CD Projekt RED’s co-CEO has outlined an ambitious roadmap for the next Witcher saga: delivering The Witcher 4, 5, and 6 all within a six-year window, powered by Unreal Engine 5 efficiencies.
Shorter Cycles Ahead with Unreal Engine 5
After ditching their in-house REDengine (used for Cyberpunk 2077), CDPR has spent nearly four years mastering Epic’s Unreal Engine 5. During last week’s investor Q&A, co-CEO Michał Nowakowski emphasized faster development:
“Our plan still is to launch the whole trilogy within a six-year period, so yes, that would mean we would plan to have a shorter development time between (The Witcher #4) and (The Witcher #5), between TW5 and TW6, and so on.”
This shift promises “shorter and more predictable” release cadences, leveraging accumulated high-quality assets for quicker iterations.
Release Timeline: What to Expect
Industry analysts predict The Witcher 4 (polaris project) won’t arrive until 2027 at the earliest, post-2026 as hinted by studio leads. That puts the full trilogy on this rough schedule:
| Game | Expected Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Witcher 4 | 2027 | UE5 tech demo shown; full gameplay TBA |
| The Witcher 5 | ~2029–2030 | Shorter dev cycle from #4 |
| The Witcher 6 | By 2033 | Trilogy complete within 6 years of #4 launch |
Recent Teasers and Updates
- December 2024: Initial teaser dropped, kicking off hype for the new saga.
- July 2025: Epic’s “State of Unreal” revealed a UE5 tech demo (not gameplay) showcasing open-world tech.
- The Game Awards 2025: No new footage, dashing fan hopes last week.
- YouTube channel description confirms: “This isn’t gameplay of The Witcher 4 itself, but a deep dive into the technological foundation of the new Witcher saga.”
No major trailer since July, but CDPR’s international teams are deep into production.
Bottom Line
For fans weary of decade-long waits between titles, this is huge news. Unreal Engine 5 could finally deliver the rapid-fire AAA experiences CDPR envisions — starting with Witcher 4 in 2027. Keep an eye on CES 2026 or future Unreal events for the next reveal. Geralt’s back, and sooner than you think.
Sources: CD Projekt, Eurogamer
