Don't hold your breath for The Witcher 4. According to CD Projekt, the developers behind the game, fans won't see it hit the shelves until 2027 at the earliest. During a financial call focused on outlining future profit projections, CD Projekt shared their ambitious goals: “Even though we do not plan to release The Witcher 4 by the end of 2026, we are still driven by this financial goal. And although it’s very ambitious, we stand a chance of achieving it within the given timeframe.” This statement officially rules out a launch in the current year, dashes hopes for a 2026 release, and sets 2027 as the earliest possible release date for The Witcher 4. However, considering the unpredictable nature of the video game industry, a 2028 release seems within the realm of possibility.
With a release window of 2027 at the earliest, The Witcher 4 might target the next generation of gaming consoles. Sony is likely working on plans for the PlayStation 6, while rumors suggest Microsoft is eyeing a 2027 launch for the successor to the Xbox Series X and possibly an Xbox handheld. This raises the question: will The Witcher 4 be a cross-gen game, similar to Cyberpunk 2077 when it launched in December 2020? If it is cross-gen, including versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S, could it also end up on the Nintendo Switch 2? While it seems unlikely, we should remember that The Witcher 3 did make its way to the Switch, proving that anything is possible in the gaming world.
Here's what we know about The Witcher 4: it's the first installment in a new trilogy set after the events of The Witcher 3. Unlike previous games, which focused on Geralt, The Witcher 4 will feature Ciri as the protagonist. In an exclusive interview with IGN ahead of the game's reveal, executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga explained why Ciri was chosen: “It was always about her, starting from the Saga when you read it in the books. She's an amazing, layered character. And of course, as a protagonist we said goodbye to Geralt previously. So this is a continuation. I guess for all of us it’s like she was meant to be. That was always her.”
The Witcher IV Game Awards Trailer Screenshots
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In January, as part of a broader interview with IGN about Netflix’s upcoming animated film, The Witcher: Sirens of The Deep, Geralt's voice actor Doug Cockle expressed his support for CD Projekt’s choice to shift the focus to Ciri: “I'm really excited,” he said. “I think it's a really good move. I mean, I always thought that continuing the Saga, but shifting to Ciri would be a really, really interesting move for all kinds of reasons, but mostly because of things that happen in the books, which I don't want to give away because people, I want people to go read. So yeah, I think it's really exciting. I can't wait. I can't wait to see what they've done.”
In February, the director of The Witcher 4 clarified that a new video featured the same in-game model of Ciri, dispelling rumors that her appearance had changed.
For more exclusive content on The Witcher 4, including a trailer breakdown and an interview with CD Projekt where they discuss how they plan to avoid a Cyberpunk 2077-style launch disaster, stay tuned to our coverage.
