CD Projekt has officially confirmed the next mainline Witcher game and a new Witcher saga. Internally codenamed Polaris at announcement, the title is now referred to as The Witcher IV by the studio’s press center, and it will be built on Unreal Engine 5 under a strategic partnership with Epic Games.
No rumors or leaks are included. Details not yet announced remain marked TBA. The tone here is designed to serve both players and industry readers looking for clear, sourced status updates.
Development status and official roadmap
CD Projekt first positioned Polaris as the beginning of a new multi‑game Witcher saga, with the studio planning a three‑game arc built on the technology foundation established by the first entry. That framing comes from the company’s 2022 strategy update, which also outlined a long‑term product outlook for The Witcher and Cyberpunk franchises.
The company’s 2024 management report states that The Witcher 4 (formerly Polaris) moved from pre‑production to “full‑scale production” in 2024, and that its first trailer was unveiled in December. That report also confirms how CD Projekt sequences development phases across projects (concept, pre‑production, production) and signals ongoing marketing cadence via investor channels.
In short:
- Codename: Polaris (now referred to as The Witcher IV in CDPR’s press center)
- Saga plan: first entry of a new multi‑game arc
- Current phase: full‑scale production (entered in 2024)
- Next milestones: future trailers and investor updates; release timing remains TBA
References: Strategy and trilogy framing (Strategy update). Full‑scale production and trailer timing (Investor presentation).
Technology and engine
CD Projekt announced a multi‑year strategic partnership with Epic Games to build future Witcher titles on Unreal Engine 5. The studio cited the move as a long‑term tech collaboration rather than a simple engine license, with a stated focus on tailoring UE5 for open‑world experiences. CDPR highlighted predictability, development efficiency, and access to industry tools as reasons for the switch.
This UE5 partnership is foundational to the new saga and underpins Polaris and subsequent entries. CD Projekt’s own materials frame the initiative as part of its broader “RED 2.0” technology emphasis.
References: UE5 and partnership rationale (Engine partnership). Initial public confirmation also appeared on the franchise site (Official announcement).
Story direction and protagonist status
CD Projekt has long said Geralt’s trilogy reached a conclusion with The Witcher 3 and its expansions. For the new saga, the studio has now formally identified the protagonist: players take on the role of Ciri in The Witcher IV. CDPR’s press materials describe it as a single‑player open‑world RPG that follows Ciri, a professional monster slayer, at the beginning of a new saga.
Beyond naming Ciri and confirming the series’ universe and genre pillars, CD Projekt has not published detailed plot, location, or character rosters. Those remain TBA until future official beats.
References: Protagonist and game positioning (Franchise site). Saga framing (Official announcement).
Continuity and ties to earlier games
CD Projekt frames The Witcher IV as the next mainline entry “following The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt,” while beginning a new saga rather than extending Geralt’s own arc. The studio’s messaging consistently positions the game within its established Witcher game continuity and the broader literary universe license.
CD Projekt has not confirmed returning characters beyond naming Ciri as the lead. The company has also avoided specifying how narrative threads from The Witcher 1–3 will carry forward. Until CDPR publishes more, all other continuity specifics remain TBA.
References: New saga and continuity positioning (Official announcement, Strategy update). Next mainline entry and role of Ciri (Franchise site).
World, timeline, and setting status
CD Projekt has not published a definitive list of regions, timeline placement, or faction specifics for The Witcher IV. The company’s public materials keep those aspects under wraps for now.
Current knowns vs Not yet announced
| Category | Status |
|---|---|
| Series position | Next mainline Witcher entry; start of a new saga |
| Protagonist | Ciri |
| Genre | Single‑player, open‑world role‑playing game |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 5 |
| Development phase | Full‑scale production (since 2024) |
| Platforms | TBA |
| Regions/locations | TBA |
| Factions | TBA |
| Detailed plot | TBA |
| Release window/date | TBA |
Gameplay pillars
CD Projekt calls The Witcher IV a single‑player open‑world role‑playing game and says it aims to be the studio’s most immersive and ambitious Witcher open world to date. Those are the core design goals the company has placed on record in official materials.
