Don't hold your breath for The Witcher 4. According to the developers at CD Projekt, the game won't be released until 2027 at the earliest. This was revealed during a financial call where CD Projekt outlined projections for future profits. They 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 any possibility of a launch in the current year or even next year, setting 2027 as the earliest possible release date. However, given the unpredictable nature of the video game industry, a 2028 release seems plausible if delays occur.

With a release date of 2027 at the earliest, The Witcher 4 is likely to target the next generation of consoles. Sony is reportedly working on the PlayStation 6, and Microsoft is rumored to be planning a 2027 release for the successor to the Xbox Series X, along with an Xbox handheld. This raises the question of whether The Witcher 4 will be a cross-gen title, similar to Cyberpunk 2077, which launched in December 2020. If it is a cross-gen game, could it also be compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2? While it seems unlikely, The Witcher 3 did make it to the Switch, so surprises are possible.

The Witcher 4 marks the beginning of 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 ahead of the game's reveal, executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga explained the choice of Ciri as the protagonist, saying, "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 shift the focus to Ciri. He said, "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 that her face looked different.

The Witcher IV Game Awards Trailer Screenshots

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