The Witcher 4 Release Date Set for 2028
The The Witcher 4 release date target has finally been revealed, giving fans their clearest indication yet of when CD Projekt Red’s next major RPG will arrive. The studio is targeting 2028 for the launch of the highly anticipated sequel, although an exact day or month has not been announced.
The news comes as CD Projekt Red prepares for Gamescom 2026, where fans will get a major look at The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past. The expansion is scheduled to appear during Gamescom Opening Night Live on August 25, giving the franchise a major presence at one of the year’s biggest gaming events.
However, fans hoping for new footage of The Witcher 4 itself should not expect a Gamescom reveal. CD Projekt Red has indicated that the upcoming game will remain in development while the studio focuses attention on the new Witcher 3 expansion.
The Witcher 4 Release Date Is Targeted for 2028
CD Projekt Red joint CEO Michał Nowakowski has confirmed that the company is targeting 2028 for The Witcher 4.
That makes 2028 the first publicly stated release target for the next mainline Witcher game. Previously, CD Projekt Red had only indicated that the game would not arrive before 2027.
The distinction is important.
A target year is not the same as a firm release date. CD Projekt Red still has several years of development ahead, and the company has not announced a specific launch window within 2028.
Therefore, fans should treat 2028 as the current development target rather than a guaranteed launch date.
The long wait is also consistent with the scale of the project. More than 500 developers are reportedly working on The Witcher 4, which CD Projekt Red has described as one of its most ambitious projects.
Why The Witcher 4 Is Taking So Long
The next Witcher game represents a major new chapter for CD Projekt Red.
The studio is building the game as the beginning of a new Witcher trilogy. Unlike the original trilogy, which centered heavily on Geralt of Rivia, the new saga will put Ciri in the leading role.
The Witcher 4 was first announced at The Game Awards in December 2024 through a cinematic trailer. CD Projekt Red subsequently demonstrated the technology behind the game using Unreal Engine 5, offering an early glimpse at its technical ambitions.
The project has since moved deeper into full production.
That development process requires significant work across world design, combat, animation, storytelling, performance optimization and technology.
The studio is also moving forward with Unreal Engine 5 rather than its previous proprietary technology, REDengine.
That transition is one reason the next game represents such a significant technical undertaking.
The Witcher 4 Will Start a New Trilogy
The 2028 target is particularly significant because The Witcher 4 is intended to launch an entirely new trilogy.
Ciri will serve as the central protagonist, marking a major change from the previous games.
Her role is not completely unfamiliar to longtime fans. Ciri was already one of the most important characters in The Witcher 3, and the game’s story placed her at the center of Geralt’s search and the wider conflict surrounding the Wild Hunt.
The new game will therefore build on established lore while giving Ciri a much larger role.
CD Projekt Red has not yet revealed the complete story.
That means many questions remain unanswered about Ciri’s journey, the game’s setting and the characters she will encounter.
Songs of the Past Takes Center Stage at Gamescom
While The Witcher 4 release date target has grabbed headlines, the immediate Witcher event is actually The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past.
CD Projekt Red previously confirmed that the expansion would be shown at Gamescom 2026. New information is scheduled to be revealed during Opening Night Live on August 25.
The expansion is expected to provide another major adventure starring Geralt.
CD Projekt Red has also indicated that Songs of the Past is intended to connect the previous Witcher era with the future of the franchise. That makes the project especially interesting for fans who want to understand how the story may transition toward the new trilogy.
The expansion is currently planned for release in 2027, meaning it will arrive before The Witcher 4.
What Is Songs of the Past?
Songs of the Past is a new expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
Details remain limited, but CD Projekt Red has confirmed that the project will receive a substantial showcase during Gamescom 2026.
The announcement is significant because The Witcher 3 originally launched in 2015. A major new expansion more than a decade later gives CD Projekt Red an opportunity to revisit Geralt before the franchise moves fully into its next chapter.
The expansion also gives the studio a way to keep The Witcher universe active while development of The Witcher 4 continues.
According to CD Projekt Red’s official announcement, Gamescom will feature new information about Songs of the Past, with its first major presentation taking place during Opening Night Live.
The Witcher 4 Will Not Be the Gamescom Headliner
Despite the excitement surrounding the The Witcher 4 release date, CD Projekt Red is not planning to show the game at Gamescom.
