Key Takeaways
- The Witcher 4 will likely launch on PC and consoles simultaneously.
- Releasing on PC first is something that has been discussed, but is unlikely.
- Concrete release plans for The Witcher 4 are likely years away.
CD Projekt Red most likely will not release The Witcher 4 on PC before bringing the open world RPG to consoles. CD Projekt Red is currently working on The Witcher 4, aka Project Polaris, though very little is known about the game so far.
All fans really know about the new game for sure is that The Witcher 4 is being built with Unreal Engine 5. CD Projekt Red has also hyped its ambitions for the game, but otherwise, not much has been revealed. More information on The Witcher 4 will no doubt come to light as we get closer to the game’s eventual release date, including what platforms it will be launching on.
Related
CD Projekt Red Hypes ‘Better, Bigger, Greater’ Witcher 4
A senior CD Projekt Red official hypes up The Witcher 4 and elaborates on the developer’s decision to switch to Unreal Engine 5.
Recently, Eurogamer spoke with CD Projekt Red’s Vice President of Technology, Charles Tremblay, who addressed the possibility that The Witcher 4 will release on PC before it hits consoles. Tremblay confirmed that it’s something that has been discussed, but that “most likely” the new game “will not have a PC-only launch.” Tremblay added, “I don’t think this is a strategy we want to adopt right now.” Tremblay did leave open the possibility that The Witcher 4 won’t release across all platforms simultaneously, however. “Let’s say there were 20 platforms available; we’ll have 20 at launch? Maybe not.” So while fans may be able to expect The Witcher 4 to release on PS5 and Xbox Series X whenever it launches, it may not be available for the Nintendo Switch 2, just as an example. Ultimately, fans won’t know concrete details about The Witcher 4‘s release plans until much later on.
The Witcher 4 Will Likely Launch Simultaneously for PC and Consoles
If CD Projekt Red were to release The Witcher 4 as a PC-only game first, it would undoubtedly upset console gamers and would likely not be worth the backlash. However, other companies have done this to great success. As pointed out by Eurogamer, Baldur’s Gate 3 released on PC first before eventually being ported to PS5 and Xbox Series X. Not only that, but The Witcher 4 adopting such a strategy could potentially help it avoid some of the headaches experienced by Cyberpunk 2077 back in the day.
Cyberpunk 2077 had a disastrous launch on consoles, and while it certainly wasn’t perfect on PC, those with powerful rigs had a far more positive experience than PS4 and Xbox One gamers. The Witcher 4 prioritizing a properly optimized PC release at launch could help the game avoid the same pitfalls as Cyberpunk 2077 did, but considering the sizable audience for the franchise on consoles, it may not make the most financial sense. Whatever the case may be, for now, it sounds like The Witcher 4 will be available on PC and consoles simultaneously whenever it hits store shelves.
The Witcher
The Witcher is a 3D action RPG series developed by CD Projekt Red featuring the exploits of Geralt of Rivia. Steeped in fantasy, The Witcher series is based on the books by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski.