Summary
The Witcherhas become a cultural juggernaut, spawned from the book series by Andrzej Sapkowski, budding from the trilogy of games that vaunted CD Projekt Red as one of gaming’s premiere studios, and blossomed from the hit adaptation series of the books on Netflix. WithThe Witcher 3in the rearview mirror and a whole heap of new games announced by CD Projekt Red, the studio’s ambitious plans for the franchise are beginning to take shape.
In late 2022, CD Projekt Red released its long-term product outlook, which detailed five games set inThe Witcher’s universe, for now only known by their codenames:
First to debut will bePolaris,known by most asThe Witcher 4. It will mark the studio’s first game transitioning from the in-house REDengine to Unreal Engine 5, as well as the introduction of an all-new saga from the franchise. Development ofPolarisis full-steam ahead, with CD Projekt Red shifting almost half of its staff to focusing on the title. The release date is unknown, but it is likely that a more in-depth look will arrive before the end of 2024.
A Bold New Era for The Witcher
Promotional material featuring an unknown Witcher medallion half-buried in snow has fueled speculation regarding a new central protagonist in the new saga. Some think it will be Ciri stepping up to a leading role now thatGeralt’s arc has ended. Other theories suggest players will be creating their own personalized Witcher, much like V inCyberpunk 2077, opening the door for CD Projekt Red to drift further from the source material and presenting an opportunity to flex its narrative chops.
Going Back to Where it All Began
The Witcherremake will also be developed on Unreal Engine 5, arriving some time afterPolarishas shipped. The distinction between remake and remaster means CD Projekt Red will more than likely be rebuilding the game from scratch. Over fifteen years from its initial release,The Witcherwas well-regarded when it came out, but stayed fairly obscure untilThe Witcher 2started making waves, and thenThe Witcher 3started a tsunami.Canis Majorisis set up perfectly to launch afterPolaris,bringing fans back to the franchise’s roots just after unveiling its new era, while also bringing its origin up to the modern standard.
CD Projekt Red Will Take Chances With The Witcher Franchise
The most enigmatic of the newWitchergames isSirius, set as a departure from the other games, boasting a multiplayer component and the intent to pull in a wider audience. Neither aspect was expanded upon, so whether it ends up being a cooperative RPG, competitive multiplayer game, or something completely different is anybody’s guess.Thronebreaker: The Witcher TalesandGwentproved that CD Projekt Red can translate its trademark quality to smaller-scaleThe Witchergames in differing genres, so the prospects forSiriusshould have fans excited.
The Witcher Inundation
If what has been announced comes at a steady pace,this next generation ofThe Witchergamesshould carry through into the next decade. Satiating the appetite forThe Witcheruntil the new games arrive will be more seasons of the Netflix show, which is forging ahead with Liam Hemsworth as its new Geralt, and at least one more animated title on the platform, withSirens of the Deepcoming in 2024. With how much is coming from the franchise,The Witcherfatigue might occur at some point, but until CD Projekt Red’s track record falters, the more the better.
