The Witcher 4 Release Window Has Finally Been Revealed
The Witcher 4 now has a targeted release window, giving fans their clearest indication yet of when CD Projekt RED’s highly anticipated next-generation RPG could arrive.
CD Projekt RED has confirmed that The Witcher 4 is targeting a 2028 release window. However, the studio has not announced an exact launch date, and the game will not be shown at Gamescom 2026. Instead, the developer is putting the spotlight on a major new expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
The announcement came ahead of Gamescom 2026 from CD Projekt RED joint CEO Michał Nowakowski. While fans had hoped for a substantial new look at the next Witcher game, the company made it clear that the project still needs more development time.
For players who have been waiting years for the next chapter, the news is significant. It establishes 2028 as the current target while also making clear that the studio is not yet ready to commit to a specific day or month.
The Witcher 4 Is Targeting 2028
The biggest announcement is straightforward: The Witcher 4 is targeting 2028.
That wording is important. CD Projekt RED has not called 2028 a firm release date. Instead, the company has described it as a target, meaning the launch schedule could potentially change depending on development progress.
Nowakowski acknowledged that fans would prefer to play the game sooner but asked the community to give the development team more time. The executive also described the upcoming RPG as the studio’s biggest, boldest and most ambitious game to date.
That ambition may help explain the lengthy development period.
The new game represents the beginning of a new Witcher saga. It will move the franchise beyond Geralt of Rivia’s central role and place Ciri at the heart of the story.
CD Projekt RED says the project is being built as a single-player open-world RPG and is powered by Unreal Engine 5. The company has previously described its goal as creating its most immersive and ambitious open-world Witcher experience yet.
The Witcher 4 Will Not Appear at Gamescom 2026
One of the biggest questions surrounding Gamescom 2026 was whether CD Projekt RED would finally show more of The Witcher 4.
The answer is no — at least for this year’s event.
CD Projekt RED has confirmed that the next mainline Witcher game will not be shown at Gamescom 2026. Instead, the company is bringing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past to the event.
This decision may disappoint fans who were expecting a new trailer, gameplay footage or another technical demonstration.
However, the studio has not completely ruled out surprises surrounding the wider Witcher franchise. Nowakowski suggested that CD Projekt RED could still have a surprise or two to share during its Gamescom activities.
That leaves some room for speculation, although there is currently no official indication that a new Witcher 4 trailer is coming.
Songs of the Past Takes Center Stage
While The Witcher 4 remains behind the scenes, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past will be one of CD Projekt RED’s major attractions at Gamescom 2026.
The expansion is scheduled to appear during Gamescom Opening Night Live and will also be demonstrated on the show floor. According to CD Projekt RED, the expansion will be playable as a new chapter featuring Geralt of Rivia.
Songs of the Past is currently scheduled to launch in 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
That release gives fans something substantial to look forward to before the arrival of The Witcher 4.
The expansion is being created in partnership with Fool’s Theory, a studio that includes developers with experience working on The Witcher 3. CD Projekt RED says the new project will deliver a brand-new adventure within the Witcher universe.
The Gamescom presentation is therefore expected to offer the first major public look at the expansion.
Ciri Becomes the New Face of the Witcher Saga
Perhaps the most important creative change in The Witcher 4 is its protagonist.
Ciri will take the lead role in the new saga.
CD Projekt RED has already established that the game will follow Ciri as she takes on the life of a professional monster slayer. The story will take players into a new chapter of the Witcher universe while retaining the dark fantasy atmosphere that defined the previous games.
The change could allow the developers to explore areas of the world and themes that were difficult to address through Geralt’s perspective.
Ciri is also a fundamentally different character from Geralt. Her abilities, history and relationship with the Witcher world create opportunities for different gameplay mechanics and storytelling.
That means The Witcher 4 is not simply expected to repeat the formula of The Witcher 3. Instead, CD Projekt RED appears to be using the sequel as the foundation for a broader new era of the franchise.
The Witcher 4 Will Feature a Huge Open World
CD Projekt RED has repeatedly emphasized the scale of The Witcher 4.
The studio describes the game as having a huge and immersive open world, intense action and a deep story designed to leave a lasting impact on players. More than 500 developers are reportedly working on the project, highlighting the scale of the production.
