The Witcher 4 Image: Ciri vs Manticore, 2028 Launch

CD Projekt RED has released a new image from The Witcher 4 showing Ciri battling a mantícora, reinforcing the shift away from Geralt and toward Cirilla as the series’ next lead. The studio also reiterated that the RPG is still aimed at a 2028 launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Quick facts

New The Witcher 4 artwork features Ciri fighting a mantícora
Launch target: 2028 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S)
CD Projekt RED says the game is being developed with 500+ developers
Executive co-director Michal Nowakowski revealed the details in a video
The Witcher 3 is set to receive the 2026 expansion Song of the Past

The latest tease arrives ahead of a console-and-PC debut planned “sometime in 2028,” with Ciri positioned as the new monster hunter. The studio’s message is that Geralt of Rivia will no longer be the central figure, and Ciri is now taking over the fight against the franchise’s most dangerous creatures.

Executive co-director Michal Nowakowski was the one who laid out the schedule and the direction for the project in the video. He noted that the team is not ready to show The Witcher 4 at Gamescom 2026 and that the studio can’t share an exact date yet, but confirmed the game is targeting release in 2028.

Nowakowski also addressed the length of the wait directly, acknowledging that players would prefer to play sooner while insisting that the extra time is for the team to finish the work. In the same update, he confirmed that CD Projekt RED has “more than 500 developers” working on The Witcher 4.

While The Witcher 4 won’t be present at Gamescom 2026, the studio still framed the period as an opportunity for previews, highlighting Ciri’s role and pointing to the newly shared concept art of her in combat with the mantícora. The studio’s broader plan includes The Witcher 3 continuing with its Song of the Past expansion in 2026, even as the main Geralt-era story is treated as complete with that trilogy.

For players wondering how the new protagonist will change the experience, the studio’s answer so far is visual: Ciri is already being shown taking on monsters, with the mantícora serving as the clearest example. With the lead character switch now front and center, The Witcher 4 is shaping up to be a new chapter for the saga—just not until 2028.