The Witcher IV Gameplay Video
The Witcher IV Key Specifications
Specification | Detail |
---|---|
Engine | Unreal Engine 5 |
Genre | Action Role-Playing (Action RPG), Open World, Narrative-Driven |
Expected Release | 2026-10-27 (Speculative) |
Developer | CD PROJEKT RED |
Publisher | CD PROJEKT |
Setting | The Continent (Post-Witcher 3) |
Perspective | Third-Person |
Platforms | PC (Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S |
Multiplayer | Single-player Only |
Unique Feature | Start of a new Witcher saga, built on Unreal Engine 5; focus on a new generation of Witcher; signature mature storytelling with meaningful choices. |
The Witcher IV System Requirements
1080p
tune Minimum (Target: 1080p, 30 FPS, Low/Medium Settings) – Low/Medium Preset, Upscaling 'Performance' or 'Balanced'
tune Recommended (Target: 1080p, 60 FPS, High Settings) – High Preset, Ray Tracing Low/Medium, Upscaling 'Quality'
1440p
tune High (Target: 1440p, 60 FPS, High/Ultra Settings) – High/Ultra Preset, Ray Tracing Medium/High, Upscaling 'Quality' or 'Balanced'
2160p
tune Ultra (Target: 4K, 60 FPS, High/Ultra Settings) – High/Ultra Preset, Ray Tracing enabled, Upscaling 'Performance'
The Witcher IV Laptop Recommendations
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Core Requirements
- desktop_windowsOperating System: Windows 11 64-bit
A 64-bit version of Windows 11 will likely be the recommended OS for a 2026 release to best utilize modern hardware and features like DirectStorage.
- memoryDirectX: DirectX 12 Ultimate
DirectX 12 Ultimate will be required for advanced graphical features such as mesh shading, sampler feedback, and full ray tracing support (lumen and nanite).
- save_altStorage Note: 150 GB available space (NVMe SSD Mandatory)
A fast NVMe SSD will be mandatory for the seamless world streaming and detailed textures expected from an Unreal Engine 5 title of this scale.
settings_applications Optimization Notes:
Upscaling: Will feature support for the latest versions of NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR, and Intel XeSS with Frame Generation, which will be essential for achieving target framerates at high resolutions and with ray tracing enabled.
Key Settings: Resolution, Ray Tracing Quality (Lumen/Shadows/Reflections), Nanite Geometry Detail, Virtual Shadow Map Quality, Global Illumination, and Texture Quality will be the most performance-intensive settings.
The Witcher IV: Map Size and Regions
Expected to feature a massive, next-generation open world that is even more dynamic and reactive than The Witcher 3's. The world will likely be comprised of several large regions, potentially including parts of northern kingdoms like Temeria or Redania, as well as new, unexplored territories. A key focus will be on creating dense, living environments, from bustling cities to monster-infested wilderness, with dynamic weather and ecosystems.
The Witcher IV: Post-Launch Content / DLC
CD PROJEKT RED has a reputation for substantial post-launch support. The new saga is planned as a trilogy. It is expected that this first game will receive at least two large, story-driven expansions similar in scale to 'Hearts of Stone' and 'Blood and Wine,' introducing new regions, quests, characters, and monsters. Regular free DLCs with smaller content like armor sets and side quests are also likely.
The Witcher IV Skills & Upgrades Overview
Players will develop their Witcher through deep skill trees focusing on Sword Combat (fast and strong attacks, parrying, new techniques), Signs (evolved versions of Aard, Igni, Quen, Yrden, Axii), and Alchemy (potions, decoctions, oils, bombs with a potentially more interactive crafting system). A new central progression system, possibly tied to the School of the Lynx, will offer unique abilities and character development paths. Gear (swords, armor) will be craftable, upgradable, and customizable with runes.
The Witcher IV: Cross-Platform / Crossplay
The game will be a single-player RPG. Cross-platform progression for save files (e.g., between PC and consoles) via the GOG Galaxy platform is a possibility, similar to what was offered for The Witcher 3.
