Don't hold your breath for *The Witcher 4*. According to CD Projekt, the developers behind the series, the earliest we can expect its release is 2027. 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 effectively rules out any launches in 2024 or 2025, setting 2027 as the soonest possible release date. However, given the unpredictable nature of the video game industry, a 2028 release remains a possibility.
With a 2027 release, *The Witcher 4* could be targeting the next generation of consoles. Sony is likely working on its PlayStation 6, while Microsoft is rumored to be planning a 2027 release for the successor to the Xbox Series X and possibly an Xbox handheld. This raises the question of whether *The Witcher 4* will be a cross-gen game, similar to *Cyberpunk 2077* when it launched in December 2020. If it is, could it also make its way to the Nintendo Switch 2? While it seems unlikely, *The Witcher 3* did make it to the original Switch, proving that surprises can happen.
*The Witcher 4* marks the beginning of a new trilogy set after the events of *The Witcher 3*, with Ciri taking the lead role instead of Geralt. In an exclusive interview with IGN before the reveal of *The Witcher 4*, executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga explained why Ciri was chosen as the protagonist: “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 the upcoming Netflix animated film *The Witcher: Sirens of The Deep*, Geralt's voice actor Doug Cockle expressed his support for CD Projekt's decision to shift the focus to Ciri. He said, “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 insights on *The Witcher 4*, check out our exclusive content, including a trailer breakdown and an interview with CD Projekt where the developer explains why The Witcher 4 will avoid a Cyberpunk 2077-style launch disaster.
