Developer CD Projekt Red announced on Wednesday that it will soon begin production of the fourth installment in The Witcher series, known internally as Project Polaris. The confirmation came during the company’s earnings report for the first half of the financial year, revealing that pre-production for the highly anticipated title is nearing completion. Originally revealed in 2022, The Witcher 4 is also recognized as the starting point of a new trilogy.
The Witcher 4 Enters Full Production
Project Polaris is primed to transition into full production, according to CD Projekt Red’s official press release regarding its financial status for the first half of 2024. Michał Nowakowski, the joint CEO of CD Projekt Red, noted, “Work on Polaris is progressing – its development team is nearing a major milestone which will mark the end of the pre-production phase.”
While additional specifics about The Witcher 4 remain sparse, the studio did mention it is also “laying the groundwork” for Project Orion, which is set in the Cyberpunk universe.
Initially announced in March 2022, Project Polaris will be developed using Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 5. That same year, CD Projekt Red disclosed its plans for a new Witcher saga, initiating a trilogy with an ambitious goal of releasing all three titles within six years following The Witcher 4’s launch.
Details on The Witcher 4
Expected to be a story-driven open-world RPG, The Witcher 4 is said to build upon the legacy of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. In addition to the new trilogy, CD Projekt is working on two additional Witcher projects: Project Sirius, a multiplayer-oriented game, and “Canis Majoris,” a complete remake of the original Witcher game utilizing Unreal Engine 5.
In a report from November 2023, CD Projekt Red highlighted that nearly half of its workforce, comprising over 300 developers, is dedicated to the development of The Witcher 4. However, a release date for the game has yet to be disclosed.
Recently, voice actor Doug Cockle, who portrays Geralt of Rivia in the first three games, hinted that Geralt would return in The Witcher 4, though not as the primary focus. In an interview earlier this month, Cockle stated, “The Witcher 4 has been announced. I can’t say anything about it. What we know is that 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.”
