The Witcher 4: Everything we know so far

The Witcher 4 is getting closer and closer. CD Projekt RED has just revealed its next open-world RPG, the first part of a new Witcher saga that will star Ciri as she begins her journey as a monster hunter on the continent. A beautiful Unreal Engine 5 cinematic trailer showcased the look, feel and atmosphere of the world CDPR wants to create in its new Witcher game, a sprawling single-player epic that envisions a future for the franchise without Geralt at the helm. When something ends, something begins – the studio aims to deliver “the most immersive and ambitious open-world Witcher game yet.”

With no Witcher 4 release date in sight, there’s a chance we’ll be waiting years for new updates – CDPR is notorious for taking its time and releasing information little by little. Below you’ll find the latest news on The Witcher 4, including the first details about the world and story, as well as why Ciri is taking the lead. Here’s what I’m saying: The Witcher 4 is immediately one of the most anticipated upcoming video games on the calendar and one that aims to upend the standards of the best RPGs. So read on to find out everything we know about The Witcher 4 so far.

The Witcher 4 release date and platforms are unconfirmed

CD Project RED has not yet confirmed launch details for its new open-world RPG. This means there is still no release date for Witcher 4 and no idea what platforms it will land on. In fact, the studio hasn’t even settled on a rough release window beyond its 2024 Game Awards showing – there’s virtually no chance of this title landing in 2025, and 2026 seems unlikely too, considering it’s only just starting “It arrived in full production phase” earlier this year. We’ll be waiting a while for that, folks.

The Witcher 4 trailer

The Witcher 4 gameplay

The Witcher 4 screenshot shows off the stunning Unreal Engine 5 fidelity — (Image credit: CD Projekt RED)

The Witcher 4 gaming experience will be familiar to you if you’ve played The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, with a few notable differences. As you return to the continent, CDPR shoots for a more brutal dark fantasy world, with Ciri taking the lead and attempting to follow the path of the sorcerer as the old world collapses around her. The studio has already confirmed that The Witcher 4 will be a single-player RPG set in an open world, albeit one where you have more freedom to make decisions and live with the consequences.

Ciri is a very different character than Geralt, more open to the world around her – part of her struggle in this new adventure will be not only dealing with ancient nightmares, but also the evil that lurks within the people who fighting for survival in this country. At the center of it all, however, is the Sorcerer – a mutant warrior skilled in combat and alchemy who kills monsters that threaten humans for a price; Only now you can do this with new combat abilities, all enhanced by Ciri’s ability to use magic skillfully.

The Witcher 4 combat

Screenshot from The Witcher 4, in which Ciri fights an ancient monster with sword and sorcery

(Image credit: CD Projekt RED)

In The Witcher 4, you take control of Ciri, not a seasoned veteran, but a character just starting out on the Witcher’s path. This will be reflected in the combat encounters in The Witcher 4, where Ciri may not always have the upper hand in encounters, but she always has the ability to gain the upper hand by striking at the opportune moment. You can get a glimpse of this in the first Witcher 4 trailer, especially in how the character wields his magic (which isn’t usually the case with other Witchers out there in the wild). If you watch the cinematic closely, you’ll see that Ciri is able to seamlessly integrate her abilities into combat, giving her more range, options and vulnerabilities – CDPR says this is at the heart of The Witcher’s combat experience will be 4.

The story of Witcher 4

The Witcher 4 screenshot shows Ciri returning a monster's head to a burning village

(Image credit: CD Projekt RED)

CD Projekt RED hasn’t yet revealed the full extent of The Witcher 4’s story, but it has framed the new adventure well. In this open-world single-player RPG, you take control of Ciri as she begins her career as a monster slayer – just as she begins her journey on the Path of the Witcher. “We are launching a brand new Witcher saga, this time with Ciri at the heart of the story,” says Sebastian Kalemba, Game Director. “We’ve known for a long time that we wanted Ciri to be the protagonist of The Witcher 4; it just felt natural to us and we believe Ciri deserves it. In this game we want to explore what it means to truly become a sorcerer.” Follow Ciri on her journey.”

