CD Projekt RED has confirmed that the next instalment in The Witcher franchise is targeting a release window of 2028. The studio addressed the game’s status in a new video as Gamescom begins in Cologne this week, confirming that The Witcher 4 will not be shown at the event. The timeline update came directly from CD Projekt RED joint CEO Michał Nowakowski, who addressed speculation about the release date. Nowakowski confirmed the 2028 target and asked fans to “let the team cook” before the game is ready. He described the project as the studio’s “biggest, boldest and most ambitious game to date.” The confirmation gives a timeframe for a project that has been the subject of rumours for years. CD Projekt RED, also known for Cyberpunk 2077, first confirmed the existence of The Witcher 4 in early 2022. By the time it arrives in the targeted 2028 window, more than a decade will have passed since the release of its predecessor, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The Witcher 4 will bring a major change to the series’ story. Players will step into the boots of Ciri, taking over from Geralt of Rivia as the main character. The game is being made with Unreal Engine 5, which is intended to bring a new level of graphical fidelity to the franchise. Fans hoping to see the new game in action will need to wait. CD Projekt RED confirmed that no gameplay from The Witcher 4 will be shown at Gamescom. The technical demonstration seen at last year’s State of Unreal event remains the public look at the project’s technical direction. CD Projekt RED will still have news to share in Cologne. The developer said it will reveal more about Songs of the Past, the third major expansion for The Witcher 3. The expansion is planned for release in 2027 on Windows, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. Songs of the Past will allow players to return to Geralt of Rivia’s monster-slaying role while they wait for the next main entry. The expansion gives the studio a nearer-term Witcher release to discuss, while The Witcher 4 remains aimed at 2028. For players in Soomaaliya and across the Somali diaspora, the long wait leaves room to follow official updates rather than release-date rumours. Fans who play on PC or consoles can look to Songs of the Past as the next confirmed Witcher release before Ciri’s new chapter arrives.