Don't hold your breath for The Witcher 4. According to CD Projekt, the game won't hit the shelves until 2027 at the earliest. During a financial call discussing future profit projections, CD Projekt stated, "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 means no launch in the current year, as expected, nor in the next, dashing some fans' hopes, and setting 2027 as the soonest we might see The Witcher 4. However, given the unpredictable nature of the video game industry, a 2028 release seems within the realm of possibility.
With a release not expected before 2027, The Witcher 4 might be aimed at the next generation of consoles. Sony is likely already planning its PlayStation 6, and Microsoft is rumored to be targeting a 2027 launch for its Xbox Series X successor along with an Xbox handheld. Will The Witcher 4 be a cross-gen title like Cyberpunk 2077 was at its December 2020 launch? And if so, could it find its way to the Nintendo Switch 2? While it seems unlikely, the fact that The Witcher 3 made it to the original Switch suggests that anything is possible.
Here's what we know: The Witcher 4 marks the beginning of a new trilogy set after The Witcher 3, with Ciri stepping into the spotlight as the protagonist, rather than Geralt. In an exclusive interview with IGN before the reveal of The Witcher 4, executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga explained why Ciri was chosen: "It was always about her, starting from 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
51 Images
In January, during an 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 decision to focus on Ciri: "I'm really excited. 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 face had changed.
For more exclusive content on The Witcher 4, check out our trailer breakdown and an interview with CD Projekt where they discuss how they plan to avoid a Cyberpunk 2077-style launch disaster.
