The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will receive a significant DLC in May 2026, aimed at bridging the game to the upcoming sequel, The Witcher 4, expected in late 2027, according to a Polish report and industry sources.
CD Projekt Red's CEO highlights the meaningful benefits of AI in gaming, mainly in productivity, but emphasizes that AI won't replace human developers in creating games like The Witcher 5. The company also dismisses the idea that AI is causing industry layoffs, attributing job cuts to project cancellations, and believes broader AI adoption won't lead to overall job losses. The use of AI in gaming continues to be a controversial topic, with existing tools like Unreal Engine and Photoshop already integrating generative AI.
CD Projekt Red plans to release a new Witcher trilogy within six years, potentially starting with The Witcher 4 in 2027, but the timeline is ambitious given past delays and development challenges, especially with transitioning to Unreal Engine 5 and remaking the first game.
CD Projekt has hired key talent from Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, including senior game designer Karel Kolmann, to work on The Witcher 4, which is in full-scale production and expected to release after 2026, with Ciri as the protagonist.
Andrzej Sapkowski, author of The Witcher series, has a good deal with CD Projekt Red but is rarely consulted for advice on The Witcher 4, as the studio has become more confident in its own direction and has moved away from his direct input, although some ideas from his latest novel will influence the game.
CD Projekt RED is developing The Witcher 4 with a 'console-first' approach to ensure better performance and avoid past issues like those experienced with Cyberpunk 2077, using Unreal Engine 5 and focusing on scaling from console to PC. The game will launch on PS5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC, with a focus on delivering high-quality experiences across platforms.
The development of The Witcher 4 is now more focused on console performance, particularly PS5, but CD Projekt still plans to optimize the game for high-end PCs, ensuring that players with powerful hardware can enjoy advanced graphical features like ray tracing and detailed environments.
CD Projekt is adopting a 'console-first' development approach for The Witcher 4 to ensure better optimization and avoid past issues like those experienced with Cyberpunk 2077, focusing on scaling from console to PC, with a goal of delivering high-quality visuals and performance across platforms.
CD Projekt RED is focusing on developing The Witcher 4 primarily for PS5, aiming for a 60fps target, marking a shift from their usual PC-first approach, though achieving this on Xbox Series S may be challenging.
The article covers upcoming gaming events including Summer Game Fest 2025 and Xbox Games Showcase 2025, highlighting anticipated game reveals such as The Witcher 4, Elder Scrolls 6, Hollow Knight Silksong, and others, along with rumors and fan hopes for titles like Blizzard's StarCraft 3 and Banjo-Kazooie.
The State of Unreal 2025 showcased a tech demo of The Witcher 4 powered by Unreal Engine 5, featuring Ciri exploring Kovir, riding Kelpie, and visiting bustling villages and a port city, hinting at immersive gameplay and detailed environments, with the game expected around 2027.
CD PROJEKT RED and Epic Games showcased a tech demo of The Witcher 4 running on Unreal Engine 5 at Unreal Fest 2025, highlighting new features like Nanite Foliage and MetaHuman technology, and demonstrating the game's open-world capabilities in the region of Kovir, with support across multiple platforms.
CD Projekt has announced that 'Cyberpunk 2', the sequel to 'Cyberpunk 2077', has entered preproduction with 96 developers working on it, and the company is also developing 'The Witcher 4'. 'Cyberpunk 2077' has sold over 30 million copies, and its expansion 'Phantom Liberty' has surpassed 10 million sales. Despite a slight drop in Q1 profit, the company remains active in major game development projects.
CD Projekt Red is developing The Witcher 4, codenamed "Polaris," with a focus on Ciri as the main protagonist, transitioning from Geralt of Rivia. The game will be the first in a new trilogy, emphasizing player choice and agency, drawing lessons from Cyberpunk 2077 to enhance gameplay flexibility. The studio aims to make the game accessible to new players while maintaining its narrative depth. CDPR is also implementing structural changes to improve production quality and working conditions, learning from past challenges with Cyberpunk 2077.
A surprise teaser for The Witcher 4 has sparked excitement and speculation among fans, despite the game's release being years away. The teaser features a close-up image of a coin, leading to various fan theories about its significance, including connections to the Curse of the Black Sun and the conjunction of the spheres. While some fans caution against overanalyzing, the teaser has reignited interest and discussion within the Witcher community.