"Witcher 4 2026 Release Rumors Debunked"

Here is the SEO-optimized, content-enhanced version of your article while preserving the original structure and format:

The Witcher 4 will not be part of the 2026 game lineup, as officially confirmed by CD Projekt. Keep reading for the latest updates on the game's development status and what fans can expect moving forward.

The Witcher 4 Will Not Be Released in 2026

No Official Release Window Announced Yet

Excitement continues to build around The Witcher 4, but players won’t be getting their hands on it in 2026. During CD Projekt’s FY2024 financial report presentation, the studio revealed that the game will not be launched before December 31, 2026—the end date of its current share-based incentive program. The statement read: “Even though we do not plan to release The Witcher 4 by the end of 2026, we are still driven by this financial goal.”

When asked further during a Q&A session, CFO Piotr Nielubowicz reiterated the company’s stance without revealing a new target date: “We are not going to announce the precise launch date for the game yet. All we could share now to give more visibility to investors is that the game will not be launched within the time frame of the first target for the incentive program, which ends December 31, 2026.”

Development Progress Remains Strong

While the wait extends beyond 2026, rest assured that The Witcher 4 is well into production. As noted in CD Projekt’s Q3 2024 financial update, the project—previously known as Project Polaris—is the most advanced among all titles currently in development. Nielubowicz stated: “Of all our projects, this one [Project Polaris/The Witcher 4] is currently the most far along, and we're starting the most intensive phase of development. I wish to thank the team for its effort and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for further progress.”

Originally unveiled as Project Polaris in 2022, the game was officially named The Witcher IV during The Game Awards 2024, complete with an impressive six-minute cinematic trailer that took audiences by surprise. This entry marks a significant shift in the series, introducing Ciri—Geralt’s adoptive daughter—as the new protagonist. Now older and more experienced, she steps into the spotlight, continuing the legacy of monster hunting and moral dilemmas.

According to CD Projekt’s previous announcements on X (formerly Twitter) from October 2022, The Witcher 4 kicks off a brand-new trilogy. Following its release, two additional games—currently referred to as Project Canis Majoris and Project Orion—are expected to launch over the subsequent six-year period, promising years of immersive storytelling and gameplay ahead.