CDPR Denies The Witcher 4 2026 Release Claims

Developer CD Projekt has officially confirmed that The Witcher 4 will not be among the games released in 2026. Learn more about the latest updates on the game's development progress.

The Witcher 4 Will Not Launch in 2026

No Specific Release Window Announced

Fans of The Witcher series may need to wait longer for the fourth installment, as CD Projekt Red confirmed the game won't be released anytime soon—certainly not within the next two years.

During the studio's fiscal year 2024 earnings presentation, the company mentioned its financial targets tied to share-based incentive programs for the coming fiscal year. This was followed by a telling statement: "Although we don't plan to release The Witcher 4 by the end of 2026, we remain motivated by this financial goal."

Later, in the Q&A session, the comment was revisited for additional clarity. CD Projekt Red, however, remained tight-lipped about a specific release date beyond 2026. Chief Financial Officer Piotr Nielubowicz clarified: "We are not yet announcing the exact launch date. All we can share with investors right now is that the game will not be released within the timeframe covered by the first incentive program target, which ends on December 31, 2026."

Full Production Underway

With this update, fans of The Witcher can now better set their expectations for the full launch. The fourth game in the acclaimed series is well underway—it entered "full production" as noted in CD Projekt's Q3 financial update last year. Nielubowicz added: "Among all our projects, this one (Project Polaris/The Witcher 4) is currently the most advanced. We're entering the most intensive phase of development. I thank the team for their dedication and wish them continued progress."

Originally announced as Project Polaris in 2022, the game received its official title during The Game Awards 2024, where a six-minute cinematic trailer surprised audiences with the reveal. The Witcher 4 (stylized as The Witcher IV) introduces a new main character—Ciri, Geralt of Rivia's adoptive daughter—now older and more mature, and following in her predecessor's footsteps, marking a departure from the iconic Geralt.

Based on CD Projekt's earlier announcements on X (formerly Twitter) in October 2022, this title will be the first in a new Witcher trilogy. The two subsequent games, currently known as Project Canis Majoris and Project Orion, are expected to follow within six years after The Witcher 4's release.