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

Don't hold your breath for The Witcher 4. According to CD Projekt, the game won't be released until 2027 at the earliest. In a financial call discussing future profit projections, CD Projekt 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 statement effectively rules out a launch in the current or next year, setting 2027 as the soonest we might see the game. However, given the unpredictable nature of the video game industry, a 2028 release remains a possibility.

With a 2027 launch, The Witcher 4 is likely targeting the next generation of consoles. Sony is reportedly developing the PlayStation 6, while Microsoft is rumored to be planning a 2027 release for the Xbox Series X successor and an Xbox handheld. The question arises: will The Witcher 4 be a cross-gen title like Cyberpunk 2077 was upon its release in December 2020? If so, could it also be adapted for the Nintendo Switch 2? While it may seem unlikely, the success of The Witcher 3 on the original Switch suggests that anything is possible.

Here's what we know about The Witcher 4: it's the first installment in a new trilogy set after the events of The Witcher 3. Unlike its predecessor, which starred Geralt, The Witcher 4 will feature Ciri as the main protagonist. In an exclusive interview with IGN before the game's reveal, executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga explained the choice, saying, "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."

In January, as part of a broader interview with IGN about Netflix's upcoming animated film, The Witcher: Sirens of The Deep, Geralt's voice actor Doug Cockle endorsed CD Projekt's decision to focus on Ciri. "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 face looked different.

The Witcher IV Game Awards Trailer Screenshots

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For more exclusive content on The Witcher 4, check out our trailer breakdown and an interview with CD Projekt, where the developer discusses how they plan to avoid a Cyberpunk 2077-style launch disaster.