The game is also being developed internally by CD Projekt RED using Unreal Engine 5.
The technology represents another major change for the studio. Previous mainline Witcher games were built using CD Projekt RED’s proprietary REDengine. Moving to Unreal Engine 5 gives the team access to a widely used modern development platform while potentially supporting a much larger and more detailed open world.
CD Projekt RED previously demonstrated some of the technology behind its next Witcher game through a technical demonstration on PlayStation 5.
Still, a technology demo should not be confused with final gameplay. The finished game could look and play differently when it eventually launches.
The Witcher 4 Release Date Is Not Exact Yet
Despite headlines describing the announcement as a confirmed release date, players should understand the distinction between a release year and an exact release date.
At this stage, there is no confirmed day or month for The Witcher 4.
CD Projekt RED has only confirmed that it is targeting 2028. The company itself said it was not ready to share an exact date.
This means fans should avoid treating a specific 2028 date circulating online as official unless CD Projekt RED announces it directly.
The 2028 target nevertheless represents a major milestone because it provides a clearer development horizon than the vague release expectations that have surrounded the project for years.
It also indicates that the game is still more than a year away from its expected launch window.
Why the 2028 Target Matters
The announcement provides useful context for CD Projekt RED’s development strategy.
The company is working on several projects across the Witcher and Cyberpunk universes. Giving The Witcher 4 a 2028 target suggests that the studio is planning its development and release pipeline around a long production cycle rather than rushing the sequel to market.
That approach could be especially important after the difficult launch of Cyberpunk 2077 in 2020.
CD Projekt RED has since invested heavily in improving its development processes and expanding its teams. The decision to delay major releases when necessary has also become an important part of the company’s strategy.
For The Witcher 4, that could mean a longer wait but a more polished product at launch.
What Happens Before The Witcher 4?
Fans will not have to wait until 2028 for new Witcher content.
The immediate focus is Songs of the Past, which is planned for 2027. The expansion will return players to Geralt and introduce another adventure in the world of The Witcher 3.
Gamescom 2026 will provide the first major showcase of the expansion.
The event begins with Gamescom Opening Night Live on August 25, while the physical show runs from August 26 through August 30 in Cologne, Germany.
CD Projekt RED will also operate a large presence at the event, with presentations and demonstrations planned for attendees.
This creates an interesting timeline for the franchise: Songs of the Past in 2027, followed by the targeted arrival of The Witcher 4 in 2028.
What Fans Can Expect From The Witcher 4
While many details remain under wraps, the basic direction is becoming clearer.
Players can expect a single-player open-world RPG centered on Ciri. The game will begin a new Witcher saga and use Unreal Engine 5 to create a large fantasy world. CD Projekt RED has also promised a more ambitious experience than its previous Witcher projects.
What remains unknown is almost as interesting.
The company has not yet revealed the full story, detailed combat systems, complete map, supporting characters or final release date. It has also not announced how the game will connect specific events from The Witcher 3 to Ciri’s new journey.
Those details will likely be revealed gradually as development continues.
For now, the most important message is that CD Projekt RED is still working toward a 2028 launch rather than preparing a major public presentation at Gamescom this year.
The Long Wait for The Witcher 4 Continues
The announcement will be bittersweet for many fans.
On one hand, The Witcher 4 finally has a targeted release year. After years of uncertainty, 2028 gives players a clearer idea of when they might return to the world of professional monster hunters.
On the other hand, the wait remains substantial.
There will be no The Witcher 4 showcase at Gamescom 2026, and an exact release date has not been announced. Instead, fans will get their next major dose of Witcher content through Songs of the Past in 2027.
For CD Projekt RED, however, the strategy appears deliberate.
The studio is positioning The Witcher 4 as the beginning of a major new era for the franchise, with Ciri leading the story and a huge open world built using Unreal Engine 5.
If the developer can deliver on those ambitions, the wait could ultimately prove worthwhile.
For now, the key dates are clear: Songs of the Past is coming in 2027, while The Witcher 4 is targeting 2028. The exact launch date for the next mainline Witcher game remains a mystery.
