Why You Probably Won't See The Witcher 4 Anytime Soon
The adventures of Geralt of Rivia were put to rest at the close of The Witcher 3 – ending either with happily ever after or with the hero meeting a bloody end depending on the decisions of the player. Yet even with the lore-filled expansion packs, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, fans of the franchise are still chomping at the bit for another epic adventure featuring plenty of monster-slaying, a massive open-world setting, and a narrative that adapts to your choices.
With the ground-breaking success of CD Projekt Red's The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (which won Game of the Year in 2015), it's hard to imagine the developer doesn't have plans for another installment based on the fantasy novels by Andrzej Sapkowsi. There has been no official announcement for a new The Witcher game, but the studio's president said that a new title will happen ... just not for a while. Here are some possible reasons why.
Delays, delays, and more delays
CD Projekt Red has been known to delay games on a number of occasions, including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which was pushed back multiple times before its release in May 2015. With the upcoming PS5 and Xbox Series X launches, who can say how many issues might pop up regarding technical glitches and upgrades?
"We have led to the creation of a fairly clear concept that is waiting for further development," Adam Kicinski, CD Projekt's CEO, told Eurogamer Poland regarding the next The Witcher title. But Kicinski also added they would not start work on the unnamed The Witcher sequel until after Cyberpunk 2077 was finished . . . the definition of "finished" being a bit up in the air at this point. The release date for Cyberpunk 2077 was delayed yet again to Dec. 10 thanks to issues with shipping for multiple platforms. There is also the possibility of multiple upgrades, DLCs, and other Cyberpunk 2077 labors that might take up more of the studio's time.
Back in 2019, CD Projekt Red also stated "its plans to release the second AAA game by 2021 remain unchanged." So, does that mean gamers will see The Witcher 4 on shelves by the end of 2021? Well, it's not that simple. Since Cyberpunk 2077 has been delayed multiple times already, it's difficult to imagine that CD Projekt Red will have anything for The Witcher fans for a while.
Geralt probably won't return
CD Projekt Red's president revealed there are no plans to continue Geralt's story. "There will be no fourth and fifth part of the game," Kicinski told Polish company Bankier back in 2013. However, Kicinski also said that the studio had no intention of giving up the franchise, either. "We acquired the rights to the Witcher's universe forever ... Letting the franchise go would make no sense from the business perspective."
Gamers could see a The Witcher game featuring a new character in the lead role — Ciri, Geralt's adopted daughter. In an interview with VG247 back in May 2020, principal writer Jakub Szamałek hinted at the possibility that fans may see more of Ciri in the future. "I regret we didn't get to explore Ciri's past a bit more," divulged Szamałek. "She didn't get quite as much screen time as we writers would have liked. But hey, maybe it's something we'll get to get back to in the future."
The Witcher series has featured a number of monster battles, interactions with colorful characters, and choices made by the player that affect the outcome of various storylines. For now, fans can only hope that these games will not be the last they see from the world of The Witcher.