Just one day before Gamescom 2026, CD Projekt Red has partially answered a question fans have been asking for years. Witcher 4 is now officially targeting a 2028 release window.

How the Announcement Was Made

The news broke via a special video message from CD Projekt Red Joint-CEO Michał Nowakowski, shared on Witcher's official social media channels. While Nowakowski said they're not ready to announce a specific date, he stated: "Witcher 4 is targeting a 2028 release window. I know the wait is tough and you wish you could play sooner, but let the team do their work. It will be worth it." This statement goes beyond the previous "not before 2027" and gives fans a concrete year to look forward to.

Not Appearing at Gamescom This Year

One thing is clear for fans: Witcher 4 will not be present at Gamescom 2026, held in Cologne from August 26-30. There will be no new trailer or gameplay reveal. Instead, all the attention will be on the new Witcher 3: Wild Hunt expansion, Songs of the Past, which will be fully showcased during Opening Night Live, serving as a bridge to the fourth game.

What We Know About Witcher 4

CD Projekt Red has confirmed that over 500 developers are working on the project, calling it the studio's "biggest, boldest, and most ambitious game yet." According to the official statement, the game will be a single-player open-world RPG, built on Unreal Engine 5 and featuring dark fantasy elements. Ciri has been confirmed as the main character, and Witcher 4 will be the first entry in a brand new trilogy. The game was first teased at The Game Awards 2024, and a technical demo built with Unreal Engine 5 has been shown since.

Why the Word "Targeting" Matters

CD Projekt Red's use of "targeting" seems to reflect lessons learned from the delays of Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077; this wording gives the company flexibility before locking in a final date. The studio also stated that it aims to release all three games in the new trilogy within six years, but no additional expansion packs are currently planned for this trilogy.

What's Next

The 2028 release window could also coincide with the rumored launch of the PS6 as early as 2027, raising the possibility that Witcher 4 will debut alongside the next generation of consoles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Witcher 4 definitely releasing in 2028?

CD Projekt Red has stated that 2028 is the "target" but hasn't confirmed a fixed date, so the release window could still change.

Will Witcher 4 be shown at Gamescom 2026?

No. The game will not appear at this year's event; instead, Witcher 3's Songs of the Past expansion will take the spotlight.

Who will be the playable character in Witcher 4?

CD Projekt Red has confirmed that Ciri will be the main character in the new trilogy.