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The Witcher IV
Upcoming video game From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Witcher IV[b] is an upcoming action role-playing game developed by CD Projekt Red and published by CD Projekt. It is the planned first installment of a new trilogy in The Witcher series, which is based on the book series of the same name by Andrzej Sapkowski. The game is set after the events of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015). Unlike the original trilogy, which featured book protagonist Geralt of Rivia as the playable character, The Witcher IV features his adoptive daughter, Ciri, as the protagonist. The Witcher IV is scheduled to release for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S.
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Gameplay
The Witcher IV is an action role-playing game set in the open world of The Witcher's Continent.[1][2] The player controls Ciri, a monster hunter, exploring the world on foot and may summon her horse, Kelpie, at will.[3][4] The game introduces new playable regions,[5] including the Kovir region, which was only mentioned in previous Witcher games and explored in the books.[6]
Development
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In March 2022, CD Projekt Red (CDPR) announced that they were working on a new game in The Witcher series.[7] By October, the studio revealed that this entry, internally codenamed "Project Polaris", would initiate a new trilogy.[8] Following the release of Cyberpunk 2077 (2020), CDPR made structural changes to its production process, aimed at refining development phases and fostering cohesive designs for future projects, including the new Witcher game.[9] It remained in pre-production from May 2022 until November 2024, when full production began.[10][11] As of March 2025, over 400 employees were working on the project.[12] CD Projekt temporarily assigned a small team from Fool's Theory, the developer of The Witcher (2007) remake, to assist CDPR with The Witcher IV due to shared assets and technology.[13]
The developers aim to maintain established canon, ensuring player choices in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015) do not create contradictions. Recognizing potential player unfamiliarity with previous titles, CDPR intends The Witcher IV to serve as both an accessible entry point and a continuation for veteran players.[9] The studio has long considered a game featuring Ciri as the main protagonist, describing her as a "very organic, logical choice". As an adoptive daughter of the original trilogy's protagonist Geralt of Rivia, she previously appeared as a supporting and occasionally playable character in Wild Hunt.[14][15] CDPR's franchise and lore designer, Cian Maher, stated that "The Witcher as a title refers to both Geralt and Ciri and always has", arguing that Ciri was "more important" to the plot than Geralt. Unlike Geralt, a seasoned monster hunter throughout the series, Ciri in The Witcher IV is depicted as an aspiring hunter who is "about to form her own codex on her own terms".[9] Ciara Berkeley was cast as Ciri, replacing Jo Wyatt, who voiced the character in Wild Hunt.[16] Doug Cockle will reprise his role as Geralt.[17]
Game director Sebastian Kalemba stated that the developers intend to expand player agency by offering more narrative choices. Drawing on their experience with Cyberpunk 2077, the studio also seeks to enhance gameplay flexibility, including character builds and encounters, and create greater coherence across main story missions, side quests, and open world activities.[9] The game is being developed using Unreal Engine 5, which CDPR adopted after transitioning away from their proprietary REDengine—the technology previously used for The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (2011) and Wild Hunt.[7]
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Marketing and release
The Witcher IV was announced with a cinematic trailer at the Game Awards in December 2024.[18] The trailer was created in collaboration with Platige Image, an animation studio responsible for producing the intro cinematics for the previous Witcher games.[19] It was pre-rendered in-engine on a then-unannounced GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card, rather than displaying real-time rendered scenes.[20][21] During the State of Unreal presentation in June 2025, a tech demo for The Witcher IV was showcased, running on PlayStation 5.[22]
According to Piotr Nielubowicz, CD Projekt's chief financial officer, The Witcher IV will not be released until after 2026.[23] The game is scheduled to release for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S.[24][25]
Notes
- Polish: Wiedźmin IV
References
External links
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