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 projections of future profits, 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 means that a release in 2024 is off the table, and even 2026 seems unlikely, setting 2027 as the earliest possible launch date for The Witcher 4. However, given the unpredictable nature of the video game industry, a 2028 release remains a possibility.
With a 2027 release at the earliest, *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. Whether *The Witcher 4* will be a cross-gen game, like *Cyberpunk 2077* was upon its release in December 2020, remains to be seen. If it is cross-gen, could it also be playable on the Nintendo Switch 2? While it seems improbable, *The Witcher 3* did make it to the Switch, so surprises can happen.Here's what we know: The Witcher 4 is the first 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 game's reveal, executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga explained why Ciri was chosen as the protagonist: "It was always about her, starting from the 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."
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In January, speaking to 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: "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 looked different.
For more exclusive content on The Witcher 4, check out our trailer breakdown and an interview with CD Projekt where they explain why The Witcher 4 will avoid a Cyberpunk 2077-style launch disaster.
