New ‘The Witcher’ game ramps up development: “No stopping us now”
The sequel to ‘The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’ was confirmed in 2022
by Ali Shutler · NMEDevelopers have ramped up production on the next instalment in The Witcher series.
The original Witcher was released in 2007 with that trilogy of games wrapping up with 2015’s The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which is still considered one of the greatest video games of all time. Developers CD Projekt Red has also worked on a number of expansions and spin-offs in the years that have followed, but fans really want a new mainline title.
In 2022, the studio confirmed a new Witcher game was in pre-production and now, it’s been announced that development has properly begun.
“I’m thrilled to announce that Project Polaris has entered the full-scale production phase,” wrote game director Sebastian Kalemba. “With new challenges just around the corner, it’s the talented and hard-working people who make me believe we can together make the upcoming Witcher Saga a remarkable experience. No stopping now! Stay tuned for what’s on the other side of the coin!”
“We’re entering production on our new Witcher game right around the time Andrzej Sapkowski releases a new Witcher book. It’s a good time to love the Witcher,” added narrative director Phillipp Weber.
The Witcher 4, under the codename Polaris, has been described as the start of a “new saga for the franchise” with developers aiming to release “two more games after Polaris, creating a new AAA RPG trilogy.”
Recommended
So far, all the mainline titles have focused on Geralt Of Rivia, a magically-enhanced monster hunter. And while it seems The Witcher 4 will be set in the same world, the game will shine a spotlight on other characters. “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,” voice actor Doug Cockle previously told PCGamer.
Meanwhile Netflix’s The Witcher adaptation is set to wrap up after seasons four and five, which are currently in development. For the final batch of episodes, Liam Hemsworth will take over from Henry Cavill as Geralt.