The Witcher Trilogy: CD Projekt Red's Ambitious Plan for the Future
CD Projekt Red has confirmed its intention to release a new trilogy of The Witcher games within a six-year timeframe. The joint studio CEO, Michał Nowakowski, shared this plan with investors during a recent financial call. The goal is to have shorter development periods between each game in the trilogy, potentially releasing one game in 2027, another in 2030, and the final installment in 2033. The exact launch date for The Witcher 4 is not yet disclosed, but it will not be in 2026.
The transition to Unreal Engine 5 poses a significant challenge for CD Projekt Red as it marks a departure from the studio's proprietary engine. The development of The Witcher 4 has been ongoing for almost four years using UE5, with positive results showcased in a recent tech demo. The studio is also utilizing Unreal Engine 5 for remaking the original Witcher game, a project closely linked to The Witcher 4's development.
Most of the team working on the remake has been redirected to support The Witcher 4, underscoring the priority given to the new installment. While CD Projekt Red's ambitious plan to release three Witcher games in six years echoes BioWare's Mass Effect trilogy, the industry norm of project delays may pose challenges. The studio's track record of delays with The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 raises questions about the feasibility of achieving a three-year gap between each game in the new trilogy.