Witcher 4 Aimed for PS6 and Next-Gen Xbox, Release Post-2027

Don't hold your breath for The Witcher 4. According to CD Projekt, the highly anticipated sequel won't hit the shelves until 2027 at the earliest. During a financial call where future profit projections were discussed, CD Projekt 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 statement effectively rules out any possibility of a launch in 2024, dashing the hopes of some eager fans, and sets 2027 as the soonest we might see The Witcher 4. However, the video game industry is notorious for its delays, so a 2028 release is not out of the question.

With a 2027 release date, The Witcher 4 is poised to target the next generation of gaming consoles. Sony is likely working on its PlayStation 6 plans, while Microsoft is rumored to be gearing up for a 2027 release of its Xbox Series X successor, along with an Xbox handheld. Will The Witcher 4 be a cross-gen game, similar to Cyberpunk 2077, which launched in December 2020? If so, could it also be available on the Nintendo Switch 2? While it seems unlikely, The Witcher 3's presence on the Switch shows that surprises can happen.

What we do know is that The Witcher 4 will kick off a new trilogy set after the events of The Witcher 3. This time, the protagonist will not be Geralt but Ciri. In an exclusive interview with IGN before the reveal of The Witcher 4, executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga explained the choice of Ciri as the protagonist: "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, during 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 focus to 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, dispelling rumors about changes to her appearance.

For more insights into The Witcher 4, check out our exclusive content, including a trailer breakdown and an interview with CD Projekt, where the developer discusses how they plan to avoid a Cyberpunk 2077-style launch disaster.