So, we know The Witcher 4 (or whatever CD Projekt Red decides to call it) is in development, and it’s set to be the start of a new saga—not just a one-off sequel. That raises the big question: how will it compare to The Witcher 3?
Because The Witcher 3 wasn’t just a great RPG—it was a genre-defining moment. It set a new standard for storytelling, player choice, and open-world design that few games have been able to match since. So if The Witcher 4 is going to live up to the hype, CDPR has a lot to prove.
Can The Witcher 4 Actually Be Better Than The Witcher 3?
Right now, CD Projekt Red has two huge challenges ahead of them:
- They need to tell a new story that feels just as meaningful as Geralt’s.
- They need to modernize the game without losing what made The Witcher special.
Let’s break that down.
1. A New Story Without Geralt
Geralt’s journey was wrapped up perfectly in The Witcher 3. He had his send-off, we got closure, and bringing him back would just feel cheap.
But Ciri? She’s got unfinished business.
- If they’re following the ending where she becomes a Witcher, then the game could be about her forging her own path—maybe training a new generation of Witchers or tracking down something tied to her Elder Blood.
- If they’re leaning into multiverse storytelling, she could literally explore other worlds, opening up new settings, creatures, and mythologies beyond the Continent.
- If they go full Nilfgaardian politics mode, we might be dealing with an empire struggling to control a world that doesn’t want to be ruled.
No matter what direction they take, Ciri is the perfect choice for a protagonist, because she lets them expand the world without retreading old ground.
2. A Modernized Witcher Without Losing Its Soul
As much as I love The Witcher 3, it’s not perfect. The combat could be stiff and clunky, movement was janky, and the open-world mechanics felt a little outdated compared to modern RPGs.
So how does The Witcher 4 improve on it without turning into just another generic open-world game?
- Combat needs to feel more fluid. Less locked animations, more responsive movement, maybe even a Sekiro-style parry system that makes fights feel more skill-based.
- Exploration needs to be more dynamic. If this is an open world, it needs better traversal, more interesting side content, and fewer “map marker” filler quests.
- Player choice has to matter even more. The Witcher 3 was already great at this, but imagine if entire regions of the game could change based on how you play.
And above all else, they need to resist the urge to add live service bullshit.
Because if CDPR tries to cram in battle passes, time-gated events, or live service multiplayer, they’ll completely destroy what makes The Witcher great.
When Can We Expect It?
Let’s be real—this game is years away.
- CDPR has already said The Witcher 4 is still in early development, meaning it’s probably at least 3-5 years out.
- They’re also working on Cyberpunk 2077’s sequel, so their development teams are stretched thin.
- Given how long AAA games take now, a 2027-2028 release window wouldn’t be surprising.
That’s a long wait. But if they do it right?
It could be the next defining RPG of the decade.
And if they screw it up?
Well, at least The Witcher 3 isn’t going anywhere.