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 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 announcement rules out a launch in 2024, which was hoped for by some, and sets 2027 as the earliest possible release date for The Witcher 4. However, given the unpredictable nature of the video game industry, a 2028 release seems plausible if delays occur.

With a release window of 2027 at the earliest, The Witcher 4 is likely targeting the next generation of consoles. Sony is already rumored to be working on the PlayStation 6, while Microsoft is reportedly eyeing a 2027 release for its Xbox Series X successor and an Xbox handheld. This raises the question: will The Witcher 4 be a cross-gen title, similar to Cyberpunk 2077, which launched across multiple generations of consoles in December 2020? If so, could it also be compatible with the rumored Nintendo Switch 2? While it seems unlikely, the success of The Witcher 3 on the original Switch shows that surprises can happen.

Here's what we know: The Witcher 4 is the first installment in a new trilogy set after the events of The Witcher 3. This time, instead of Geralt, Ciri will take the spotlight as the protagonist. In an exclusive interview with IGN ahead of The Witcher 4's reveal, 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."

The Witcher IV Game Awards Trailer Screenshots

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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 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, addressing fan concerns about changes to her appearance.

For more exclusive content on The Witcher 4, check out our trailer breakdown and an interview with CD Projekt where the developer explains why The Witcher 4 will avoid a Cyberpunk 2077-style launch disaster.