The Witcher 4 Release Might Be Delayed Beyond 2028 For Project Orion

During yesterday's Investor's Meeting, CD Projekt Red revealed some details about their upcoming game, The Witcher 4. They not only provided light on the overall production schedule but also disclosed some major updates about the game. 

Among the many new details CDPR has released on The Witcher 4 are statistics on the game's release date, production status, and resource allocation. The studio said at the company's last investors conference that the game will not be out by the end of 2026, therefore pushing the possible release date to 2027 or beyond.

The announcement matches industry projections since many had expected The Witcher 4 to come out in 2027 or maybe 2028. This news, however, caused CD Projekt Red's shares to drop about 10%. Thoughts among fans have been mixed; some are disappointed by the long wait, while others are certain the studio can produce a premium product with sufficient development time.

CDPR also confirmed that The Witcher 4 is already in full production, the most demanding phase of its development, with 411 developers, or 58% of its staff, 411 are now working on the game. The team developing The Witcher Remake is also supporting the initiative until their own Unreal Engine 5 tools have been completed.

CD Projekt Red claims the eagerly awaited remake of the first Witcher game is still in early production. This suggests its release will be far later, likely following The Witcher 4. Still in the concept phase, Project Orion, the follow-up to Cyberpunk 2077, is set to go into pre-production soon.

During the investor Q&A, CD Projekt Red was asked if The Witcher 4 could come in 2027, given that 2026 has been ruled out. They won't be releasing the game within the time frame of its current incentive program, which runs until December 31, 2026, and they didn't mention a specific release year.

Investors also wondered whether the reorganization of other CD Projekt Red initiatives had affected their development schedules. The studio claimed that The Witcher 4's development has not been affected by internal project changes. The Witcher 4 is being developed independently by a Polish-based team; Project Sirius is being managed largely in North America. The Witcher Remake and Project Sirius are also in the works.

Another subject discussed was how Grand Theft Auto 6 may affect AAA game pricing; some believed Rockstar's next title would establish a new standard. Though it has no inside knowledge of such actions, CD Projekt Red acknowledged that price rises in the sector are likely. They did say, though, that if the industry changed toward greater prices, this may help it.

Investors wondered whether CD Projekt Red's 2022-2026 incentive plan, which aims to generate roughly one billion in net earnings, would cover the supply of additional material. Though it refused to say any particular new material intentions, the firm claimed it emphasizes product longevity, active franchise management, and future releases.

Investors voiced worries regarding anticipated production costs for The Witcher 4. Though costs are expected to increase later in the production cycle due to localization, quality assurance, and other expenses, CDPR admitted the team is already at the target size. The studio, though, won't provide certain financial information.

CDPR was asked about any fresh live-action or animation projects they were working on. They suggested that more animated announcements might come before live-action updates, but offered no more specifics. The company's lofty aim of producing a new Witcher trilogy in six years raised yet another concern.

Though many have called this timetable excessively ambitious, CD Projekt Red responded that there is now no evidence to suggest the goal is unattainable. The company also said that their interaction with Unreal Engine 5 has been good and that Epic Games is helping to resolve any problems.

Finally, the subject of possible licensing alliances in 2025 was broached, with special emphasis on whether CD Projekt Red would consider making its games available on Game Pass subscription services. They said they have no clear plans to release new games on subscription services despite their continued openness to licensing agreements.

CD Projekt Red seems to be progressing well since The Witcher 4 is now in full development, and more than 400 people are working on it. Still in the concept phase, The Witcher Remake is anticipated to come years after The Witcher 4, perhaps as late as 2029 or beyond.

Project Orion, the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel, is currently in its early stages but will soon start pre-production. The next several years will be crucial in shaping the future of both the Witcher and Cyberpunk series as CD Projekt Red expands its teams and pursues many major initiatives.