The Witcher IV Specific Game Elements
The Witcher IV Weapons
- securityAlchemical Bombs (Throwable Consumable (Craftable))
Craftable bombs with various effects, such as Grapeshot (shrapnel), Samum (stunning), Dancing Star (incendiary), and Dimeritium Bomb (suppresses magic).
- securityCrossbow (Ranged Weapon / Utility)
A ranged weapon used for bringing down flying creatures, fighting underwater, or applying special bolt effects like bleeding or poison.
- securityOils (Weapon Buff (Craftable))
Blade coatings applied to steel or silver swords to deal significantly increased damage against specific classes of enemies (e.g., Necrophage Oil, Cursed Oil, Beast Oil).
- securityPotions & Decoctions (Buff Consumable (Craftable))
Consumables that provide powerful temporary buffs to the Witcher's abilities, senses, or combat prowess. Decoctions, made from powerful monster mutagens, offer unique, long-lasting effects but have high toxicity.
- securityWitcher Signs (Tactical Magic)
Simple but effective magical signs used in combat and for utility: Aard (telekinesis), Igni (fire), Quen (shield), Yrden (trap/magic field), and Axii (mind influence). The new engine may allow for more dynamic and powerful applications and combinations.
- securityWitcher's Silver Sword (Primary Melee (vs. Monsters))
A silver-bladed sword essential for harming monsters and supernatural creatures. Like the steel sword, it will be craftable, upgradable, and come in many unique forms with slots for powerful enhancements.
- securityWitcher's Steel Sword (Primary Melee (vs. Humans/Non-Monsters))
A masterfully crafted sword designed for fighting humanoids. Will feature various styles (e.g., from different Witcher schools or regions), stats, and rune slots for customization and upgrades.
The Witcher IV Vehicles
- directions_carBoats & Skiffs (Water Traversal)
Small boats, skiffs, or sailboats for navigating rivers, lakes, and coastal waters between landmasses or islands.
- directions_carRoach (Horse) (Primary Mount / Land Traversal)
The Witcher's trusty steed, essential for traversing the vast open world. Can be called at any time. Will likely feature customizable equipment like saddles and saddlebags that can increase inventory space or provide other minor benefits.
The Witcher IV Characters
- personA New Antagonist - Main Antagonist
A new, complex villain driving the central conflict. Could be a powerful mage from a clandestine organization, a ruthless monarch with expansionist ambitions, or a supernatural entity unlike any seen before.
- personCiri (Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon) - Major Supporting Character / Potential Protagonist
The Lady of Space and Time and Geralt's adopted daughter. Depending on the narrative path, she could be the main protagonist or a major NPC and mentor figure, dealing with the legacy of her powers and her role in the world's future.
- personGeralt of Rivia (Likely Appearance) - Mentor / Supporting Character / Legendary Witcher
The legendary protagonist of the original saga. While his story is concluded, he is expected to appear in a supporting or mentor role, offering guidance to the new generation. His presence would connect the new saga to the old.
- personNew Faction Leaders - Major NPCs / Political Figures
Leaders of various kingdoms, factions, or organizations (e.g., Nilfgaard, Redania, sorcerer lodges, non-human groups) who will play a role in the political intrigue of the post-war Continent.
- personReturning Friends & Allies (e.g., Dandelion, Zoltan Chivay, Triss Merigold, Yennefer of Vengerberg) - Supporting Characters / Quest Givers
Familiar faces from the original trilogy are likely to make appearances, providing side quests, story context, and connecting the new protagonist to the established world and its history.
- personThe Protagonist (e.g., a School of the Lynx Witcher or Ciri) - Protagonist / Witcher (playable)
The main playable character. This will be a new character to the saga, potentially a custom character from the new School of the Lynx, or a returning Ciri, now a full-fledged Witcheress navigating a changed world.
