CD Projekt Red has officially targeted a 2028 release window for The Witcher 4, joint-CEO Michał Nowakowski announced. While the next mainline trilogy opener will skip Gamescom 2026, the studio confirmed that the upcoming Witcher 3 expansion, Songs of the Past, will launch in 2027. The Witcher IV will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC in 2028, CD Projekt RED announced. The news comes via a message from CD Projekt RED joint-CEO Michal Nowakowski.
The long-term roadmap for CD Projekt Red has finally come into sharper focus. Company executives provided concrete release windows for both the studio’s upcoming expansion and its highly anticipated next-generation sequel, ending months of speculation about when players might return to the dark fantasy universe. CD Projekt Red has been working on its next mainline Witcher title for years and has shown videos of it, but now the studio is providing a target release window for when the game might actually come out. Assuming CD Projekt hits 2028 for The Witcher 4, and the company sticks to its ambitious release strategy for this new The Witcher trilogy, we could see The Witcher 5 in 2031 and The Witcher 6 in 2034.
Project Polaris Sets Sights on 2028 Launch Window
The Witcher IV launches in 2028
The next mainline entry in the franchise, internally known as Project Polaris, is currently aiming for a 2028 debut, according to CD Projekt Red. Internally known as Project Polaris, The Witcher 4 will begin a new trilogy for the franchise and will use Unreal Engine 5 instead of CD Projekt Red’s proprietary REDengine. Ciri will serve as the game’s main playable protagonist. The Witcher IV was first shown off at The Game Awards 2024. It will star Ciri, after she’s grown into a seasoned Witcher in her own right. CD Projekt Red has previously described the project as a new open-world experience rather than simply an attempt to create a larger map. The studio has also moved The Witcher 4 into full-scale production as development continues. The game is planned as the first entry in a new three-game Witcher saga, with the two subsequent titles expected to follow within a six-year period. The release of The Witcher 4 in 2028 would therefore mark the beginning of the next major phase for the franchise.
Development on the sequel has entered full-scale production, driven by a massive internal team. The Witcher 4 will not make an appearance at Gamescom 2026, but studio leadership wanted to manage player expectations directly. The Witcher IV will not be present during Opening Night Live, nor will the RPG be playable on the show floor, but understanding fans’ hunger for an update on the highly-anticipated sequel, Nowakowski confirmed the launch window.
Now, I know you’re eager to learn when it’s coming. That’s the question we’re hearing from you all the time. So 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 said
Nowakowski added a plea for patience, stating, 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.
The title is planned as the first chapter in a brand-new trilogy. Industry watchers note that if CD Projekt maintains its aggressive production pace, subsequent entries could theoretically follow in 2031 and 2034.
The Witcher 4 developers target a 2028 release
Songs of the Past Bridges the Gap in 2027
Before the new saga begins with Ciri at the helm, players will get a substantial narrative bridge. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past is scheduled to release sometime in 2027. At this week’s Gamescom event, CD Projekt Red will be showing off its upcoming Witcher 3 expansion, Songs of the Past, which is scheduled to release sometime in 2027. Songs of the Past is also set to be part of Gamescom’s Opening Night Live event hosted by Geoff Keighley, which kicks off at 2PM ET on Tuesday. It’s confirmed by Geoff Keighley himself that it will be shown during Opening Night Live, and Nowakowski says it will also be showcased at CD Projekt Red’s Gamescom booth.
We’re going big this year with something very special: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past,
Nowakowski said. “We have a lot of the expansion to show off, including a taste of its dark story and the new content it will bring, so join us at Gamescom if you can, where we have a huge booth in Hall 8 and a team ready to show off the first full look at Songs of the Past. And make sure to tune into special RED streams when they go live each and every day. We might even have a surprise or two to share.”
The Witcher 4 Confirmed for 2028 Release
A Expanding Studio Footprint Across Multiple Projects
The 2028 target for The Witcher IV anchors a much larger production pipeline at the Polish studio. Our team here at CD Projekt Red HQ is hard at work on a brand new saga, one with Ciri at the helm,
Nowakowski continued. “We have more than 500 incredibly talented developers working to create something truly special for you. The Witcher 4 features a huge and immersive open world, intense and action-packed gameplay and a deep impactful story that we hope will stay with you for a long time. Simply put, this is our biggest, boldest, and most ambitious game to date.”
Concurrently, the publisher is juggling several other high-profile efforts. CD Projekt Red is developing several other projects alongside The Witcher 4. This includes Project Orion, the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, an Unreal Engine 5 remake of the original 2007 The Witcher, and a new original IP currently known as Hadar. CD Projekt Red is also working on a multiplayer spinoff set in the universe of The Witcher that’s codenamed Project Siris. Earlier in August, the company confirmed that it laid off staff working on the game. The Witcher 4 is based on the same dark fantasy universe created by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, although it represents a new chapter for the video game series following Geralt of Rivia’s story in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
As Gamescom gets underway, promotional efforts will lean heavily on gameplay footage and developer streams for the 2027 expansion, keeping community engagement high while the main development team quietly builds the next generation of the franchise.
