CD Projekt RED has finally revealed the release date for The Witcher 4 – the project won’t arrive until 2028. However, don’t expect any new Ciri content at Gamescom 2026: the developers will be bringing the announced expansion for the third installment, “Ballads of the Past,” to Cologne.
The Poles are playing the long game. The Polish giant’s finished strategy is built on absolute precision. The studio has clearly learned its lessons after the difficult release of Cyberpunk 2077 and is now refusing to rush things.
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The Witcher 4 Delayed Until 2028: Details from CDPR
Michal Nowakowski has publicly clarified the release situation for the fourth installment. The game will not be released in either 2026 or 2027. The exact dates are still up in the air. The Polish management prefers to avoid making any big announcements, allowing the team to calmly polish the project.
Production of the new saga has entered a major phase. A team of over 500 specialists is working on the title, developing an open-world action RPG using Unreal Engine 5.
What will be shown at gamescom 2026: The Witcher 3 and Fool’s Theory
The main focus of the August exhibition has shifted to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s expansion, Songs of the Past. There will be no full reveal of The Witcher 4 at all, as the developers are mitigating the audience’s lofty expectations.
Key details about the “Ballads of the Past” DLC:
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New chapter about Geralt: Players will return to the role of a familiar witcher.
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Release in 2027: The project will arrive on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
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Experience from veterans: Development is being conducted jointly with Fool’s Theory.
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Connection to the Future: Management hints that the add-on will contain a hidden bridge to the events of the new saga.
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Fan Streams: The Cologne pavilion will be expanded with streams from August 25th to 30th.
The DLC promises to be massive—the project aims to be comparable in scope to “Blood and Wine.”
CDPR Roadmap: Ciri Trilogy, Orion, and Remake
Besides the fourth installment, the studio is simultaneously pursuing several key fronts. The company’s expanded roadmap tentatively looks like this:
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Ciri Trilogy: CDPR plans to fully wrap up the three-part series within six years from its launch in 2028.
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Project Orion: Full-scale development of the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077.
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The Witcher Remake: A reimagining of the 2007 installment.
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Hadar: Working on a completely new IP.
The Polish developers have no intention of repeating their mistakes. The decision to focus entirely on “Ballads of the Past” at Gamescom 2026 seems justified—the studio is giving the developers time to calmly prepare the next-gen sequel.
