"Witcher 4 2026 Release Rumors Debunked"

Fans of The Witcher series will need to adjust their expectations as CD Projekt has confirmed that The Witcher 4 will not be released in 2026. Dive deeper into the latest updates and development progress of the highly anticipated game.

The Witcher 4 Will Not Come Out In 2026

CD Projekt Red has officially announced that fans of The Witcher series will have to wait beyond 2026 for the release of The Witcher 4. During their fiscal year 2024 earnings presentation, the studio highlighted their financial objectives for the next fiscal year, stating, "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 a subsequent Q&A session, CD Projekt Red's Chief Financial Officer, Piotr Nielubowicz, provided further clarification on the matter. He emphasized that the studio is not ready to disclose a precise launch date for the game, saying, "We are not going to announce the precise launch date for the game yet. All we could share now to give 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

While a 2026 release is off the table, The Witcher 4 is actively progressing in development. The game, also known as Project Polaris, has entered "full production" as confirmed in CD Projekt's Q3 financial update last year. Nielubowicz expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "Of all our projects, this one [Project Polaris/The Witcher 4] is currently the most far along, and we're starting 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."

First unveiled as Project Polaris in 2022, The Witcher 4 was officially titled during The Game Awards 2024 with a stunning six-minute cinematic trailer. The game shifts the focus from the iconic Geralt of Rivia to his adoptive daughter, Ciri, who is now older and ready to carve her own path in the Witcher world.

CD Projekt has also shared on X (formerly Twitter) in October 2022 that The Witcher 4 is set to kick off a new trilogy. The subsequent titles, tentatively named Project Canis Majoris and Project Orion, are planned to be released within a six-year window following The Witcher 4's launch.