Will The Witcher 4 Aim for PS6 and Next-Gen Xbox, With a 2027 Release?

Fans of The Witcher series should temper their excitement, as CD Projekt has confirmed that The Witcher 4 won't be hitting the shelves until at least 2027. In a recent financial call discussing future earnings, the developers 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 effectively eliminates any possibility of a release in 2024 or 2025, and sets 2027 as the earliest possible launch date. However, given the unpredictable nature of the video game industry, a 2028 release isn't out of the question.

With a 2027 release window, The Witcher 4 might target the next generation of consoles. As Sony works on plans for the PlayStation 6 and Microsoft eyes a 2027 release for its Xbox Series X successor and an Xbox handheld, there's speculation about whether The Witcher 4 will be a cross-gen title, similar to Cyberpunk 2077. If it is, could it also work on the rumored Nintendo Switch 2? While it seems unlikely, The Witcher 3 did make its way to the original Switch, showing that surprises can happen.

The Witcher 4 marks the beginning of a new trilogy set after the events of The Witcher 3, with Ciri stepping into the protagonist's role, replacing Geralt. In an exclusive interview with IGN before The Witcher 4's reveal, executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga explained why Ciri was chosen as the lead. "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 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 focus on 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, dispelling rumors about a change in her appearance.

For more insights into The Witcher 4, check out our exclusive content, including a trailer breakdown and an interview with CD Projekt, where they discuss why The Witcher 4 will avoid a Cyberpunk 2077-style launch disaster.