The Witcher 4 Release Date, Trailer, and Leaks – What to Expect in 2025
The gaming world has been buzzing since CD Projekt Red officially unveiled The Witcher 4 at The Game Awards in December 2024. After the massive success of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, fans have been eagerly awaiting details about the next chapter in this beloved franchise. This article dives deep into everything we currently know about The Witcher 4 release date, trailer analysis, verified leaks, and what to expect in 2025 as development progresses.
The Witcher 4 Release Date: When Can We Play?
During a Q&A session, Nielubowicz clarified that the game “will not be launched within the time frame for the first target for the incentive program, which ends 31st December 2026.” This confirms that fans will need to wait until at least 2027 to experience Ciri’s new adventure.
This timeline aligns with CD Projekt Red’s historical development patterns. The Witcher 3 took approximately four years to develop, and with the studio now working with Unreal Engine 5 instead of their proprietary REDengine, additional development time is expected. The switch to a new engine represents both exciting possibilities and new challenges for the development team.
“We are not going to announce the precise launch date for the game yet. All we can share now for more visibility for investors is that the game will not be launched within the time frame for the first target for the incentive program, which ends 31st December 2026.”
– Piotr Nielubowicz, CFO of CD Projekt Red
The Witcher 4 Trailer: Breaking Down What We’ve Seen
The Witcher 4 was officially revealed with a cinematic trailer at The Game Awards in December 2024. This trailer confirmed several key details that fans have been speculating about for years. Most notably, Ciri will be taking over as the protagonist, with Geralt stepping aside from the main role.
The trailer depicts Ciri embarking on a hunt to slay a Bauk, a monster terrorizing the northern village of Stromford. This creature, drawn from Serbian mythology, resembles a bear but with an unsettling number of legs. The trailer confirms that Ciri has completed the Trial of the Grasses—the painful mutation process that grants Witchers their superhuman abilities and distinctive cat-like eyes.
In combat, we see Ciri wielding her signature sword, Zireael, alongside a magical chain weapon that calls back to Geralt’s fight with the Striga in The Witcher Enhanced Edition’s trailer. We also see her consuming a Witcher potion, further cementing her new role as a full-fledged Witcher.
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Tech Demo Reveals More About The Witcher 4
In June 2025, CD Projekt Red showcased a tech demo at Unreal Fest, giving fans a glimpse of what The Witcher 4 gameplay might look like. Running on a standard PS5 at 60FPS, the demo showed the snowy region of Kovir in stunning detail thanks to Unreal Engine 5’s Nanite geometry technology.
The tech demo introduced Kelpie, Ciri’s equine companion, demonstrating the improved horse mechanics and rider synchronization. We also got to see Ciri exploring one of Kovir’s villages, with NPCs living their individual lives around her. While CD Projekt Red emphasized that this wasn’t actual gameplay footage, it provides a tantalizing look at the game’s visual direction and world-building approach.
Witcher 4 trailer speculation suggests we might see gameplay footage in late 2025, following a similar pattern to The Witcher 3’s marketing timeline. The “Killing Monsters” cinematic trailer for The Witcher 3 was released approximately two years before the game’s launch.
The Witcher 4 Leaks: Separating Fact from Fiction
With a game as anticipated as The Witcher 4, leaks and rumors are inevitable. However, it’s crucial to distinguish between verified information and speculation. Here are the most credible Witcher 4 gameplay leaks and confirmed details from reliable sources:
Verified Information
- Ciri is the main protagonist, confirmed by the official trailer
- The game is set in the previously unexplored region of Kovir
- Geralt will appear in the game, though his exact role remains undisclosed
- The popular card game Gwent will return
- The game is being developed using Unreal Engine 5
- It’s the first installment in a new trilogy
- Over 400 developers are currently working on the project
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Unconfirmed Rumors
- Alleged beta tests in April 2025 (officially denied by CD Projekt Red)
- Rumors about multiplayer components
- Speculation about Yennefer’s role (voice actor Denise Gough has stated she hasn’t been contacted)
- Claims about specific story details beyond what’s shown in the trailer
- Unverified “leaks” about gameplay mechanics from anonymous sources
In an interview with IGN, game director Sebastian Kalemba revealed that player choices will have more significant consequences in The Witcher 4, and there will be multiple ways to develop Ciri’s character. Executive producer Malgorzata Mitrega confirmed that the trailer shows “side content” set in an “isolated village in the north,” suggesting the main game will be much more expansive.
The tech demo revealed Valdrest, a lively port town in Kovir, showcasing the game’s dense urban environments. CD Projekt Red emphasized the world’s responsiveness, with character actions directly affecting the environment and potentially triggering chain reactions. This suggests a more dynamic world than previous Witcher games.
