"Witcher 4 Aimed for PS6 and Next-Gen Xbox, Release Not Before 2027"

Don't hold your breath for The Witcher 4. According to CD Projekt, the game won't see the light of day 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 announcement eliminates any possibility of a launch in 2024 or 2025, and sets 2027 as the earliest release year. However, given the unpredictable nature of the video game industry, a 2028 release remains a possibility.

With a 2027 release window, The Witcher 4 may target the next generation of consoles, such as the anticipated PlayStation 6 and a rumored Xbox Series X successor, along with a potential Xbox handheld. The question arises whether The Witcher 4 will be a cross-gen title, similar to Cyberpunk 2077, which launched on both current and previous generation consoles in December 2020. If it is cross-gen, could it also appear on the Nintendo Switch 2? While it seems unlikely, The Witcher 3 did make its way to the original Switch, proving that surprises can happen.

What we do know is that 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 that 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."

The Witcher IV Game Awards Trailer Screenshots

51 Images

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 showcased the same in-game model of Ciri, dispelling rumors that her appearance had changed.

For more in-depth information on The Witcher 4, don't miss our exclusive content, including a trailer breakdown and an interview with CD Projekt where they discuss how they plan to avoid a Cyberpunk 2077-style launch disaster.