Top 3 Characters (Speculative):
New Protagonist: A newly created Witcher from the School of the Lynx, or possibly a playable Ciri, exploring their place in the world. 2. A New Primary Antagonist: A cunning and powerful foe, perhaps a mage, a rival Witcher, or a political leader, driving the central conflict. 3. A Returning Mentor/Companion Figure: An older, established character from the original saga (such as Geralt, Ciri, Dandelion, or Triss) who acts as a guide or major supporting character.
The Witcher IV Missions / Objectives
- flagCompanion & Character Quests
Objective: Optional quests related to the personal stories of key supporting characters and allies, allowing the player to deepen their relationships and influence their fates.
- flagGwent Tournaments
Objective: An expected side activity where players can participate in Gwent tournaments in major cities, challenging skilled players to win unique cards, money, and renown in the in-game card game.
- flagMain Story Quests
Objective: A series of interconnected narrative quests forming the central storyline. This will involve investigating the game's primary conflict, making major decisions with far-reaching consequences, interacting with key political figures and factions, and confronting the main antagonist.
- flagPoints of Interest (?)
Objective: Exploring the open world to clear out Monster Nests, Bandit Camps, find Hidden Treasure, discover Abandoned Sites that can be repopulated, and activate Places of Power for ability points.
- flagSecondary Questlines
Objective: Multi-part, story-rich side quests that are not essential to the main plot but offer deep narratives, complex characters, and significant rewards. These are a hallmark of the series, often as compelling as the main story (e.g., the Bloody Baron questline in The Witcher 3).
- flagTreasure Hunts (Witcher Gear)
Objective: Quests that involve following a series of clues from maps and notes to locate hidden schematics for powerful, upgradeable Witcher School gear (armor and swords).
- flagWitcher Contracts
Objective: Core Witcher gameplay. These missions involve taking a contract from a notice board or NPC to hunt down a specific, often powerful, monster. This requires investigation (examining the scene, talking to witnesses, tracking the beast) and preparation (alchemy, oils) before confronting and slaying the monster for a reward.
Top 3 Missions/Objectives (Conceptual based on series structure):
Quest: Investigating the central conspiracy threatening the Continent, involving high-stakes political decisions and major story-defining battles. 2. Witcher Contracts: Classic monster-hunting missions involving investigation, tracking, and fighting unique and powerful monsters for a reward. 3. Major Secondary Questlines: Multi-part side quests with compelling narratives and characters, similar in depth to the Bloody Baron questline from The Witcher 3.
The Witcher IV Companions / Summons
- groupQuest-Specific Companions (Varies (Human, Dwarf, Elf, etc.))
Ability: During various main and side quests, key characters (like Dandelion, Zoltan, or new allies) will join the protagonist, fighting alongside them and participating in the narrative for the duration of that specific mission or questline. They are not permanent controllable companions.
- groupRoach (Horse) (Equine)
Ability: The Witcher's trusty steed, essential for traversing the vast open world. Can be called at any time. Will likely feature customizable equipment like saddles and saddlebags that can increase inventory space or provide other minor benefits.
The Witcher IV Collectibles
- collections_bookmarkGwent Cards
Location/Use: A new collection of cards for an evolved version of the Gwent card game. Cards can be won from NPCs, purchased from merchants, or found as loot. Collecting a powerful deck is a major side activity.
- collections_bookmarkHidden Treasure
Location/Use: Marked by clues on maps or notes found on corpses. These lead to guarded chests containing valuable loot, crafting materials, or unique items.
- collections_bookmarkLore Books & Documents
Location/Use: Collectible books, scrolls, and letters that expand on the world's rich history, bestiary, character backstories, and the political state of the Continent after the Third Nilfgaardian War.
- collections_bookmarkMonster Trophies
Location/Use: Obtained by defeating powerful, often unique, monsters from Witcher Contracts. These can sometimes be equipped to provide small passive bonuses or simply serve as proof of a successful hunt.
- collections_bookmarkPlaces of Power
Location/Use: Ancient magical stones that, when activated, grant the player a temporary buff to a specific Witcher Sign and provide one Ability Point for character development. A recurring and important collectible for progression.
