Fans of the acclaimed Witcher series will have to exercise patience a bit longer, as CD Projekt, the developer behind the games, has officially confirmed that The Witcher 4 will not be hitting the shelves in 2026. Dive into the details below to stay updated on the game's development journey.

The Witcher 4 Will Not Come Out In 2026

No Specific Release Window Yet

The anticipation for the next chapter in The Witcher saga continues as CD Projekt Red has clarified that The Witcher 4 is not slated for a release within the next two years. During their fiscal year 2024 earnings presentation, the studio highlighted financial objectives linked to share-based incentive programs for the upcoming fiscal year, with a clear statement that "Even though we do not plan to release The Witcher 4 by the end of 2026, we are still driven by this financial goal."

In a subsequent Q&A session, when pressed for more details, CD Projekt Red remained elusive about pinpointing a release window or year beyond 2026. Piotr Nielubowicz, the Chief Financial Officer, noted, "We are not going to announce the precise launch date for the game yet. All we could share now to give more visibility to investors is that the game will not be launched within the time frame of the first target for the incentive program, which ends December 31, 2026."

Full Speed Ahead In Production

Despite the delay, fans can take comfort in knowing that The Witcher 4 is progressing steadily. The game, officially entering "full production" as mentioned in CD Projekt's Q3 financial update last year, is well on its way. Nielubowicz expressed his optimism, stating, "Of all our projects, this one [Project Polaris/The Witcher 4] is currently the most far along, and we're starting the most intensive phase of development. I wish to thank the team for its effort and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for further progress."

Initially unveiled as Project Polaris in 2022, The Witcher 4 (stylized as The Witcher IV) made a grand entrance with a six-minute cinematic trailer at The Game Awards 2024. The game shifts its focus from the iconic Geralt of Rivia to another beloved character, Ciri, now grown and following in her adoptive father's footsteps.

According to CD Projekt’s earlier announcements on X (formerly Twitter) in October 2022, The Witcher 4 marks the beginning of a new trilogy. The subsequent titles, known as Project Canis Majoris and Project Orion, are expected to follow within a six-year window after The Witcher 4's release.