The Witcher 4 could arrive as early as April or May 2028, according to speculation surrounding a newly discovered CD Projekt RED job listing. The Polish developer has already confirmed a 2028 release target for its ambitious RPG starring Ciri, but the employment contract has raised questions about whether the studio is preparing for a launch during the first half of the year.
CD Projekt RED is recruiting a Legal Counsel for its Business and Intellectual Property department, offering a contract that ends on April 30, 2028. The position involves licensing agreements, intellectual property protection, player communications, regulatory compliance, and cooperation with development and marketing teams. These responsibilities have fueled speculation that the contract could be associated with preparations for The Witcher 4's release.
However, the listing does not mention The Witcher 4 or establish any connection between the contract's expiration and a product launch. The date could simply reflect the company's staffing requirements, making the suggested April or May release window an interpretation rather than evidence of a finalized schedule.
The speculation gains additional attention from CD Projekt RED's previous release history. The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings launched on May 17, 2011, while The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt followed on May 19, 2015. A May 2028 launch would therefore follow the franchise's established spring release pattern, although historical launch dates provide no guarantee that the next installment will follow the same schedule.
CD Projekt RED officially confirmed its 2028 release target in August 2026, with Joint CEO Michał Nowakowski describing The Witcher 4 as the studio's largest and most ambitious production. More than 500 developers are working on the project, which introduces Ciri as the protagonist of a new saga featuring a massive open world, expanded combat systems, and deeper narrative choices. The studio is also developing the game using Unreal Engine 5 instead of its proprietary REDengine, a transition intended to improve development efficiency and support multiple projects simultaneously.
The technical transition is particularly important for PC and console players. CD Projekt RED has emphasized improving Unreal Engine 5 integration and maintaining consistent performance across platforms, following the technical difficulties that affected Cyberpunk 2077 at launch. The Witcher 4's technology demonstration showcased advanced world streaming, dense environments, improved animations, and ray tracing, although the presentation was not representative of finalized gameplay.
Before Ciri's next adventure arrives, CD Projekt RED plans to release The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: Songs of the Past in 2027, following the Remastered edition released in September 2026. This staggered release strategy is designed to maintain interest in the franchise while development continues on its next major installment.
For now, 2028 remains the only official release window, with no confirmed month, exact date, or preorder schedule.
An April or May 2028 launch would make sense considering CD Projekt RED's previous releases, but connecting a legal employment contract to a specific release date is speculative. More importantly, the studio should prioritize technical stability, optimization, and meaningful gameplay improvements rather than committing to an unnecessarily aggressive deadline. The Witcher 4 represents a major transition for the franchise, combining a new protagonist with Unreal Engine 5 and an ambitious development pipeline. For PC gamers, strong performance, flexible graphics settings, and a complete experience at launch should matter considerably more than arriving a few months earlier.
Would you like The Witcher 4 to launch in spring 2028, or would you prefer CD Projekt RED to extend development if additional time improves performance and overall quality?
