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CD Projekt Red Details Ambitious Roadmap for The Witcher 4 and Beyond
CD Projekt Red has once again signalled the scale of its long-term ambitions for The Witcher franchise. With The Witcher 3 still regarded as one of the most influential RPGs of the last decade, the studio is preparing to open a new chapter led by Ciri and powered by fresh technology.
The next game marks the beginning of this new era, and CDPR is eager to position it as the foundation of an entire saga.
A New Protagonist and a New Technological Direction
The Witcher IV represents a significant creative shift. For the first time in the series, Ciri will serve as the central protagonist, anchoring a story that moves beyond Geralt while maintaining the series’ tone and themes. Alongside this narrative turn, CDPR has fully transitioned from its proprietary RED Engine to Unreal Engine 5. The studio believes the switch will streamline production and support multiple large-scale projects more efficiently.
The game’s early teaser already demonstrated some of the visual potential of Unreal Engine 5. According to CDPR, the engine has performed well in initial development and is expected to help maintain a consistent level of quality over the next several games.
A Full Trilogy Planned Within Six Years
In its latest development update, CDPR outlined an ambitious release strategy. The studio plans to deliver three new games within six years of The Witcher IV. This means the next two games are expected to arrive far more quickly than previous entries. CDPR stated that the first instalment in the new saga will take the longest to build, while subsequent entries will benefit from established technology, systems and production pipelines.
This represents one of the most aggressive development timelines CDPR has ever set, and the team is confident that Unreal Engine 5 will be a crucial factor in achieving it.
No Release Window Yet
Despite the momentum, CDPR has not provided a release year for The Witcher IV. The studio has confirmed that it will not launch in 2026, giving fans an idea of the earliest possible timeframe while maintaining flexibility in production. Internal resources continue shifting toward the project, which now stands as the company’s highest priority.
For now, the studio remains focused on shaping the opening chapter of what it hopes will become a defining trilogy for the franchise and the next decade of RPG storytelling.
