Katarzyna Petru
CD Projekt RED, a decade after the release of The Witcher 3, makes it clear – the gaps between subsequent entries in the series are set to be significantly shorter. The studio is working not only on The Witcher 4 but also on an entire new trilogy. According to current assumptions, the last installment could hit the market around 2032, which means a completely new publishing pace for CDP.
Unreal Engine 5 as the foundation for faster production
Although there's still a long way to go before the fourth installment is released, the studio emphasises that the production process for subsequent episodes should run more smoothly. A key role is played by the switch to Unreal Engine 5. As Michał Nowakowski explains, the team has been using UE5 for over four years and feels confident enough with it that the next phases of work are being completed faster than with REDengine. The recently showcased technological demo was meant to confirm that CD Projekt knows how to harness the potential of UE5. At the same time, the industry has often shown that ambitious schedules should be approached with caution – the studio has had a difficult launch with Cyberpunk 2077 and understands the consequences of time pressure well.
Change of hero and narrative test for CD Projekt RED
The new trilogy also marks a shift in narrative direction. The main character is set to be Ciri, which will refresh the perspective and may attract a slightly different audience profile. It’s a bold step, but it aligns with the need for brand development – the next Witcher is not meant to be just a repeat of what players have known for years.
Six years for three games – an ambitious plan like never before
The proposed schedule – three full-featured games in about six years – is a rarity in the industry. Even large AAA studios rarely maintain such a pace. For the plan to be realistic, financial stability and consistent production management are essential. In this regard, CDP's situation looks promising. The third quarter of 2025 brought in PLN 193.5 million in net profit, mainly due to the still excellent sales of Cyberpunk 2077, which has exceeded 35 million copies sold. These results give the studio a large safety margin for executing further projects.
Witcher 4 at the earliest in 2027
Despite ambitious announcements, the release of the first part of the trilogy remains distant. Realistically speaking, Witcher 4 may not appear until 2027. In the meantime, players can catch up on older installments of the series – a promotion is ongoing on Steam, where we can purchase the entire Witcher collection (without expansions) for 18.42 PLN. This is one of the cheapest opportunities to return to the world created by Sapkowski.
