Witcher 4 Aimed for PS6 and Next-Gen Xbox, Release Not Before 2027

Fans eager for the next installment in the beloved *The Witcher* series will have to exercise patience, as CD Projekt has announced that *The Witcher 4* won't be released until 2027 at the earliest. During a financial call focused on future profit projections, 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 declaration not only dashes hopes for a 2024 or 2025 release but also sets a tentative target of 2027, with the possibility of delays pushing it back to 2028 given the unpredictable nature of the video game industry.

With a 2027 release, *The Witcher 4* is likely to be aimed at the next generation of gaming consoles. As Sony works on its PlayStation 6 and Microsoft reportedly plans a 2027 release for its Xbox Series X successor, along with an Xbox handheld, the question arises: Will *The Witcher 4* be a cross-gen game similar to *Cyberpunk 2077*? If so, could it also be compatible with the rumored Nintendo Switch 2? While it seems unlikely, the success of *The Witcher 3* on the original Switch suggests that anything is possible.

*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, a decision that CD Projekt's executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga described as "the very organic, logical choice" in an exclusive interview with IGN. "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 the shift to Ciri as the protagonist. "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 that her appearance had changed. For more in-depth coverage on *The Witcher 4*, check out our exclusive trailer breakdown and an interview with CD Projekt, where they discuss their strategy to avoid a *Cyberpunk 2077*-style launch disaster.