Katarzyna Petru
CD Projekt RED, a decade after the release of The Witcher 3, makes it clear – the gaps between subsequent installments of the series are to be significantly shorter. The studio is working not only on The Witcher 4 but on an entire new trilogy. According to current assumptions, the final part 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 is still a long way to go before the release of the fourth installment, the studio emphasises that the production process for the next entries should proceed more smoothly. A key role is played by the transition 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 subsequent phases of work are being carried out faster than with REDengine. The recently showcased technological demo was meant to confirm that CD Projekt knows how to leverage the potential of UE5. At the same time, the industry has repeatedly shown that ambitious schedules must be taken with a pinch of salt – the studio has had a difficult release with Cyberpunk 2077 and is well aware of the consequences of time pressure.
Change of hero and narrative test for CD Projekt RED
The new trilogy also signifies a change in narrative direction. The main character is set to be Ciri, which will refresh the perspective and may attract a slightly different profile of the audience. This is 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 planned schedule – three full-fledged games in approximately 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 necessary. In this respect, the situation at CDP looks good. The third quarter of 2025 brought a net profit of 193.5 million PLN, mainly due to the still excellent sales of Cyberpunk 2077, which surpassed 35 million copies sold. These results give the studio a large margin of safety in the implementation of further projects.
The Witcher 4 at the earliest in 2027
Despite ambitious announcements, the premiere of the first part of the trilogy remains distant. Realistically speaking, The Witcher 4 may not appear until 2027. In the meantime, players can catch up on the older installments of the series – there is a promotion on Steam where we can buy 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.