- collections_bookmarkWitcher Gear Schematics
Location/Use: Diagrams hidden across the world in monster lairs, ancient ruins, or as quest rewards. Required to craft powerful, upgradeable Witcher School gear (armor and swords).
Top 3 Collectibles (Speculative):
Gear Schematics: Diagrams for crafting powerful, upgradeable Witcher school-specific armor and swords (e.g., School of the Lynx). 2. Lore Books & Historical Tomes: Collectible books that flesh out the world's history, bestiary, and political climate. 3. Gwent Cards: New decks and cards for an updated version of the popular in-game card game, Gwent.
The Witcher IV Armor
- shieldHeavy Armor
Focus/Stats: Armor sets providing high levels of protection and resistance to damage, at the cost of slower stamina regeneration. Suited for combat-focused, tank-like builds.
- shieldLight Armor
Focus/Stats: Armor providing minimal protection but allowing for rapid stamina regeneration, ideal for Sign-intensive or agile, hit-and-run combat styles.
- shieldMedium Armor
Focus/Stats: Balanced armor providing moderate protection and stamina regeneration. The most versatile type, often enhancing both combat and Sign intensity.
- shieldRelic & Magical Items
Focus/Stats: Unique pieces of armor or accessories found as loot or quest rewards, offering powerful and unique perks not found on standard gear.
- shieldRune Slots
Focus/Stats: Swords and armor pieces will feature slots for Runestones and Glyphs, which provide smaller passive stat bonuses (e.g., increased attack power, Sign intensity, resistance to specific damage types).
- shieldWitcher School Gear Sets (e.g., School of the Lynx)
Focus/Stats: Craftable and upgradable sets of themed armor (Chest, Gauntlets, Trousers, Boots) belonging to different Witcher schools. Each set provides protection and passive bonuses that synergize with specific playstyles (e.g., combat, signs, alchemy). The new School of the Lynx is expected to be a primary set.
The Witcher IV Clothing / Appearance
- checkroomArmor Dyes
Details: A feature from The Witcher 3's 'Blood and Wine' expansion that is expected to return, allowing players to change the color of their equipped armor pieces for greater personalization.
- checkroomCommon Armor & Clothing
Details: A wide variety of non-Witcher armor and clothing pieces can be found or purchased, offering different visual styles and stats, reflecting the fashion of the various regions of the Continent.
- checkroomHairstyles & Beards (If custom character)
Details: If the protagonist is a custom character, players can expect options for customizing hairstyles and beards at barbershops found throughout the world, a popular feature from The Witcher 3.
- checkroomWitcher Gear Sets
Details: Players will be able to craft and wear multiple pieces of Witcher armor, categorized as Chest, Trousers, Gauntlets, and Boots. These sets, belonging to various Witcher Schools (including the new School of the Lynx), will have distinct appearances and can be upgraded through several tiers (e.g., Basic, Enhanced, Superior, Mastercrafted, Grandmaster).
The Witcher IV Other Features & Info
- labelMultiplayer Modes
The Witcher IV is confirmed to be a single-player, story-driven open-world RPG. A separate, standalone Witcher multiplayer game codenamed 'Project Sirius' is in development by a different studio (The Molasses Flood), but 'Project Polaris' will not feature multiplayer.
- labelUser Interface
Expected to feature a modern, clean UI with customizable elements. Key features will include a 3D world map, a detailed journal for quests and characters, an intuitive inventory and crafting screen, and a streamlined radial menu for selecting signs and items in combat.
- labelSound and Music
The score will likely be composed by Marcin Przybyłowicz or composers in a similar style, featuring a blend of epic orchestral arrangements, Slavic folk music, and atmospheric soundscapes to create an immersive audio experience. Sound design will be crucial for monster encounters and environmental storytelling.
- labelGraphics and Visuals
Being developed on Unreal Engine 5, the game is expected to set a new benchmark for visual fidelity in open-world RPGs. It will utilize UE5's Nanite technology for highly detailed environments and Lumen for dynamic global illumination and reflections, resulting in incredibly realistic lighting, shadows, and world detail.