In a broader strategy context, CD Projekt has discussed adding multiplayer features to a majority of future projects across the portfolio. However, the studio has not announced multiplayer features for The Witcher IV. Any online components for this mainline entry remain unconfirmed unless CDPR states otherwise.
References: Game pillar claims (Franchise site). Portfolio‑level online stance (Strategy update).
Production scale and team notes
CD Projekt’s strategy materials describe a global development structure with hubs in Poland and North America, used to scale multi‑project pipelines. The Witcher IV is “developed in‑house by CD PROJEKT RED” and powered by UE5 with the Epic partnership. Meanwhile, other Witcher and Cyberpunk initiatives progress in parallel across the group’s studios, as outlined in the strategy update and investor reports.
The company continues to emphasize parallel development enabled by shared tools and the UE5 foundation, particularly relevant to its stated plan for a multi‑game Witcher saga.
References: In‑house development and ambition (Franchise site). Global studio structure and multi‑game arc (Strategy update).
Platforms and distribution status
CD Projekt has not announced platforms for The Witcher IV. No storefronts or distribution specifics have been published. All official platform details remain TBA until the studio confirms them.
Release window and milestone tracking
CD Projekt has not provided a release date or window for The Witcher IV. The 2024 investor report confirms the shift to full‑scale production and notes the first trailer’s debut in December 2024, but it does not set timing for launch. Readers should rely on future CD Projekt press releases, investor reports, and franchise site updates for schedule changes or milestone reveals.
References: Phase timing and trailer note (Investor presentation).
System requirements status
The studio has not announced PC minimum or recommended specs. Since the game is in full production on UE5, any performance and configuration targets will be shared closer to launch. The responsible move now is to wait for official requirements and avoid speculative builds or hardware purchases.
How the new saga relates to The Witcher 3 and its expansions
CD Projekt has consistently framed The Witcher 3 and its Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions as the conclusion to Geralt’s story arc. The Witcher IV starts a new saga with Ciri as the lead in the same Witcher universe. Beyond that high‑level positioning, CD Projekt has not published storyline specifics or direct connective beats to prior games.
References: New saga framing and next mainline entry (Official announcement, Franchise site).
Team statements and creative leadership
On technology and production philosophy, CD Projekt leadership characterizes the UE5 partnership as a long‑term collaboration aimed at strengthening open‑world development workflows and predictability. The company’s strategy update further emphasizes a shift to shared tech foundations and parallel large‑scale projects across franchises.
On creative ambition, official channels describe The Witcher IV as targeting the studio’s most immersive Witcher open world yet, with Ciri at the center of a new narrative arc. These statements are deliberately high‑level and do not reveal moment‑to‑moment mechanics.
References: UE5 partnership rationale (Engine partnership). Ambition and in‑house development notes (Franchise site). Portfolio approach (Strategy update).
Features and content that remain unannounced
All items below are TBA unless CD Projekt states otherwise:
- Detailed plot and story structure
- Full character roster beyond Ciri
- Regions, cities, and world biomes
- Combat system changes and progression systems
- Quest structure specifics beyond the RPG/open‑world pillar
- Platforms and distribution
- Monetization approach
- DLC and post‑launch support plans
- Multiplayer or online components for The Witcher IV
Open questions for the next updates
- Protagonist showcase in gameplay: the first in‑engine or gameplay trailer
- Platform confirmation and technical targets
- World reveal: regions, hubs, and factions
- Release window guidance
- Deep dive on UE5 toolchain and open‑world systems, as CDPR chooses to disclose
Sources and further reading
- Official announcement (new saga, UE5 move): Official announcement
- Strategy update (multi‑game arc, portfolio plans): Strategy update
- Production status and trailer note (FY 2024 report): Investor presentation
- Epic partnership and UE5 rationale: Engine partnership
- Project page and lead/protagonist confirmation: Franchise site
Conclusion
The confirmed pillars are clear: The Witcher IV begins a new saga, features Ciri as protagonist, and runs on Unreal Engine 5 through CD Projekt’s strategic partnership with Epic Games. CDPR positions it as a single‑player open‑world RPG and as the next mainline step after The Witcher 3.
Everything else—from platforms and regions to release timing—remains to be announced by CD Projekt. For accurate progress markers, follow the company’s official announcements and investor updates rather than third‑party speculation.
