Could The Witcher 4 Be Targeting the PS6 and Next-Gen Xbox, Given It Won't Be Out Until 2027 at the Earliest?

Don't hold your breath for The Witcher 4. According to the developers at CD Projekt, it won't be out 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 rules out a launch this year, which was never expected, and a launch next year, which some had hoped for, setting 2027 as the earliest release date for The Witcher 4. However, given the unpredictable nature of the video game industry, a 2028 release seems possible.

With a release date of 2027 at the earliest, The Witcher 4 might be targeting the next generation of consoles. Sony is likely working on its PlayStation 6, while Microsoft is rumored to be planning a 2027 release for its Xbox Series X successor and an Xbox handheld. The question remains whether The Witcher 4 will be a cross-gen game, similar to Cyberpunk 2077 upon its 2020 release. If it is, could it also work on the Nintendo Switch 2? While it seems unlikely, The Witcher 3 did make it to the Switch, so surprises are possible.

Here's what we know: The Witcher 4 is the first in a new trilogy of Witcher games set after the events of The Witcher 3. This time, instead of Geralt, Ciri takes the lead role. In an exclusive interview with IGN before the reveal of The Witcher 4, executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga explained why Ciri was chosen as the protagonist: "It was always about her, starting from the 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."

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In January, during an interview with IGN about Netflix's upcoming animated film, The Witcher: Sirens of The Deep, Geralt's voice actor Doug Cockle expressed his support for CD Projekt's decision to focus on Ciri: "I'm really excited. 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 any confusion about her appearance.

For more exclusive content on The Witcher 4, check out our trailer breakdown and an interview with CD Projekt where they explain why The Witcher 4 will avoid a Cyberpunk 2077-style launch disaster.