The wait is finally over for The Witcher fans. At State of Unreal 2025, CD Projekt Red officially revealed major updates about The Witcher 4 game, including gameplay, story, and expected release timeline.
Here’s a breakdown of what we know about this next-gen RPG.
After years of speculation, The Witcher 4 will feature Ciri as the lead character. This marks a bold shift from Geralt of Rivia’s story. CD Projekt Red confirmed that The Witcher 4 kicks off a brand-new trilogy within the Witcher universe.
Fans will follow Ciri’s journey as she becomes a full-fledged Witcher. Though Geralt won’t be the main character, voice actor Doug Cockle will return, suggesting that Geralt may appear in flashbacks or supporting roles.
This new direction is already generating buzz among the gaming community.
One of the biggest surprises in The Witcher 4 gameplay reveal was the introduction of Kovir, a region never seen before in the games or show. The setting looks breathtaking and detailed, featuring snowy mountains, thick magical forests, and the port city of Valdrest.
According to CD Projekt Red, the world in The Witcher 4 will be much more dynamic. Towns and NPC behavior will change based on player choices, and exploration will be affected by weather and time of day.
This approach aims to deliver a richer, more immersive experience than previous titles in the series.
The Witcher 4 is being developed using Unreal Engine 5.6, a partnership between Epic Games and CD Projekt Red. The State of Unreal gameplay tech demo stunned fans and developers alike with its detail.
The updated game engine supports ray-traced lighting, realistic facial animations, and 60 FPS gameplay on PlayStation 5. Features like Nanite foliage allow environmental elements to move dynamically around Ciri as she travels across Kovir.
This new engine marks a major leap forward for next-gen RPGs, with fans calling it one of the most visually impressive open-world games revealed so far.
While The Witcher 4 release date hasn’t been officially locked in, CD Projekt Red confirmed that the game will not launch before 2027. The developers are taking their time to avoid the issues that plagued Cyberpunk 2077 at launch.
The game will release for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with no plans for previous-gen consoles.
So while fans are eager to play, they’ll have to wait a little longer for the finished product.
The Witcher universe is expanding beyond just The Witcher 4. CD Projekt Red is also working on:
A full remake of the original 2007 Witcher game, rebuilt with Unreal Engine 5
A multiplayer Witcher spin-off, codenamed Project Sirius, being developed by The Molasses Flood
These projects, along with The Witcher 4, are part of a larger strategy to grow the Witcher franchise beyond just Geralt and into more diverse characters and game styles.
The internet exploded following the reveal of The Witcher 4 trailer at State of Unreal 2025. Reddit threads, YouTube reactions, and Twitter trends all pointed to one thing—fans are ready.
The announcement that Ciri would be the new lead was met with enthusiasm. The new region, improved AI, and real-time crowd simulation in gameplay have also been widely praised.
Many believe this could be the defining RPG of the next console generation.
Everything shown during the State of Unreal 2025 event makes one thing clear: The Witcher 4 isn’t just a sequel. It’s a reimagining of the series with new characters, new tech, and a new direction.
From the introduction of Ciri’s story to the stunning visuals powered by Unreal Engine 5, this game has the potential to raise the bar for fantasy role-playing games worldwide.
As we wait for the Witcher 4 release date, one thing is certain—CD Projekt Red is ready to deliver a truly legendary experience.