Don't hold your breath for The Witcher 4. According to CD Projekt, the developers behind the series, the game won't be released until 2027 at the earliest. This was revealed during a financial call where the company discussed 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 rules out a launch in the current year, which was not widely expected, and also dismisses hopes for a release in 2026. It sets 2027 as the earliest possible release date for The Witcher 4. However, given the unpredictable nature of the video game industry, there's a possibility that the game might slip to 2028.
With a potential 2027 release, The Witcher 4 could be targeting the next generation of gaming consoles. Sony is likely working on plans for the PlayStation 6, and Microsoft is rumored to be aiming for a 2027 release for the successor to the Xbox Series X, along with an Xbox handheld. The question remains whether The Witcher 4 will be a cross-generation title like Cyberpunk 2077 was at its launch in December 2020. If it is, could it also be compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2? While it seems unlikely, the successful port of The Witcher 3 to the original Switch suggests that anything is possible.
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 game's reveal, executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga explained the choice of Ciri as the protagonist, stating, "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 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 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 about changes to her appearance.
The Witcher IV Game Awards Trailer Screenshots
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IGN has more exclusive content on The Witcher 4, including a detailed trailer breakdown and an interview with CD Projekt, where the developer discusses how they plan to avoid a launch disaster similar to that of Cyberpunk 2077.
