The Witcher 4: Aiming for PS6 and Next-Gen Xbox by 2027?

Don't hold your breath for The Witcher 4. According to CD Projekt, the earliest release we can expect is 2027. During a financial call discussing future profit projections, the developers 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, setting 2027 as the soonest possible release date. However, considering the unpredictable nature of the video game industry, a 2028 release remains within the realm of possibility.

With a 2027 release, The Witcher 4 might be aimed at the next generation of consoles. Sony is likely working on the PlayStation 6, and rumors suggest Microsoft is planning a 2027 launch for a successor to the Xbox Series X along with an Xbox handheld. The question remains whether The Witcher 4 will be a cross-gen title, similar to Cyberpunk 2077 at its 2020 release. If so, could it also appear on the rumored Nintendo Switch 2? While it seems unlikely, the precedent set by The Witcher 3 on the original Switch suggests that anything is possible.

What we know for certain is that The Witcher 4 will kick off a new trilogy set after the events of The Witcher 3, with Ciri stepping into the protagonist role instead of Geralt. In an exclusive interview with IGN before the game's reveal, executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga explained the choice of Ciri as the lead: “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 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: “I'm really excited,” he said. “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.”

Additionally, in February, the director of The Witcher 4 clarified that a new video showcased the same in-game model of Ciri, addressing concerns about changes in her appearance.

For more in-depth information, check out our exclusive content on The Witcher 4, including a trailer breakdown and an interview with CD Projekt discussing why The Witcher 4 will avoid a Cyberpunk 2077-style launch disaster.