CD Projekt Red Confirms Unveiling Three More The Witcher Games Before 2031

Recently, Michal Nowakowski, the company's co-chief executive officer, addressed investor calls during their (financial earnings call), outlining their commitment to a specific timeline. The core message? The developer remains firmly on track to deliver three more entries in the beloved fantasy RPG saga – The Witcher 4, 5, and 6 – within the next six years, pushing the final release potentially into the early part of the next decade.

Nowakowski provided some context, noting that the development team has already been utilizing Unreal Engine 5 for The Witcher 4 for nearly four years. Impressively, they seem quite satisfied with the progress and capabilities unlocked by this powerful engine. This satisfaction is key, as it underpins the company's plan to accelerate the development pace for the subsequent games. He explicitly stated that the current roadmap necessitates a faster turnaround between titles. "Our plan is still to release the entire trilogy within six years," Nowakowski confirmed. "Yes, that means we will need to shorten the development cycles between Witcher 4 and Witcher 5, and between Witcher 5 and Witcher 6, and so on."

This accelerated approach is significant. Currently, The Witcher 4 involves a massive development effort, with nearly 450 people dedicated to the project. The success of this accelerated schedule hinges heavily on whether Witcher 4 can fully establish a streamlined workflow powered by Unreal Engine 5. The goal is clear: leverage this engine to achieve faster iteration and development cycles for future titles. Nowakowski hinted at the methods involved, suggesting it's less about drastically changing the fundamental game structure and more about optimizing how the game is built. This includes reusing established processes and resources, essentially creating a more efficient assembly line for content creation.

Furthermore, while not confirmed, there are whispers and speculation about other potential efficiency measures. The idea of reusing certain, perhaps smaller, map segments across different games isn't entirely out of the question, although its feasibility and impact remain uncertain. These potential efficiencies are crucial for CDPR to meet their ambitious six-year target for three major games. However, the reality is that translating engine mastery into consistently faster, high-quality development across multiple complex projects is a considerable challenge. There's no guarantee yet that the current approach will yield the required speed gains without compromising the quality that fans expect from CDPR.

This commitment to a tight schedule, especially concerning The Witcher 4, naturally brings up questions about the game's availability. While a specific 2026 release window hasn't been confirmed, the implication from Nowakowski's comments is that such a timeframe might be optimistic at best, or perhaps even unlikely if the accelerated cycle model requires a Witcher 4 launch to support the subsequent phases. The pressure is certainly on the development team to deliver a polished, compelling Witcher 4 experience that justifies the continued investment and rapid follow-up planning.

Beyond the immediate acceleration focus, Nowakowski also touched upon the broader direction for the series. While acknowledging that Baldur's Gate 3's success offered interesting inspiration, he emphasized CDPR's desire to remain rooted in their own strengths, particularly within the open-world genre. They seem less interested in chasing the exact formula of another game and more focused on pushing their own narrative and technical boundaries. This focus on innovation within their established framework is likely to be evident in the Witcher sequels, especially given the engine and development cycle changes they're embracing.

Of course, this news is just one piece of the puzzle for CDPR. The developer is clearly prioritizing the Witcher and Cyberpunk franchises as central pillars of their future output. Keeping these flagship titles strong is essential for their continued success and market position. The journey towards Witcher 4 and beyond involves navigating technical hurdles, managing large development teams, and constantly balancing the need for speed with the pursuit of quality. Only time, and the next few development cycles, will tell if their accelerated plan for the Witcher trilogy is both feasible and ultimately rewarding for players around the world.