Ethan Crossfield 
CD Projekt Red has given The Witcher 4 a broad release target: 2028. The studio has not chosen a specific launch date, and fans should not expect the game at Gamescom 2026. For players deciding whether to keep tracking updates or revisit earlier games in the series, the message is clear: The Witcher 4 remains several years away, while other Witcher projects will fill the gap.
What changed for The Witcher 4?
Joint-CEO Michal Nowakowski said development is progressing smoothly and that CD Projekt Red currently plans to release The Witcher 4 in 2028. The statement does not narrow that window to a month or season, so there is no confirmed date for players to mark on their calendars.
The studio also acknowledged that the wait may feel lengthy, while presenting the project as its largest and most ambitious game so far. That description sets expectations for a major production, but it does not provide new gameplay details or change the current release outlook.
The Witcher 4 was announced at The Game Awards 2024 as the next mainline entry in the fantasy RPG series. It will move the spotlight from Geralt of Rivia to Ciri, continuing the story after the events of The Witcher 3.
Who should adjust their Gamescom expectations?
Anyone hoping for a fresh look at The Witcher 4 during Gamescom 2026 should not expect an appearance. CD Projekt Red has specifically set expectations that the upcoming sequel will not be part of the event.
That absence does not mean the franchise will be missing from the show. Gamescom Opening Night Live is scheduled to feature the first gameplay reveal for The Witcher 3's Songs of the Past DLC. The expansion is planned for release next year and will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Players on previous-generation versions of The Witcher 3 will not be able to play it.
The Witcher 4 is being built with Unreal Engine 5, marking CD Projekt Red's move away from the proprietary REDengine used for the previous two mainline games. The sequel will also introduce Kovir to the games for the first time, after the region previously appeared only in The Witcher novels.
What can fans follow while waiting?
The clearest near-term point of interest is the Songs of the Past gameplay presentation. It offers a look at new content for The Witcher 3 while the next mainline game remains in production, although its platform limitations will exclude players using older consoles.
A remake of the original Witcher game is also still in development. CD Projekt Red announced that project in 2022 but has not revealed a release date. Together with the DLC, it gives fans additional Witcher material to monitor without suggesting that either project will accelerate The Witcher 4's 2028 target.
For now, the sequel's defining details remain its Ciri-led story, Unreal Engine 5 development, and the addition of Kovir. More specific launch information will have to wait for a later announcement.
What players should know
- The Witcher 4 is targeting a 2028 release, but no exact date has been announced.
- The game will not appear at Gamescom 2026.
- Ciri replaces Geralt as the lead protagonist for this mainline entry.
- The sequel is being developed in Unreal Engine 5 rather than CD Projekt Red's REDengine.
- Songs of the Past will receive a gameplay reveal at Gamescom Opening Night Live and will launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
- The original Witcher remake remains in development without a confirmed release date.
Expert View
The update is useful mainly because it removes near-term uncertainty: The Witcher 4 is not a Gamescom 2026 showcase and is unlikely to arrive before 2028. That is a long wait, but the shift to Ciri, the move to Unreal Engine 5, and the introduction of Kovir give the sequel a clear new direction. Fans should treat 2028 as a planning target rather than a locked launch date and look to The Witcher 3 DLC for the next substantial series reveal.
