Fans eagerly awaiting the next installment in CD Projekt's acclaimed Witcher series will need to exercise considerable patience. The Polish game developer has officially confirmed that The Witcher 4, which entered full production in late 2024, won't be released until 2027 at the earliest, pushing the timeline further than many had hoped.
The Witcher 4 confirmed release window: No earlier than 2027
Release Timeline Pushed Back
During CD Projekt's fiscal year 2024 earnings presentation, executives definitively stated that The Witcher 4 will not launch before the end of 2026. Chief Financial Officer Piotr Nielubowicz clarified this timeline when responding to investor questions, stating: We are not going to announce the precise launch date for the game yet. All we could share now to give more visibility to investors is that the game will not be launched within the time frame of the first target for the incentive program, which ends December 31, 2026. This confirmation effectively sets 2027 as the earliest possible release window, though further delays remain possible given the industry's track record with ambitious projects.
Possible Next-Generation Console Target
The extended development timeline raises interesting questions about the target platforms for The Witcher 4. With a 2027 release at the earliest, the game could potentially be positioned as a next-generation title for PlayStation 6 and the successor to Xbox Series X, both rumored to be targeting 2027 launch windows. This timing suggests The Witcher 4 might follow Cyberpunk 2077's path as a cross-generational release, though whether it could be scaled to run on systems like the anticipated Nintendo Switch successor remains speculative at best.
No Generative AI in Development
In the same financial presentation, CD Projekt joint CEO Michał Nowakowski addressed the company's stance on artificial intelligence in game development. While the studio has established a team investigating potential AI applications and has several research projects underway, Nowakowski confirmed they are specifically avoiding generative AI in The Witcher 4's development. Gen AI, to be honest, is quite tricky when it comes to legal IP ownership and so on, and many other aspects, Nowakowski explained. So when it comes to implementation of any gen AI in the actual games, we really have nothing happening when it comes to Witcher 4 or any projects in the near future.
Development approach: No generative AI being used due to legal concerns
A New Protagonist for a New Trilogy
Despite the extended wait, details about The Witcher 4's narrative direction have emerged. The game will be the first in a planned new trilogy set after the events of The Witcher 3, but with a significant change: Ciri will replace Geralt as the protagonist. Executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga described this as the very organic, logical choice, noting that it was always about her, starting from Saga when you read it in the books. She's an amazing, layered character. Even Doug Cockle, Geralt's voice actor, has endorsed the decision, calling it a really good move and expressing excitement about the narrative possibilities it opens up.
New protagonist: Ciri replacing Geralt as the main character
Learning from Past Mistakes
CD Projekt appears determined to avoid repeating the troubled launch of Cyberpunk 2077, which suffered from numerous technical issues upon release. The extended development timeline for The Witcher 4 suggests a more measured approach, with joint CEO Michał Nowakowski previously stating that the studio would be smarter and more careful about how it markets new games. This cautious strategy, combined with the decision to avoid legally ambiguous generative AI technologies, indicates CD Projekt is prioritizing quality and stability over rushed delivery.