# The Witcher 4 targets a 2028 release

> CD Projekt Red has publicly put 2028 forward as a target for The Witcher 4, while its next Witcher 3 expansion is planned for 2027.

_Source: CD Projekt Red executive statement, reported by The Verge · 2026-08-25 · 4 min read · Verified against primary sources_

Canonical: https://iyu.app/e/witcher-4-targets-2028-release

## The 60-second version

CD Projekt Red is targeting 2028 for The Witcher 4, with a Witcher 3 expansion planned for 2027.

**Key points**

- The 2028 window came from joint CEO Michał Nowakowski.
- A target window can change and is not a firm release date.
- Songs of the Past is the nearer 2027 Witcher project.
- Project Sirius remains a separate multiplayer effort with recent staff cuts.

**Verdict.** The announcement narrows the horizon but does not turn 2028 into a guarantee.

## Full explainer


### The window — The window

CD Projekt Red is aiming to launch The Witcher 4 sometime in 2028, according to joint CEO Michał Nowakowski in a video reported by The Verge. It is the first clear target window attached to the next mainline Witcher game, but a target can move as production continues.


### What comes first — What comes first

- **2028** — current target for The Witcher 4
- **2027** — scheduled window for Songs of the Past
- **1** — mainline sequel now given a public target

Before the sequel arrives, CD Projekt Red plans to show The Witcher 3 expansion Songs of the Past at Gamescom, with release scheduled for 2027. That gives the studio a nearer-term release to support while the larger sequel remains in production.


### Why a target is useful — Why a target is useful

A public window helps players and partners set expectations and signals that the project has moved from open-ended anticipation toward a production plan. It still says little about the final feature list, platforms, launch quality or whether the team will delay to protect the game.


### The wider slate — The wider slate

- **The Witcher 4:** Mainline sequel targeted for 2028; no exact date announced.
- **Songs of the Past:** The Witcher 3 expansion scheduled for 2027.
- **Project Sirius:** Multiplayer Witcher spin-off; the studio confirmed layoffs on the project earlier this month.

The franchise is being managed as a slate rather than one release. That creates continuity for the audience, but it also means different teams and risk profiles sit behind the same brand.


### Bottom line — Bottom line

> 2028 is a planning signal, not a promise that a finished game will ship in that year.

The useful update is the existence of a target and a nearer Witcher 3 expansion. The next evidence will be concrete gameplay, production updates and a firm launch date, not the target alone.


## Primary sources

- [The Verge](https://www.theverge.com/games/983822/the-witcher-4-release-window-gamescom)
- [CD PROJEKT RED](https://www.cdprojektred.com/en)

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