Witcher 4 Aimed for PS6 and Next-Gen Xbox, Release Not Before 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. In 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 rules out any possibility of a launch in 2024 or 2025, setting 2027 as the earliest possible release date. However, given the unpredictable nature of the video game industry, a release in 2028 seems plausible.

With a release date of 2027 or later, The Witcher 4 is likely to be developed with next-generation consoles in mind. Sony is already working on plans for the PlayStation 6, and Microsoft is rumored to be targeting a 2027 release for the successor to the Xbox Series X and an Xbox handheld. The question arises: will The Witcher 4 be a cross-gen game like Cyberpunk 2077, which was released in December 2020? If it is, could it also be compatible with the rumored Nintendo Switch 2? While it seems unlikely, The Witcher 3 did make its way to the original Switch, so surprises are possible.

Here's what we know so far: The Witcher 4 is the first installment in a new trilogy of Witcher games, set after the events of The Witcher 3. Unlike its predecessor, which featured Geralt as the protagonist, The Witcher 4 will center around Ciri. In an exclusive interview with IGN before the reveal of The Witcher 4, executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga explained that Ciri was "the very organic, logical choice." She elaborated, "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 the upcoming Netflix 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. "I'm really excited," he said. "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 concerns about changes in her appearance.

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