The Witcher 4 marks a bold new era for CD Projekt Red
Fans of the beloved action franchise are buzzing again as CD Projekt Red lifts the veil on fresh developments for The Witcher 4. The studio has confirmed that the team behind The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has moved past the initial stages and reached a clear, tangible milestone. The research phase is complete, and work now pivots toward pre-production, signaling the start of a brand-new journey for the series. The Witcher 4 is in a careful pre-production phase where developers design individual locations and the sprawling open world, map out the overall structure, test mechanics, and experiment with a distinct visual style. Some ideas will be retired, while others will evolve into key features of the final release. The decision-making at this stage focuses on balancing exploration, narrative momentum, and player choice across a living, responsive world.
Reaction from the fan community has been lively. With the project approaching its main development phase, anticipation for the sequel is higher than ever. The studio has not framed The Witcher 4 as a direct continuation of Geralt of Rivia’s iconic adventures. Instead, it is presented as the dawn of a new saga within the same universe. Whether Geralt himself will appear as a central figure or merely cameo as a plot participant remains to be seen, and the door is left open for new leads and fresh protagonists to emerge in this evolving universe.
As for release timing, the exact date for The Witcher 4 remains unannounced. CD Projekt Red continues to lead the project from its home base in Poland and has made a strategic shift by adopting Unreal Engine 5 rather than continuing with its in-house technology. This choice aligns with efforts to push graphical fidelity and deliver a more immersive experience on modern consoles. The plan also includes bringing new visual considerations to life on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, while expanding the Witcher universe with content influenced by the Netflix adaptation. The broader aim is to deliver a richer, more expansive Witcher world that resonates with long-time fans and newcomers alike, while keeping a core throughline that preserves the franchise’s distinctive tone and storytelling prowess.