Don't hold your breath for The Witcher 4. According to the developers at CD Projekt, it won't be out until 2027 at the earliest. In a recent 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 statement effectively rules out a release in 2024, which few expected, and 2025, which some had hoped for, setting 2027 as the earliest possible launch date. However, given the unpredictable nature of the video game industry, a 2028 release seems plausible if delays occur.
With a 2027 release window, The Witcher 4 might be targeting the next generation of consoles. Sony is likely working on the PlayStation 6, while Microsoft is rumored to be planning a 2027 release for its Xbox Series X successor and an Xbox handheld. This raises questions about whether The Witcher 4 will be a cross-gen game, similar to Cyberpunk 2077, which launched on both current and previous generation consoles in December 2020. If it is cross-gen, could it also work on the Nintendo Switch 2? While it seems unlikely, The Witcher 3 did make it to the Switch, so anything is possible.
What we know for sure is that The Witcher 4 is the first installment in 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 that choosing Ciri was "the very organic, logical choice." She added, "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."
In January, during 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 decision to focus on 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.
The Witcher IV Game Awards Trailer Screenshots
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For more exclusive content on The Witcher 4, check out our trailer breakdown and an interview with CD Projekt, where the developer discusses why The Witcher 4 will avoid a Cyberpunk 2077-style launch disaster.
