Don't hold your breath for The Witcher 4. According to the developers at CD Projekt, the earliest release date is set for 2027. This was confirmed during a financial call where CD Projekt discussed future profit projections, stating, "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 timeline rules out a release in 2024, which was not expected, and also dashes hopes for a 2025 launch. The earliest we might see The Witcher 4 is 2027, but given the unpredictable nature of the video game industry, a 2028 release isn't out of the question.
With a 2027 release, *The Witcher 4* could 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 the Xbox Series X successor and an Xbox handheld. There's also the question of whether *The Witcher 4* will be a cross-gen game, similar to *Cyberpunk 2077*, which launched in December 2020. If so, could it potentially work on the Nintendo Switch 2? While it seems unlikely, *The Witcher 3* did make it to the Switch, so surprises are possible.Here's what we know about The Witcher 4: it's the first in a new trilogy set after the events of The Witcher 3, and it shifts the protagonist role from Geralt to Ciri. Executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga, speaking exclusively to IGN before The Witcher 4's reveal, explained why Ciri was chosen: "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."
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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 endorsed CD Projekt's decision to focus on 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, addressing concerns about her appearance.
For more on The Witcher 4, check out our exclusive content, including a trailer breakdown and an interview with CD Projekt, where they discuss how they plan to avoid a launch disaster like Cyberpunk 2077.
