CD Projekt Red just cast the Yrden magic spell to slow down the development of The Witcher IV instead of simply rushing its way through it. Michał Nowakowski, Joint CEO of CD Projekt Red, has officially announced that the studio's upcoming video game is aiming for a 2028 release, while also hinting that we will see more of it during Gamescom 2027.
A two-year wait lies between us and getting to explore the Continent's far north as Ciri. While it may be disappointing to learn that The Witcher 4 isn't coming anytime soon, it's likely that CD Projekt Red is trying to avoid another Cyberpunk 2077 scenario. After all, the futuristic RPG was released to mixed reception due to the large number of bugs it had on day one, which resulted in a 75% drop in the studio's stock.
We’re confident the wait will be worth it
Eventually, CDPR managed to turn the situation around and deliver one of the most iconic games of this generation. However, the problem could have been completely avoided with some extra months of development time, and it seems the same mistake won't be repeated with The Witcher 4. Better yet, Nowakowski teased that the wait will prove to be worth it:
"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 (...) The Witcher 4 is targeting a 2028 release window. I know it's a bit of a wait and you'd love to play it sooner, but let the team cook."
We’ll be getting more Witcher in the meantime
Fortunately, there's more The Witcher content in years to come. Back in May 2026, CD Projekt Red shocked the world by announcing a new DLC for The Witcher 3—a game originally released all the way back in 2015. The expansion, titled Songs of the Past, is set to arrive in 2027 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, and has been described as a major piece of content "providing lots of hours of gameplay, including new story and characters."
For the time being, all signs indicate The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past will be fans' last adventure as the legendary Geralt of Rivia, and it won't be long before we get a glimpse of how this tale will come to an end. CD Projekt Red is set to take over the stage at Gamescom Opening Night Live on Aug. 25, 2026, to give us a taste of what the upcoming DLC will have to offer once it sees the light of day next year. Furthermore, it isn't far-fetched to assume a more specific release date could also be announced.
The wait for The Witcher 4 won't feel as daunting knowing that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past is just around the corner. However, this also highlights how development cycles in the modern video game industry are getting out of hand to the point where studios are looking for ways to fill the large gaps between mainline releases with DLCs, remasters, or remakes.
Capcom has openly talked about using this strategy to ensure fans will get to play a new Resident Evil game yearly. Furthermore, the last original Legend of Zelda title was released in 2023, and while there are still no signs of a new game coming our way soon, the Ocarina of Time remake will take over the spotlight later this year.
Spin-off games that use pre-existing technology and assets are also a great way to shorten development cycles. Granted, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past did not enjoy this same benefit, as CD Projekt Red had to update the game's technology to ensure the DLC runs on modern consoles. Still, it is a clever way to give players new content that isn't the size of a full standalone title while The Witcher 4 is being developed.
Only time will tell when exactly The Witcher 4 will be released. On the bright side, the curtain on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past is about to be lifted, and we can't wait to see how it all pans out. As for Netflix’s The Witcher TV show, in case you were wondering, the fifth and final season has been delayed to 2027.
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