What to Expect from The Witcher 4 in 2025
While The Witcher 4 release date is still years away, 2025 promises to be a significant year for news and developments. Based on CD Projekt Red’s historical marketing patterns and current development timeline, here’s what we can reasonably expect in 2025:
Next-Gen Graphics and Unreal Engine 5
The switch to Unreal Engine 5 represents a major technological leap for the series. The tech demo has already showcased impressive visual fidelity, with Unreal’s Nanite geometry allowing for unprecedented detail in environments. As development progresses through 2025, we can expect more technical showcases highlighting the game’s visual capabilities.
CD Projekt Red has confirmed the game will release on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms. The tech demo ran on a base PS5 at 60fps, suggesting the game is being optimized for current-generation consoles. This focus on current hardware should help avoid some of the performance issues that plagued Cyberpunk 2077’s last-gen versions.
Connections to Previous Witcher Lore
The initial teaser for The Witcher 4 featured a medallion that CD Projekt Red confirmed belongs to the School of the Lynx. This is particularly interesting as this Witcher school doesn’t appear in the original books or previous games, suggesting the new trilogy will expand the established lore in significant ways.
While Ciri is taking center stage, CD Projekt Red has confirmed that Geralt will appear in some capacity. As Doug Cockle, Geralt’s voice actor, stated in an interview: “Geralt will be part of the game. We just don’t know how much, and the game won’t focus on Geralt. So it’s not about him this time.”
CD Projekt Red has revealed that The Witcher 4’s internal codename is “Polaris,” and it will be the first game in a new trilogy. Two other Witcher projects are also in development: “Canis Majoris” (The Witcher 1 remake) and “Sirius” (a multiplayer Witcher experience).
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Potential Gameplay Reveals in 2025
Based on CD Projekt Red 2025 development roadmap and previous marketing strategies, we might see the first true gameplay reveal in late 2025. This would likely showcase Ciri’s unique combat abilities, which appear to blend her Elder Blood powers with traditional Witcher techniques.
Executive producer Malgorzata Mitrega has confirmed that Ciri will be more agile than Geralt, with expanded magical abilities and new tools like the chain weapon seen in the trailer. She also mentioned that the game will feature “loads of new monsters,” expanding the bestiary beyond what we’ve seen in previous titles.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Witcher 4
Will The Witcher 4 release in 2025?
No, CD Projekt Red has officially confirmed that The Witcher 4 will not release before 2027. The game entered full-scale production at the end of 2024, and the development cycle is expected to take at least three years.
Is Geralt in The Witcher 4?
Yes, CD Projekt Red has confirmed that Geralt will appear in The Witcher 4, though he won’t be the main protagonist. The studio stated, “Geralt will appear in the game, but we don’t want to spoil his role precisely.” The main character will be Ciri, as shown in the official trailer.
What platforms will The Witcher 4 be available on?
CD Projekt Red has confirmed The Witcher 4 will release on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. The tech demo was shown running on a base PS5 at 60fps, suggesting optimization for current-generation consoles. No Nintendo platform has been mentioned.
Will The Witcher 4 have multiplayer features?
While CD Projekt Red has previously mentioned plans to integrate “online experiences” into future games, they’ve emphasized that their focus remains on “single-player, story-driven triple-A RPGs.” Any online elements would be “seamlessly integrated” rather than changing the core single-player experience.
Is Gwent returning in The Witcher 4?
Yes, game director Sebastian Kalemba has confirmed that Gwent will return in The Witcher 4. The tech demo even showed a punter being thrown out of a bar in Valdrest for cheating at the popular card game.
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The Road to The Witcher 4: Patience Will Be Rewarded
While The Witcher 4 release date in 2027 might seem distant, the wait allows CD Projekt Red to fully realize their ambitious vision for Ciri’s adventure. The switch to Unreal Engine 5, the expansion into the unexplored region of Kovir, and the development of new gameplay mechanics all suggest a game that aims to surpass its predecessor in scope and quality.
As 2025 unfolds, we can expect more substantial reveals about The Witcher 4, potentially including the first gameplay footage, more details about the story, and further insights into how Ciri’s abilities will translate to gameplay. For Witcher fans, the journey to release is part of the experience, filled with speculation, community theories, and the gradual unveiling of what promises to be another landmark RPG.
The lessons learned from Cyberpunk 2077’s troubled launch appear to be guiding CD Projekt Red’s approach to The Witcher 4’s development and marketing. By being transparent about the release timeline and showing authentic in-engine footage, the studio is setting realistic expectations while still generating excitement for this highly anticipated return to the world of The Witcher.
