Will The Witcher 4 Target PS6 and Next-Gen Xbox, Launching No Earlier Than 2027?

Fans of The Witcher series will need to exercise patience as CD Projekt, the game's developer, has announced that The Witcher 4 will not be released before 2027. During a financial call discussing future earnings, CD Projekt shared their ambitious goals: "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 statement effectively dashes any hopes for a 2024 or 2025 release, setting 2027 as the earliest possible launch date. However, given the unpredictable nature of game development, a 2028 release seems within the realm of possibility.

With a release date set for 2027 at the earliest, it's likely that The Witcher 4 will be designed with next-generation consoles in mind. Sony is already rumored to be planning the PlayStation 6, while Microsoft is reportedly eyeing a 2027 launch for the successor to the Xbox Series X and a new Xbox handheld. The question remains whether The Witcher 4 will be a cross-gen title, similar to Cyberpunk 2077, which could potentially extend its reach to include the Nintendo Switch 2. While it may seem improbable, the success of The Witcher 3 on the original Switch suggests that anything is possible.

The Witcher 4 marks the beginning of a new trilogy set after the events of The Witcher 3. This time, the spotlight shifts from Geralt to Ciri, who takes on the role of the protagonist. In an exclusive interview with IGN before the game's reveal, executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga explained the choice: "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."

Geralt's voice actor, Doug Cockle, also expressed his enthusiasm for the shift in focus to Ciri during an interview with IGN about the upcoming Netflix animated film, The Witcher: Sirens of The Deep. He stated, "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 appearance had changed.

The Witcher IV Game Awards Trailer Screenshots

51 Images

For more in-depth coverage, check out our exclusive content on The Witcher 4, including a trailer breakdown and an interview with CD Projekt, where they discuss how they plan to avoid a Cyberpunk 2077-style launch disaster.