The Witcher IV

What this countdown tracks

The wait until CD Projekt Red ships The Witcher IV, the opening chapter of a new planned Witcher trilogy and the first full mainline entry in the series since The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt launched in May 2015. CDPR has stated the game will not release before 2027.

Why this release matters

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has sold more than 60 million copies across PC and consoles, with its expansions Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine each treated by the industry as benchmark single-player content. CDPR's bumpy 2020 launch of Cyberpunk 2077 and its subsequent multi-year recovery effort means Witcher IV is also a credibility test for the studio's renewed development pipeline – this time built on Unreal Engine 5 in partnership with Epic, rather than CDPR's bespoke REDengine. The studio confirmed in its first-quarter 2025 disclosure that full production was underway and that 499 employees were working on the project as of March 2026, the largest team CDPR has ever assigned to a single game. Reporting from Polish gaming press and CDPR's investor calls indicate Ciri – Geralt's adopted daughter and heir to the Witcher mantle – will lead the new trilogy, a generational baton-pass that fans have been speculating about since the conclusion of Wild Hunt.

What we know so far

CDPR confirmed in its 2024 annual report that full production began in November 2024. A cinematic teaser released at The Game Awards in December 2024 strongly implied Ciri as the protagonist. The game is being built in Unreal Engine 5 under a long-term partnership with Epic Games – the first mainline Witcher game not to use CDPR's in-house engine. Studio leadership has publicly stated the title will not launch before 2027, with most external estimates pointing to late 2027 at the earliest. No gameplay footage, story arcs, or map details have been disclosed. Platforms are expected to include PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC at minimum, with next-generation consoles potentially in scope depending on launch timing. Pricing and edition tiers have not been announced. CDPR's parallel Project Sirius (a separate Witcher project at Massive Entertainment) and the remake of the original Witcher game are both in development alongside Witcher IV, indicating the studio is treating the franchise as a long-cycle multi-product line rather than a single-release event.

Release details

• Release date: rumoured 2027–2028; CDPR has only confirmed "not before 2027"
• Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC (next-gen support possible)
• Price: not yet announced
• Studio: CD Projekt Red
• Regional variations: simultaneous worldwide launch expected

What to watch for leading up to release

• First gameplay reveal, likely at a CDPR-hosted showcase or a Geoff Keighley event
• Confirmation of Ciri's protagonist role on the record
• Engine and tech showcase content highlighting Unreal Engine 5 features
• Preorder open and Collector's Edition reveal
• Any official date lock from CDPR's quarterly investor calls
• Multiplayer or live-service confirmation – Project Sirius (separate Witcher project) is in development alongside
• Reviews embargo lift, traditionally one to two weeks before launch

Related releases to track

Watch alongside elder-scrolls-vi-2027 for direct genre competition in the 2027 RPG window, and cyberpunk-2-orion-2028 for context on CDPR's broader pipeline. Cinematic peers worth tracking include the-batman-part-ii-2027 in October 2027 and superman-man-of-tomorrow-2027 in July.

FAQ

When does The Witcher IV release? CDPR has confirmed it will not release before 2027; a 2027 or 2028 launch is widely expected. What platforms is it on? PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC are confirmed targets. How much will The Witcher IV cost? Pricing not yet announced. Can I preorder The Witcher IV? Preorders have not opened; no edition tiers announced. Who makes The Witcher IV? CD Projekt Red, a Polish developer based in Warsaw.