Don't hold your breath for The Witcher 4. According to CD Projekt, the game won't be released until 2027 at the earliest. During a financial call discussing future profit projections, 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 rules out a launch in 2024 or 2025, setting 2027 as the earliest possible release date. However, given the unpredictable nature of the video game industry, a 2028 release seems plausible.

With a 2027 release, The Witcher 4 might target the next generation of consoles. Sony is likely working on the PlayStation 6, and Microsoft is rumored to be planning a 2027 release for the Xbox Series X successor and an Xbox handheld. Whether The Witcher 4 will be a cross-gen game, similar to Cyberpunk 2077 at its December 2020 launch, remains to be seen. If it is, could it also work on the Nintendo Switch 2? While it seems unlikely, The Witcher 3 did make it to the Switch, so surprises can happen.

Here's what we know: The Witcher 4 is the first in a new trilogy set after the events of The Witcher 3, with Ciri as the protagonist instead of Geralt. In an exclusive interview with IGN before the reveal of The Witcher 4, executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga explained why Ciri was chosen: "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."

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 focus on 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.

The Witcher IV Game Awards Trailer Screenshots

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