Instead, Songs of the Past will represent the franchise at the event.
That decision makes sense from a marketing perspective.
The Witcher 4 remains years away from launch, while Songs of the Past is much closer to release. Showing the expansion allows CD Projekt Red to build immediate excitement without revealing too much about its much larger upcoming RPG.
It also gives the studio more time to develop The Witcher 4 before showing substantial gameplay.
Fans have already seen technology demonstrations connected to the project, but those demonstrations were designed primarily to showcase the capabilities of Unreal Engine 5 rather than serve as a full gameplay presentation.
Gamescom 2026 Could Still Bring Witcher Surprises
Gamescom 2026 begins in Cologne, Germany, on August 26, with Opening Night Live taking place on August 25.
The event is expected to feature numerous major announcements and trailers.
For Witcher fans, however, Songs of the Past is the confirmed highlight.
CD Projekt Red has also planned additional REDStreams around Gamescom, meaning the company is expected to keep discussing the expansion beyond the Opening Night Live presentation.
That could give fans more information about the expansion’s story, gameplay and eventual release plans.
Still, expectations for The Witcher 4 should remain realistic.
The studio’s newly announced 2028 target suggests that a full launch is still a considerable distance away.
What the 2028 Target Means for Fans
For many fans, the biggest takeaway is simple: The Witcher 4 is still years away.
The 2028 target gives the community a clearer timeline, but it also confirms that CD Projekt Red is taking its time with the project.
That could ultimately benefit the game.
The studio’s previous major release, Cyberpunk 2077, experienced significant technical problems at launch. CD Projekt Red subsequently invested heavily in improving its development processes and production pipeline.
The Witcher 4 therefore carries enormous expectations.
The company will need to deliver a polished open-world RPG while introducing a new trilogy, a new protagonist and a new technical foundation.
A longer development cycle could give the team more time to achieve those goals.
Ciri’s New Adventure Will Define the Next Era
The shift from Geralt to Ciri is perhaps the most important creative change in The Witcher 4.
Geralt’s story formed the backbone of the original trilogy. His relationships, contracts and personal journey helped make The Witcher 3 one of the most acclaimed RPGs of its generation.
Ciri offers a different perspective.
She already possesses a unique history within the Witcher universe, including her connection to Geralt, Yennefer and the wider world of magic and politics.
Making her the protagonist allows CD Projekt Red to explore parts of that universe from a new viewpoint.
It also creates an opportunity to establish a different tone for the next trilogy.
A Busy Future for The Witcher Franchise
The Witcher franchise is entering an unusually busy period.
Songs of the Past is expected in 2027. The Witcher 4 is currently targeted for 2028. Meanwhile, CD Projekt Red continues to explore other projects connected to the wider Witcher universe.
The company has previously discussed a multiplayer Witcher project, internally known as Project Sirius, although its development has faced changes and uncertainty.
That means CD Projekt Red is not treating The Witcher as a single-game franchise.
Instead, the company appears to be building a broader future for the series.
The Witcher 4 will be the centerpiece of that strategy.
What Fans Should Expect Next
The next major Witcher update will come from Gamescom.
Songs of the Past will receive its prominent showcase during Opening Night Live, followed by additional CD Projekt Red coverage during the event.
The Witcher 4, meanwhile, will remain in development.
The newly announced 2028 target should help set expectations. Rather than anticipating a surprise release in the near future, fans can now expect CD Projekt Red to gradually reveal more information as development progresses.
More gameplay footage, story details and technical demonstrations are likely to emerge before launch.
But a full release is still some distance away.
The Witcher 4 Release Date Gives Fans a Clearer Future
The The Witcher 4 release date is not an exact date yet, but CD Projekt Red’s 2028 target is an important milestone.
It confirms that the next mainline Witcher adventure is moving forward while giving fans a realistic idea of how long they may have to wait.
Before Ciri begins her new saga, Geralt will return for another adventure in Songs of the Past.
That expansion will be the immediate focus at Gamescom 2026, while The Witcher 4 continues its long development behind the scenes.
For fans, the roadmap is now clearer: Songs of the Past in 2027, followed by The Witcher 4 in 2028 if CD Projekt Red’s current target holds.
After years of speculation, that is finally a meaningful glimpse into the future of one of gaming’s biggest RPG franchises.
