The Witcher 4 aims for a 2028 release

CD Projekt Red has finally answered the question that has been following The Witcher 4 around like a particularly persistent monster contract: when is it actually coming out? The answer is 2028, although there is an important little asterisk attached to that year. The studio has confirmed a release window rather than a firm date, meaning Ciri's next great adventure is still several years away.

The news came from CD Projekt Red co-CEO Michał Nowakowski in a video published ahead of Gamescom 2026. Rather than unveiling a surprise trailer or suddenly dropping a release date from the sky, the executive offered something considerably more modest: an update on the game's development and a clearer idea of when players can expect to get their hands on it.

According to Nowakowski, more than 500 developers are currently working on The Witcher 4. CD Projekt Red describes the project as its biggest and most ambitious game so far, with a massive open world, action-heavy gameplay and a story intended to make a lasting impression. The game will also begin a new Witcher saga with Ciri in the lead role, moving the series beyond Geralt's trilogy.

There is, however, one important distinction between "2028 release" and "2028 release window." CD Projekt Red specifically said that The Witcher 4 is targeting 2028 and that it is not ready to announce an exact launch date. In other words, players can put 2028 on their calendars, but they probably shouldn't start booking holiday time just yet.

That cautious wording is hardly surprising. CD Projekt Red has been through the joys and nightmares of announcing major release dates before, so keeping some breathing room around the launch target gives the studio flexibility if development takes longer than expected. For now, 2028 is best understood as the company's current goal rather than an unmovable deadline.

The bad news: The Witcher 4 won't be at Gamescom

If you were hoping that the 2028 announcement would be accompanied by a shiny new gameplay trailer at Gamescom 2026, there is some bad news. CD Projekt Red has explicitly confirmed that The Witcher 4 will not be shown at the event. However, there will be news about the franchise during the event, as confirmed by the studio.Therefore, CD Projekt Red has given fans one of the most important pieces of information about the project—its target release window—while simultaneously refusing to show the game itself. It's essentially the gaming equivalent of saying, "Dinner will be ready in 2028," and then locking the kitchen door.

Still, the studio has already given us a technological glimpse of what it is building. In 2025, CD Projekt Red presented a technology demo running on a base PS5, showcasing Unreal Engine 5 technology being developed for the project. The company stressed at the time that this was a tech demonstration rather than actual gameplay from The Witcher 4.

The project is being developed using Unreal Engine 5, with CD Projekt Red collaborating with Epic Games on technology designed to push open-world games further. The studio has previously highlighted the technology behind large-scale environments and the systems needed to make the new game feel more dynamic and immersive.

There is still more The Witcher before 2028

Fortunately, fans won't have to completely abandon the Continent while waiting for Ciri's new adventure. CD Projekt Red is also working on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past, a new expansion scheduled for 2027.  The expansion can keep the franchise active in 2027, while The Witcher 4 remains in development.

For now, then, the situation is refreshingly simple. The Witcher 4 is targeting 2028, Ciri is leading a new saga, more than 500 developers are working on the project, and there will be no Gamescom reveal this year. There is still no exact release date, and 2028 could ultimately move if development demands it.

It may be a long wait, but at least fans finally have a year to circle on the calendar. Of course, if you are eagerly waiting for the new game, remember that our comparator can help you to pre-order The Witcher IV at the cheapest price. And if you havent tried The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt yet, you are missing out one of the best RPG of all time, which also could keep you entertained untill the new game arrives.