CD Projekt Red Sets 2028 as The Witcher 4’s Release Window — But Watch That Word ‘Targeting’

When does “targeting” become “confirmed”? If you’re CD Projekt Red, apparently right now. Joint-CEO Michał Nowakowski posted a short video to The Witcher’s official social accounts on 24 August, delivering what he described as a personal message to fans ahead of Gamescom. The headline: The Witcher 4 — officially titled The Witcher IV — is targeting a 2028 release window. That word “targeting” is doing heavy lifting, and Nowakowski himself noted the studio is “not ready to share an exact date.” But after four years of near-silence since the game’s 2022 announcement, any concrete window is significant. “I know it’s a bit of a wait, and you’d love to play it sooner,” Nowakowski said. “But let the team cook. It will be worth the wait.”

What Nowakowski Actually Said

The video, published just days before Gamescom opening on 26 August, was a preemptive update designed to manage expectations. CD Projekt Red confirmed the sequel will not appear during Gamescom Opening Night Live, nor will it be playable on the show floor. Fans hoping for new footage or a release date beyond 2028 will have to keep waiting. What Nowakowski did promise: the upcoming RPG is the studio’s “biggest, boldest and most ambitious game to date.” That’s a remarkable claim given CD Projekt Red’s back catalogue, which includes The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — still one of the best-selling RPGs of all time with over 65 million copies sold — and Cyberpunk 2077, a game that nearly destroyed the studio’s reputation before a years-long redemption arc restored it.

Who Is Ciri — and Why the Protagonist Switch Matters

The Witcher IV will star Ciri rather than series mainstay Geralt of Rivia. The switch was telegraphed in Wild Hunt itself, where Ciri — Geralt’s ward and surrogate daughter — completes her journey to become a witcher in her own right. The Game Awards 2024 reveal trailer confirmed her as the lead, showing a more seasoned Ciri operating independently across a world that has clearly moved on since Wild Hunt’s ending. For longtime fans, it’s a significant shift. Geralt defined the franchise for 15 years. Whether Ciri can carry a full mainline entry has been a point of debate in the community, though the 2024 trailer suggested CD Projekt Red has a clear vision for the character and where the story goes next.

Gamescom Will Be All About Songs of the Past

While the game sits out Gamescom 2026, CD Projekt Red will be showcasing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past — the third major expansion for the 2015 RPG, arriving in 2027, a full decade after Blood and Wine. Nowakowski said the studio plans to reveal “a lot of the expansion” at the event, including “a taste of its dark story and the new content it will bring.” Songs of the Past will feature prominently at CD Projekt Red’s Gamescom booth and has been confirmed for Opening Night Live. It’s expected to serve as a narrative bridge between Geralt’s story and Ciri’s new chapter.

“Until then, there will be plenty more of The Witcher to come, including Songs of the Past when it launches in 2027.” — Michał Nowakowski, CD Projekt Red Joint-CEO

Why the Wait Is Probably Worth It

CD Projekt Red’s caution is understandable. Cyberpunk 2077’s 2020 launch — plagued by bugs, performance issues, and platform delists — remains the cautionary tale the entire industry references when discussing pre-release hype. The studio spent years rebuilding trust through patches, expansions, and eventually the Phantom Liberty DLC. The sequel will not repeat that mistake if Nowakowski has any say in it. A 2028 window, rather than a firm date, gives the team room to deliver the game in the state it needs to be. Given that the franchise’s reputation rests almost entirely on depth, world-building, and narrative quality, launching a broken entry would be catastrophic. For now, 2028 is the clearest signal yet that development is entering its final phase — and that CD Projekt Red wants the first impression to stick this time.