The Witcher 3’s Chain Weapon Was Once Considered Impossible

September 12, 2026

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is set to receive a long-requested weapon when its upcoming expansion, Songs of the Past, arrives in 2027. The chain was discussed during development of the original game, but technical limitations prevented CD Projekt Red from making it work.

Geralt’s missing chain finally becomes playable

Geralt has used a chain in the Witcher novels and short stories, and the weapon appeared in the opening cinematic of 2007’s The Witcher, where he fights a striga. It was absent from both the second and third games until now.

Songs of the Past will bring back familiar characters including Dandelion, introduce new enemy types and give Geralt a chain designed to feel fluid in combat. The expansion follows the release of a remastered version of The Witcher 3, scheduled for later this month.

Why the weapon took 11 years

Game director Jakub Rokosz said CD Projekt Red had considered adding the chain to the base game, but described it as impossible at the time because of several technological challenges. Work on the remaster helped the team solve those problems and turn the book-inspired idea into a practical weapon.

In an interview highlighted by GamesRadar, Rokosz said the finished weapon should realise the fantasy seen in the books and the earlier trailer.

Useful against swarming enemies

Senior quest designer Despoina Anetaki explained that the chain has a particular role against the expansion’s Swarmions. Geralt can use it for crowd control, keeping groups of enemies at a distance, or pull targets closer for follow-up attacks.

A hands-off preview at Gamescom demonstrated the chain pulling enemies from afar, breaking a Swarmion’s protection and creating opportunities for new finishers. One previewed finisher ends with the chain taking the enemy’s head clean off. The weapon also offers an alternative for players who have grown tired of relying on the crossbow.