Fans of the acclaimed Witcher series will need to temper their excitement as CD Projekt, the game's developer, has confirmed that The Witcher 4 will not be hitting the shelves in 2026. Dive deeper into the latest updates and development news surrounding this highly anticipated game.

The Witcher 4 Won't Launch in 2026

If you're eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the Witcher saga, prepare for a longer wait. CD Projekt Red has made it clear that The Witcher 4 won't see the light of day within the next two years. During their fiscal year 2024 earnings presentation, the studio outlined financial targets for the upcoming fiscal year and noted, "Even though we do not plan to release The Witcher 4 by the end of 2026, we are still driven by this financial goal."

This statement sparked further inquiry during the Q&A session of the presentation. When pressed for a more specific timeline, CD Projekt Red's Chief Financial Officer, Piotr Nielubowicz, remained elusive, stating, "We are not going to announce the precise launch date for the game yet. All we could share now to give more visibility to investors is that the game will not be launched within the time frame of the first target for the incentive program, which ends December 31, 2026."

Full Steam Ahead in Development

While the release may be further off than fans hoped, The Witcher 4, also known as Project Polaris, is making significant strides in its development. According to CD Projekt's Q3 financial update last year, the game has entered "full production." Nielubowicz expressed his optimism, saying, "Of all our projects, this one [Project Polaris/The Witcher 4] is currently the most far along, and we're starting the most intensive phase of development. I wish to thank the team for its effort and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for further progress."

Originally announced as Project Polaris in 2022, the game was officially unveiled as The Witcher 4 (stylized as The Witcher IV) at The Game Awards 2024 with a captivating six-minute cinematic trailer. This installment bids farewell to the iconic Geralt of Rivia and introduces his adoptive daughter, Ciri, as the new protagonist. Ciri, now older and more mature, steps into her mentor's shoes, promising a fresh yet familiar narrative.

CD Projekt's announcements on X (formerly Twitter) in October 2022 revealed that The Witcher 4 marks the beginning of a new trilogy. The subsequent titles, tentatively named Project Canis Majoris and Project Orion, are slated to follow within a six-year window after The Witcher 4's release.