Witcher 4 Aimed 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 hitting the shelves 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 firmly rules out a release this year or next, setting 2027 as the earliest possible launch date. However, given the unpredictable nature of the video game industry, a 2028 release seems plausible if things don't go according to plan.

With a 2027 release, The Witcher 4 is likely targeting the next generation of consoles. Sony is presumably 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. The question remains whether The Witcher 4 will be a cross-gen game, similar to Cyberpunk 2077 at its December 2020 launch. If it is, could it also be compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2? While it seems unlikely, the precedent set by The Witcher 3 on the Switch suggests that anything is possible.

Here’s what we know: The Witcher 4 marks the beginning of a new trilogy set after the events of The Witcher 3. This time, the spotlight shifts from Geralt to Ciri as the protagonist. 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.”

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In January, during a broader 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 choice 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 concerns about changes to her appearance.

For more exclusive insights 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.