"Witcher 4 2026 Release Rumors Debunked"

CD Projekt has officially confirmed that The Witcher 4 will not be released in 2026. Read on for the latest updates and insights into the game’s development status.

The Witcher 4 Will Not Be Released in 2026

No Official Release Window Set

Fans eagerly awaiting The Witcher 4 will need to exercise more patience, as CD Projekt has clarified that the game won’t launch before 2027 at the earliest. During the company’s 2024 fiscal year earnings presentation, it was noted that financial targets tied to share-based incentive programs were set for the upcoming fiscal year. The studio also 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."

During the Q&A portion of the event, further questions were raised about the statement. However, CD Projekt remained vague regarding a specific release date beyond 2026. CFO Piotr Nielubowicz emphasized that no official launch date would be shared at this time, but reiterated that the game would not be launching within the timeframe of the current incentive program, which concludes on December 31, 2026.

Development Is Fully Underway

While the wait continues, fans can rest assured that the game is actively being developed. According to CD Projekt's Q3 2024 financial update, The Witcher 4, previously known as Project Polaris, is already in full production and is the most advanced among the company’s current projects. Nielubowicz added: “Of all our projects, this one [Project Polaris/The Witcher 4] is currently the most far along, and we're starting the most intensive phase of development. I wish to thank the team for its effort and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for further progress.”

First revealed in 2022 under the codename Project Polaris, the game was officially unveiled during The Game Awards 2024 with a cinematic trailer that excited longtime fans. The Witcher IV (stylized as such) marks a narrative shift, moving away from Geralt of Rivia as the protagonist and introducing Ciri—Geralt’s adoptive daughter—as the central character. Now older and battle-hardened, Ciri steps into her own as a witcher in this next chapter of the saga.

As announced via CD Projekt’s X (formerly Twitter) account back in October 2022, The Witcher 4 will serve as the first entry in an all-new trilogy. Following its release, two additional titles—currently known as Project Canis Majoris and Project Orion—are expected to arrive over the six-year period that follows.