The fourth Witcher game, codenamed “Project Polaris,” has entered full production, developer CD Projekt Red announced on Tuesday when announcing third-quarter 2024 financial results. The studio said it has completed pre-production on the game, which will be the first in a new trilogy of The Witcher games. The Polish game maker also revealed that its action role-playing game Cyberpunk 2077, launched in 2020, has sold more than 30 million copies and continued to show strong sales momentum in the latest quarter.
“The Witcher 4” goes into production
“I’m proud to confirm that the Polaris team completed pre-production a few weeks ago and has entered full production, the most intensive phase of development,” CD Projekt co-CEO Michał Nowakowski said in a statement about the company’s Q3 2024 financial results. “We are very pleased with the progress of this project and I want to thank the team for their dedication.”
In a post on X, Nowakovsky congratulated the Witcher team for reaching this milestone. “I’m proud to see the progress you’ve made over time. Entering the production phase of Polaris is an important step toward delivering the game and our long-term strategic goals,” he said.
The Witcher game director Sebastian Kalemba also confirmed the development of X, saying he believes the new Witcher trilogy could be an “extraordinary experience.”
Another milestone for the next Witcher game has been achieved! Congratulations to the whole team! I’m proud to see the progress you’ve made over time. Entering the production phase of Polaris is an important step towards delivering the game and our long-term strategic goals. Go team,… https://t.co/XfIXGIRTxm
— Michal Nowakow (@michalnowakow) November 26, 2024
“Cyberpunk 2077” sales exceed 30 million copies
CD Projekt also announced that the sales of “Cyberpunk 2077” have exceeded 30 million copies, while the “Phantom Liberty” expansion pack released in 2023 and starring actor Idris Elba has sold more than 8 million copies.
“These numbers are impressive. I’m excited to see a large, dedicated community coalescing around our Cyberpunk game,” Nowakovsky said. “Over the coming year, the base game and its expansion packs will be released to a new group of users: owners of Mac devices powered by Apple Silicon chips.”
The studio’s revenue in the third quarter of 2024 was PLN 228 million (approximately $55.5 million or Rs. 468.7 billion) based on strong sales of Cyberpunk 2077, the Phantom Free expansion and The Witcher 3.
“Cyberpunk 2077” “Phantom Liberty” expansion pack will be released in 2023
Photo credit: CD Projekt Red
“The Witcher 4” details
Project Polaris was first announced in March 2022; CD Projekt confirmed at the time that the game would be built in Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 5. Later that year, the company revealed that Project Polaris would be the beginning of a new Witcher saga—the first part of a new trilogy. The developer aims to release all three games within six years of The Witcher 4’s launch.
While details about The Witcher 4 are scant, it’s confirmed to be a story-driven, open-world role-playing game “built on the foundations of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.” The studio has yet to confirm a release timeline for the game, but it could still be several years away.
In August, Doug Cockle, the voice actor for Geralt of Rivia in the first three games, claimed that the character would appear in The Witcher 4, but would not have a central role. “We knew Geralt was going to be a part of the game, we just didn’t know how much. And the game wasn’t going to be Geralt-centric, so it wasn’t about him this time,” Coker said in an interview at the time.