CD Projekt RED said earlier this year that The Witcher 4 won’t launch until 2027 at the earliest. If you got your hopes up for a potential launch next year, however, co-CEO Michał Nowakowski has reaffirmed that it’s not happening.
At a CD Projekt Group conference following its Q3 fiscal year 2025 results, Nowakowski was asked about the current development state and any “key technical/design risks” that could result in a release window shift. “As we have already stated, The Witcher 4 is in the full-scale production phase. We’re not disclosing any details regarding the target release date, so there’s not a point in time I could refer to when answering such a question,” he responded.
“The only thing we’re commenting on is that we’re not launching in 2026, and we’re also not typically getting into any specifics regarding technical or design matters. There’s nothing out of the ordinary, I’d say, in that area happening with The Witcher 4 – it’s just full-scale production proceeding at its pace, as per our internal plans. I think that’s as much as we can say.”
The Witcher 4 entered full-scale production exactly one year ago, with CD Projekt RED following up with a surprise cinematic trailer at The Game Awards. Don’t count on a repeat of that, as Nowakowski already clarified that the team won’t bring any new content to this year’s show.
Nevertheless, with nearly 450 developers, things are seemingly proceeding apace. With only the Unreal Engine 5 demo from last June’s State of Unreal to showcase the sequel’s technical goals (and a terrifying Manticore), it’s going to be a long wait for new information.
In the meantime, The Witcher 4 is confirmed to be larger than The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, though the map size is “more or less” the same as the former. It also won’t break canon with any of its predecessor’s endings and promises to put “player agency at the center.”
It’s great to hear that development on The Witcher 4 is progressing well, even if we have to wait a bit longer. The anticipation just adds to the excitement for fans. Looking forward to seeing what they create!
I completely agree! It’s reassuring to know they’re taking their time to ensure a quality game. With the success of the previous titles, I hope they also incorporate some new gameplay mechanics to keep things fresh.
I completely agree! It’s reassuring to know they’re taking their time to ensure a quality game. With the success of The Witcher series so far, fans definitely have high expectations, and it’s great they’re focused on delivering a polished experience. It will be interesting to see how they incorporate new gameplay mechanics while staying true to what fans love about the franchise!
I completely agree! It’s reassuring to know they’re taking their time to ensure a quality game. With the success of the previous titles, fans are likely willing to wait for a well-crafted experience. Plus, the development of new gameplay mechanics could really enhance the overall immersion in the Witcher universe.
the challenges of open-world design, it’s crucial for them to get it right. Plus, the anticipation can really build excitement among fans. Hopefully, the extended timeline means we’ll see some innovative features!
Absolutely, open-world design comes with its own set of complexities that can really affect gameplay. It’s great to see that CD Projekt RED is taking the time to ensure everything is polished. The anticipation can be a double-edged sword, but it often leads to a richer experience when the game finally arrives!
You’re right! The open-world design in games like The Witcher can lead to both exciting exploration and potential pacing issues. It’ll be interesting to see how CD Projekt RED balances those elements in the new installment.
Absolutely! Open-world designs really enhance player immersion, allowing for unexpected adventures. Plus, the depth of storytelling in The Witcher series adds a unique layer to that exploration, making each journey feel meaningful. It’ll be interesting to see how they expand on this in the upcoming game!