CD Projekt is gearing up for a bold new era with plans to launch a trilogy of The Witcher games, all led by the character Ciri, within a swift six-year timeline.
In a recent financial discussion, joint CEO Michał Nowakowski emphasized the aim for a quicker release schedule by utilizing Unreal Engine 5 for the entire production of The Witcher 4, as well as the subsequent titles, The Witcher 5 and 6.
The Shift to Unreal Engine 5
Nowakowski shared insights on their progress: “We’ve been using UE5 for The Witcher 4 for almost four years now, and we’re very happy with what we’ve achieved. I think you could have seen some of that with your own eyes with our tech demo reveal at Unreal Fest couple of months ago, and we’re very happy with the results of that as well – we’ve already said that, but I’m always happy to say it again – and we’re happy with how the engine is evolving through the Epic team’s efforts, and how we are learning how to make it work within a huge open-world game, as TW4 is meant to be.
“In a way, yes, I do believe that further games should be delivered in a shorter period of time — as we had stated before, our plan still is to launch the whole trilogy within a six-year period, so yes, that would mean we would plan to have a shorter development time between TW4 and TW5, between TW5 and TW6 and so on.”
Such an ambitious timeline is indeed surprising, considering The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was released on May 19, 2015, four years after its predecessor. Based on Nowakowski’s remarks, CD Projekt aims to release The Witcher 5 three years post The Witcher 4, and then follow up with The Witcher 6 three years later, assuming a steady release cycle.
Aiming for a Rapid Release
Developing AAA games is notoriously complex, often stretching timelines. Bethesda continues work on The Elder Scrolls 6 years after its 2018 announcement. Similarly, Microsoft’s Fable, due in 2026, was unveiled in 2020 but started development earlier. This makes CD Projekt’s goal of releasing three games in six years remarkably bold.
Nevertheless, if they manage to stick to this plan, the timeline suggests The Witcher 4 may see the light of day in 2027. According to CD Projekt’s latest financial report, 447 team members are currently dedicated to Witcher 4, indicating significant strides in its development. Should The Witcher 4 debut in 2027, The Witcher 5 might follow in 2030, with The Witcher 6 in 2033.
Of course, the path is fraught with potential delays, such as managing a console transition. The video game landscape is rapidly evolving, and it’s uncertain how external factors might influence CD Projekt’s timeline.
Beyond The Witcher Trilogy
Meanwhile, CD Projekt isn’t solely focused on The Witcher series. They are also working on Cyberpunk 2, albeit at a slower pace than The Witcher 4. It remains unclear whether Cyberpunk 2 will see release amidst the Witcher trilogy or afterward. Additionally, a remake of The Witcher 1 is in progress, adding further to CD Projekt’s extensive project lineup.
Fans eagerly awaiting The Witcher 4 should note it will not feature in The Game Awards this month. The last substantial update was the striking Unreal Engine 5 tech demo in June. If everything proceeds as planned, The Witcher series enthusiasts are set for a thrilling few years.