The Witcher 4 Will Be Bigger Than Cyberpunk 2077

The Witcher 3, a masterpiece from CD Projekt RED, has held its ground as a fan favorite for nearly a decade. I still consider their Blood and Wine expansion one of the greatest video game expansions to date, and yes, this is even after considering the enormous success of ELDEN RING: Shadow of the Erdtree. As we eagerly anticipate the next chapter, CDPR has slowly unveiled details about the new saga, which is codenamed Project Polaris.

Announced in October 2022, this new Witcher installment promises to be as much of a big deal as the previous installments have been.

“Today's announcement marks the first official confirmation of a new game in The Witcher series since The Witcher 3. The teaser image for the new saga features a medallion with the text that says a new saga begins.” – CD Projekt RED Team

Since the announcement in March 2022 that confirmed that the next Witcher game is being worked on, we have also gotten details on what engine this game will be based on. CD Projekt RED is moving to Unreal Engine 5. This is a significant shift to their proprietary REDengine, which powered the previous Witcher games and Cyberpunk 2077.

As soon as I heard this news, I was concerned about the direction the art style and themes would take since all games made with Unreal Engine 5 have this certain look to them that seems kind of… stock. You can almost always tell when a game is made with Unreal Engine, with some unique exceptions like Remnant 2 or Anger Foot.

However, the shift to this new engine mostly spells good news. The engine's capabilities, such as improved Nanite and Lumen technology, promise detailed environments, lifelike characters, and dynamic weather effects. This move also means easier hiring processes, as Unreal Engine is widely used and familiar to many developers, unlike the proprietary REDengine.

CDPR's CTO highlighted that a much stronger focus on technology is one of the core aspects of their internal RED 2.0 transformation. By collaborating with Epic Games, CDPR aims to eliminate the past challenges they faced in evolving and adapting the REDengine, allowing the team to concentrate more on game development itself rather than engine maintenance.

Sebastian Kalemba, previously head of animation for Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3, has been announced as the director for the new saga. I’m honestly stoked to see what Sebastian has in store for us. Here’s what he had to say about being appointed director of Witcher 4.

“I'm directing the new Witcher saga. Since joining @CDPROJEKTRED, I believe nothing is impossible, and raising the bar, telling emotional stories & creating worlds is what we're here for. I'm proud to be a part of CDPR and work with such a talented and passionate team.” – Sebastian Kalemba on X (formerly Twitter)

Project Polaris will introduce a new trilogy within The Witcher universe, departing from Geralt of Rivia's story. The teaser image, featuring a lynx medallion, hints at a new Witcher school—potentially the School of the Lynx, which, while not part of the official lore, sparks curiosity and speculation.

The protagonist of this new saga remains unconfirmed, though it's clear that Geralt will not return. Speculations abound about Ciri possibly taking the lead, or CDPR might introduce a completely new character, potentially allowing for player customization similar to Cyberpunk 2077's V.

CDPR aims to push the boundaries of open-world design even further with Project Polaris. The move to UE5 might mean a more seamless and interconnected world without loading screens and full of dynamic and spontaneous events. It’s usually spontaneity that sets apart an empty-feeling open world from one that appears to live and breathe life.

With full production underway, Project Polaris is expected to be in development for several more years. CDPR's cautious approach means we might see a teaser within the next two years, with the game's release potentially around 2028. This timeline ensures that the team can avoid what we saw with the horrendous release of Cyberpunk 2077.

In the meantime, we can look forward to other Witcher-related content, like the remake of the original Witcher game (are they reading my mind because I was just thinking about replaying the previous titles) and the ongoing Netflix series?

While I have no doubts CD Projekt RED will not disappoint us with the next Witcher game, given their excellent track record, we still have a long road ahead of us. It will be quite a while before we see the finished product, and I can’t wait to see what CDPR will cook up for us.