Fans of the beloved fantasy RPG franchise finally have a concrete timeline to mark on their calendars. CD Projekt Red has officially confirmed that The Witcher IV will launch in 2028, ending months of speculation about when players would be able to return to the monster-hunting universe. The announcement came via a video message from joint-CEO Michał Nowakowski, posted to the official Witcher social media channels ahead of Gamescom 2024, providing eager fans with the update they’ve been desperately seeking.
In the video announcement, Nowakowski addressed the passionate fanbase directly, acknowledging their anticipation while asking for patience. “While we’re not showing The Witcher 4 at the event, and we’re not ready to share an exact date, I can tell you this: The Witcher 4 is targeting a 2028 release window,” Nowakowski stated. He continued with a message that resonated with fans who have witnessed CD Projekt Red’s commitment to quality: “I know it’s a bit of a wait, and you’d love to play it sooner, but let the team cook. It will be worth the wait.” This statement reflects the studio’s learned approach following the troubled launch of Cyberpunk 2077, which released in 2020 with significant technical issues that damaged the company’s reputation.
A New Chapter with Ciri as the Protagonist
The Witcher IV was first unveiled at The Game Awards 2024, sending shockwaves through the gaming community. Perhaps the most significant revelation was the confirmation that Ciri, Geralt of Rivia’s adopted daughter, would serve as the game’s protagonist. This marks a monumental shift for the franchise, as players have controlled Geralt throughout the main entries in the series. Ciri, who possesses unique Elder Blood abilities that allow her to traverse time and space, appeared in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt as a playable character during certain segments. Her evolution into a fully-fledged Witcher in her own right opens up exciting narrative possibilities for the franchise’s future.
The decision to center the new game around Ciri carries both creative and emotional weight. Throughout The Witcher 3, players witnessed her growth and helped shape her destiny through their choices. Now, seeing her as a seasoned monster hunter allows CD Projekt Red to explore new themes while maintaining strong connections to the beloved cast of characters that fans have grown attached to over the years. The studio has been developing The Witcher IV using Unreal Engine 5, a departure from their proprietary REDengine technology, which promises stunning visual fidelity and improved development efficiency.
Bridging the Gap with Songs of the Past DLC
While fans await the 2028 release, CD Projekt Red is keeping the franchise alive with substantial new content. The studio announced The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past, a new DLC expansion scheduled for 2027. This downloadable content will add fresh adventures to a game that originally launched nearly a decade ago in 2015. The DLC is expected to serve as a narrative bridge between The Witcher 3 and The Witcher IV, potentially setting up story elements that will carry forward into Ciri’s adventure. Geoff Keighley, the creator and host of The Game Awards, confirmed that Songs of the Past would be showcased during Opening Night Live at Gamescom.
The continued support for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt demonstrates CD Projekt Red’s commitment to their flagship franchise. The game has sold over 50 million copies since its release, becoming one of the most critically acclaimed RPGs in gaming history. The base game, combined with its two major expansions—Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine—offered players hundreds of hours of content set in a richly detailed world inspired by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski’s fantasy novels. The upcoming DLC suggests that the studio believes there are still stories worth telling within this beloved game’s framework.
CD Projekt Red’s Road to Redemption and Future Plans
The 2028 release window for The Witcher IV represents CD Projekt Red’s careful, measured approach to game development following lessons learned from Cyberpunk 2077’s launch. That game, while eventually becoming a commercial and critical success after extensive patches and the well-received Phantom Liberty expansion, initially launched with numerous bugs and performance issues that led to its temporary removal from the PlayStation Store. The studio has since emphasized taking the necessary time to deliver polished products, a philosophy clearly reflected in Nowakowski’s “let the team cook” statement.
Beyond The Witcher IV, CD Projekt Red has an ambitious slate of projects in development. The company has announced plans for multiple Witcher games, including a full remake of the original 2007 title being developed by Fool’s Theory. Additionally, a new Cyberpunk game, codenamed Project Orion, is in early development at the studio’s Boston office. The gaming landscape has also seen former Witcher developers venture out on their own, with Rebel Wolves studio working on The Blood of Dawnwalker, a dark fantasy RPG that has generated considerable interest among fans of the genre. As the industry approaches 2028, all eyes will be on CD Projekt Red to deliver an experience worthy of one of gaming’s most beloved franchises.
Expert Opinion: The 2028 release window represents a strategic decision by CD Projekt Red to ensure The Witcher IV meets the extraordinarily high expectations set by its predecessor. Given the studio’s recovery trajectory post-Cyberpunk 2077 and their transition to Unreal Engine 5, this timeline suggests a development cycle prioritizing quality over speed. Industry observers should anticipate The Witcher IV to be a defining release of the late 2020s gaming landscape, potentially setting new standards for open-world RPG design.
