025
- A move toward newer hardware standards
- Better streaming and loading thanks to SSD-only support
- Full transition to DirectX 12
In short: The Witcher 3 may have launched in 2015, but under the hood, it is no longer being treated like a 2015 game.
No More HDD and Windows 10
The two biggest changes are also the ones most likely to affect older setups: SSD-only storage and the jump to Windows 11.
1. SSD Is Now Mandatory
If The Witcher 3 is still installed on a traditional hard drive, that will no longer be enough for the new DLC and updated version.
The SSD requirement should help with:
- Faster loading times
- Smoother open-world streaming
- Better stability during exploration and combat
2. Windows 11 Required
Because Microsoft is ending Windows 10 support, CDPR is moving forward as well.
That means the studio will:
- Stop testing the updated game on Windows 10
- Require Windows 11 for future updates
- Potentially leave some older CPUs and GPUs behind
What This Means for Players
Let’s be honest – this is a significant jump for a game many players still associate with older hardware.
The new requirements mean:
- Budget PCs may struggle to meet the new minimum specs
- Older gaming laptops could fall below the new baseline
- SSD and Windows 11 are now basically required for the modern version of the game
Good news: Players who cannot run the updated version should still be able to roll back to older versions of The Witcher 3.
Is This Because of the New DLC?
Most likely, yes.
With Songs of the Past coming in 2027, CD Projekt Red appears to be preparing The Witcher 3 for a more modern technical standard.
That could point to:
- Improved visuals
- More detailed environments
- More demanding world streaming
- Modern rendering features built around DirectX 12
This suggests the expansion may feel much closer to a current-gen release than a simple add-on for an older RPG.
Final Thoughts
The Witcher 3 is evolving again, even more than a decade after launch.
The new PC requirements may frustrate players on older machines, but they also send a clear message: Songs of the Past is not just another small content drop.
It looks like a technical refresh for the whole game, built to support a more modern Witcher experience.
If you plan to return to the Path in 2027, this might be the right time to:
- Upgrade your PC
- Move the game to an SSD
- Prepare for Windows 11 and DirectX 12
Geralt is coming back – but this time, your hardware needs to be ready too.
Source:
- https://support.cdprojektred.com/en/witcher-3/pc/sp-technical/issue/2973/upcoming-changes-to-minimum-requirements-for-the-witcher-3-wild-hunt