CD Projekt Red Sets 2028 Release Window for The Witcher 4
CD Projekt Red has officially confirmed a 2028 release window for The Witcher 4, ending years of speculation with a more concrete timeline for the long-awaited sequel. Joint CEO Michał Nowakowski made the announcement in a video message shared through The Witcher's official social accounts, just ahead of this year's Gamescom.
"I know it's a bit of a wait and you'd love to play it sooner, but let the team cook," Nowakowski said, as quoted by several outlets. "It will be worth the wait."
The confirmation comes after CD Projekt Red had previously only stated that the game would not launch by the end of 2026, without offering a specific window. Nowakowski's video marked the first time the studio explicitly named 2028 as its target.
Ciri Takes the Lead with Over 500 Developers Onboard
The Witcher 4, which was first announced in 2022 and received a reveal trailer at The Game Awards in late 2024, will feature Ciri as the protagonist, beginning a new saga in the franchise. Nowakowski described the project as "our biggest, boldest and most ambitious game to date," a sentiment echoed across multiple reports.
More than 500 developers are currently working on the game, according to Nowakowski. He highlighted the game's "vast and immersive open world, intense action, and a deep, impactful story," as reported by InvenGlobal and VICE.
No Gamescom Appearance, But Expansion Takes Center Stage
Despite the announcement, The Witcher 4 will not be shown at Gamescom, which begins on August 26. Instead, CD Projekt Red will focus its presence on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past, a new expansion scheduled for 2027.
According to Nowakowski, the expansion will be showcased during Gamescom Opening Night Live on August 25, with a large booth set up in Hall 8 of Koelnmesse. Special REDstreams will air daily during the event, with potential surprises teased. Engadget noted that Songs of the Past is the third major expansion for the 2015 action RPG, arriving more than a decade after the base game's launch.
A Bold Plan for the Trilogy
Polygon's coverage highlighted CD Projekt Red's ambition to release a new trilogy within a six-year window. If The Witcher 4 arrives in 2028, that would put The Witcher 6 in 2034. The previous trilogy spanned eight years, from 2007 to 2015, leading some to question the feasibility of the accelerated timeline given industry-wide development trends and the potential for unexpected delays.
A Note on Physical Releases
Digital Trends noted that the 2028 window coincides with Sony's announced shift to stop producing physical game discs for new PlayStation releases starting in January 2028. CD Projekt Red has not yet said whether The Witcher 4 will receive a physical release, leaving that question open as the game's launch approaches.