Executive producer Malgorzata Mitrega explains that the big difference between Ciri and Geralt also opens up new storytelling possibilities. “She is open, curious and drawn to people, she longs for connection and understanding. This opens up new territory in storytelling, where relationships and emotions are just as important as the fight for survival.” You get an impression of this in the first Witcher 4 trailer, in which you see Ciri completing a witcher mission near the village of Stromford – not only in the fight against an ancient evil in the shadows, but also against evil in a more human form, where their decision lies. Interfering with ancient rituals has devastating consequences.

The main character of Witcher 4

The Witcher 4 cinematic screenshot shows a close-up of Ciri, the protagonist of the new adventure

(Image credit: CD Projekt RED)

Ciri is the main character in The Witcher 4. Geralt’s adopted daughter played a central role in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and now that his story has come to an end, it’s time for a new Witcher to leave his mark on the continent. CD Projekt RED places great emphasis on the differences between the two characters. Story director Tomasz Marchewka explains: “On the one hand, she is very similar to Geralt, a defender of his values - honorable, courageous, fair, but she also has that side.” We didn’t explore much – fierce, rebellious and wild. It’s familiar, but at the same time it’s fresh.

The studio says there was never any doubt that Ciri would become the protagonist of The Witcher series. Marchewka says: “From the beginning we knew it had to be Ciri – she is a very complex character and there is so much to tell here.” Executive producer Malgorzata Mitrega adds: “Ciri is a worthy successor to the title of the next sorcerer, and for me personally she always was!”

The open world of Witcher 4

The screenshot from The Witcher 4 shows Ciri entering a mysterious cave

(Image credit: CD Projekt RED)

The Witcher 4 will be a single-player open-world role-playing game. Developer CD Projekt RED believes it will be the “most immersive and ambitious open-world Witcher game to date.” With a new protagonist, a new open world awaits you to explore, and the studio is already crafting a far darker fantasy world. You should expect The Witcher 4 to offer a world more dangerous and unpredictable than the one we experienced alongside Geralt, “a world in which the old order is collapsing and dark forces seize their opportunity to rise. The studio adds: “In this world, survival depends not only on your skills in combat, but also on the connections you make with those around you, for better or worse.”

The choice and consequences of The Witcher 4

The Witcher 4 cinematic screenshot shows a character walking into the forest

(Image credit: CD Projekt RED)

Expanding on this darker open-world concept, narrative director Philipp Weber says: “The world of The Witcher 4 is a place full of moral ambiguity, and as a result the stories we tell there rarely provide simple answers to good and evil. Make your decisions.”, and live with the consequences. This fight has a price that must be paid at some point – either by Ciri or by those she cares about in the open world. Permission to come close to you all has the potential to influence the path Ciri takes, and who she will be.

The Witcher 4 engine

The cinematic screenshot from The Witcher 4 shows Ciri pulling her blade out of the ground

(Image credit: CD Projekt RED)

CD Project RED uses Unreal Engine 5 to develop The Witcher 4. The studio spoke about its decision to move away from the REDengine – used for The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 – back in 2022, but the Game Awards 2024 was our first opportunity to see the new vision for the series in action. The results are fascinating, although it’s worth noting that The Witcher 4’s theatrical trailer isn’t rendered in real time, but rather is based on the same technology that powers the game, to give you an idea of what the final product might look like. CDPR has confirmed that the debut trailer uses assets and models from the game itself and “represents a look we’re going for.”

Did Geralt die in The Witcher 3?

The Witcher 3

(Image credit: CD Projekt Red)

While The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt had a number of ending variants, it is now possible to get a better feel for the canonical ending of the Geralt series since we know that Ciri goes the way of the Witcher. There are three central ending scenarios in The Witcher 3: Ciri becomes a witcher, becomes empress, or dies. We know that the third option is out of the question, namely the scenario that implies Geralt dies in battle. Instead, we’re likely looking at a world where Geralt is still active on the continent during The Witcher 4, albeit in a reduced capacity – his monster-slaying days are behind him as he grows older and more tired. Some of the ending variants in The Witcher 3 ended up with Geralt retreating to Kovir with Triss or running away with Yennefer. Who knows, maybe we’ll see some old, friendly faces.

Looking for something to play while you wait for more? Check out one of the best Games like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

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The Witcher 4: Everything we know so far

The Witcher 4 release date and platforms are unconfirmed

The Witcher 4 trailer

The Witcher 4 gameplay

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