Witcher 4: 2026 Release Rumors Debunked

The Witcher 4 will not be among the list of released games for 2026, as confirmed by developer CD Projekt. Read on to find out more about updates regarding the game and its development.

The Witcher 4 Will Not Come Out In 2026

No Specific Release Window Yet

Fans of The Witcher video game series will need to exercise patience for the fourth installment, as CD Projekt Red has revealed that the game won't be released anytime soon—certainly not within the next two years.

During their fiscal year 2024 earnings presentation, CD Projekt mentioned their financial goals tied to share-based incentive programs for the upcoming fiscal year. They explicitly stated, "Even though we do not plan to release The Witcher 4 by the end of 2026, we are still driven by this financial goal."

In the Q&A session that followed, an attendee sought further clarification on this statement. However, CD Projekt Red remained discreet about the specific release window or year beyond 2026. Chief Financial Officer Piotr Nielubowicz responded, "We are not going to announce the precise launch date for the game yet. All we can share now to provide more visibility to investors is that the game will not be launched within the time frame of the first target for the incentive program, which ends December 31, 2026."

Full Speed Ahead In Production

With this news, fans of The Witcher can adjust their expectations regarding the game's full launch. However, the fourth entry in this acclaimed series is already in the works, having entered "full production" as reported in CD Projekt's Q3 financial update last year. "Of all our projects, this one [Project Polaris/The Witcher 4] is currently the most advanced, and we're entering the most intensive phase of development. I wish to thank the team for its effort and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for further progress," Nielubowicz stated.

First announced as Project Polaris in 2022, the project was officially titled The Witcher 4 during The Game Awards 2024, following a six-minute cinematic trailer that surprised viewers. The Witcher 4 (stylized as The Witcher IV) shifts the focus from the iconic protagonist Geralt of Rivia to another beloved character in the franchise—Geralt's adoptive daughter, Ciri, now older and more mature, clearly following in her predecessor's footsteps.

According to CD Projekt's previous announcements on X (formerly Twitter) in October 2022, The Witcher 4 will be the first title in a new Witcher trilogy. The subsequent titles, currently known as Project Canis Majoris and Project Orion, are expected to be released within a six-year period following The Witcher 4's launch.