The Witcher 4, slated for a 2028 release, is unlikely to be available on physical discs, according to CD Projekt Red joint CEO Michał Nowakowski. This potential shift aligns with industry trends, as major console manufacturers like Sony and Microsoft are reportedly phasing out support for physical media around the same timeframe.
Nowakowski explained that the decision regarding disc manufacturing rests with platform holders. "The discs for the first parties, including PlayStation, have to be manufactured in their own factories. So, if they stop manufacturing indeed by 2028, then yes [we won’t have a disc]," he stated in an interview with The Game Business. CD Projekt Red acknowledges it has no direct control over these manufacturing decisions.
Despite the potential absence of traditional discs, CD Projekt Red remains committed to offering players tangible collector's items. Nowakowski emphasized the studio's fondness for providing "access to tangible collectible things." He teased that The Witcher 4 will "for sure" feature some kind of "box" with "feelies" inside, something players will "be wanting to open up and enjoy." This reflects the company's identity as "nerds ourselves, and we like that. We always supported that."
The Witcher 4 is set to inaugurate a new trilogy of games in the series, with The Witcher 5 and The Witcher 6 expected to follow within a six-year window, potentially concluding the new saga by 2034. Beyond this new trilogy, CD Projekt Red is also developing a remaster of The Witcher 3, an expansion for the game titled Songs of the Past, a sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, a multiplayer game set in The Witcher universe, and a mobile title in partnership with Scopely.