- labelAccessibility Features
Following industry trends and CDPR's recent efforts, the game is expected to have comprehensive accessibility options, including extensive subtitle customization, colorblind modes, remappable controls, audio cues for gameplay, and potentially adjustable difficulty and gameplay modifiers to cater to a wide range of players.
- labelStory and Setting
The game is the start of a new saga, set after the events of The Witcher 3. While the world rebuilds and adapts to a new political landscape, a new, insidious threat emerges from the shadows, forcing a new generation of Witcher to rise. The story is expected to explore the legacy of past heroes like Geralt and Ciri, and the future of the Witcher order itself. Players will likely travel across both familiar and entirely new regions of the Continent, rendered in stunning detail with Unreal Engine 5.
- labelGame Editions (Speculative)
Expected editions include a Standard Edition (base game), a Deluxe Edition (base game, digital artbook, soundtrack, unique in-game item set), and a large physical Collector's Edition (Deluxe content plus a high-quality figurine of the protagonist, steelbook case, world map, Witcher medallion, etc.).
- labelTop 5 Weapons/Tools (Speculative/Iconic)
- 1. Witcher's Swords (Steel & Silver): The dual-sword system will return, fundamental to fighting humans and monsters. 2. Enhanced Witcher Signs: Evolved forms of Aard, Igni, Quen, Yrden, and Axii, with more complex interactions and combinations. 3. Advanced Alchemy Set: A deeper system for crafting potions, decoctions, oils, and bombs, possibly with new ingredients and effects. 4. Crossbow: A returning tool for ranged combat and dealing with aerial or aquatic monsters. 5. Witcher Medallion: Will continue to serve as a key tool for detecting magic, monsters, and clues in the environment.
- labelTop 3 Gameplay Mechanics
- 1. Narrative Choice & Consequence: A deep, branching narrative where player choices have significant and far-reaching consequences on the story, characters, and the game world. 2. Evolved Combat System: A more fluid and dynamic combat system that deeply integrates swordplay, Witcher Signs, alchemy, and environmental interactions, offering greater player expression and tactical depth. 3. Dynamic Open World: An open world powered by Unreal Engine 5, featuring more realistic ecosystems, dynamic weather, and NPC routines that create a truly immersive and believable setting for exploration and adventure.
The Witcher IV Frequently Asked Questions
- help_outline Is this game a direct sequel to The Witcher 3?It is the start of a new saga set in the same universe after the events of The Witcher 3, but it will not be a direct continuation of Geralt of Rivia's main story. It will feature a new protagonist, though familiar characters may return.
- help_outline Who is the main playable character in The Witcher 4?CD PROJEKT RED has not officially confirmed the protagonist. Speculation points towards either Ciri or a new, potentially customizable Witcher from the new School of the Lynx, which was teased.
- help_outline What engine is The Witcher 4 being built on?The game is being developed using Unreal Engine 5, a shift from CD PROJEKT RED's in-house REDengine used for previous titles. This is expected to bring significant visual and technological advancements.
- help_outline When is The Witcher 4 expected to be released?There is no official release date. Given the scale of development and that the game is the first in a new trilogy, a release date is not expected before 2026 at the earliest. The date listed in this data is purely speculative.
- help_outline Will The Witcher 4 have multiplayer?No, CD PROJEKT RED has confirmed that the next mainline Witcher game ('Project Polaris') will be a single-player, story-driven open-world RPG, following the tradition of the series. A separate Witcher game ('Project Sirius') is being developed with multiplayer elements.
- help_outline Will Gwent be in The Witcher 4?While not officially confirmed, the immense popularity of the Gwent card game in The Witcher 3 makes its return in some form highly likely, possibly with new decks, factions, and updated rules.
- help_outline Will my choices from The Witcher 3 carry over?It's unknown if a save-import feature will be implemented. If the story is set many years later with a new protagonist, the world state might be based on a default 'canon' outcome of The Witcher 3, or players may be able to set their previous choices via a narrative summary at the start of the game, similar to what was done for The Witcher 3.