CD Projekt Red has confirmed its ambition to deliver a new trilogy of The Witcher games within a six-year span. Joint CEO Michał Nowakowski shared these plans during a recent investor call, emphasizing shorter development cycles between titles. The Witcher 4, the first in the series, is in full production but won't launch in 2026.
Announcement Details
During a financial call with investors, CD Projekt Red's joint CEO Michał Nowakowski reiterated the studio's goal to release three new Witcher games over six years. "Our plan still is to launch the whole trilogy within a six-year period," he stated, highlighting intentions for reduced intervals between The Witcher 4, 5, and 6. This approach aims to accelerate delivery compared to past projects, though exact dates remain undisclosed.
Development Status
The Witcher 4 entered full-scale production, with no 2026 release planned. Speculation points to a possible 2027 debut, potentially followed by sequels in 2030 and 2033, but later timelines are feasible to build a strong foundation. Nowakowski noted, "We're not disclosing any details regarding the target release date."
Engine Transition
A key shift involves adopting Unreal Engine 5 for The Witcher 4, marking the studio's first major use of an external engine since The Witcher 1 in 2007. Development with UE5 has spanned nearly four years, and a tech demo was showcased at Unreal Fest. "We've been using UE5 for The Witcher 4 for almost four years now and we're very happy with what we've achieved," Nowakowski said. The same engine powers the ongoing Witcher 1 remake by Fool's Theory, though most of that team now supports The Witcher 4, leaving a smaller group on the remake.
Historical Context
This rapid trilogy plan echoes BioWare's Mass Effect series, completed in five years, but contrasts with CD Projekt Red's history of delays, including multiple postponements for The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077. Development gaps have lengthened over time, from five years between The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 to potentially seven years to The Witcher 4, raising questions about feasibility amid open-world RPG complexities.