The Witcher 4 Confirmed for 2028 Release, But Gamescom 2026 Will Only Feature ‘Ballads of the Past’ Expansion

As the gaming world prepares for one of the year’s most anticipated events, CD Projekt RED has moved to temper fan expectations ahead of gamescom 2026’s opening night on August 25th. Michał Nowakowski, one of the studio’s top executives, has issued a clear message to the passionate Witcher community: The Witcher 4 will not be showcased at this year’s exhibition. Instead, the Polish developer will focus its presentation on ‘Ballads of the Past,’ an upcoming expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

This announcement comes as both a disappointment and a reassurance to fans who have been eagerly awaiting news about the next mainline entry in the beloved franchise. While the confirmation of a 2028 release window for The Witcher 4 provides a concrete timeline, the decision to withhold gameplay footage or detailed reveals suggests the project remains in relatively early stages of development. CD Projekt RED has historically been cautious about showing games before they reach a certain level of polish, a lesson learned from the troubled launch of Cyberpunk 2077 in 2020.

The Legacy of The Witcher Franchise

The Witcher series has evolved from a cult classic into one of gaming’s most celebrated franchises. Based on the fantasy novels by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, the games follow Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter navigating a morally complex world. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, released in 2015, became a landmark achievement in open-world RPG design, winning numerous Game of the Year awards and selling over 50 million copies worldwide. Its two expansions, ‘Hearts of Stone’ and ‘Blood and Wine,’ were praised for offering content that rivaled full-priced games in scope and quality.

The announcement of ‘Ballads of the Past’ represents an unexpected return to this beloved title nearly a decade after its original release. This new expansion suggests CD Projekt RED recognizes the enduring appeal of Geralt’s final adventure and sees value in expanding that experience while fans wait for the next generation of Witcher content. Industry analysts speculate this approach allows the studio to maintain franchise engagement and generate revenue during the extended development cycle of The Witcher 4.

What We Know About The Witcher 4

CD Projekt RED officially announced The Witcher 4 in March 2022, revealing that development would utilize Unreal Engine 5 rather than the studio’s proprietary REDengine technology. This significant technical shift represents a partnership with Epic Games and suggests the developer is prioritizing cutting-edge visual fidelity and development efficiency. Early concept art released by the studio hinted at a female protagonist, potentially Ciri, though the company has remained deliberately vague about narrative details.

The 2028 release window places The Witcher 4 approximately six years into development, a timeline consistent with the studio’s previous major releases. CD Projekt RED has expanded significantly since Cyberpunk 2077, with multiple teams now working on various projects including a Cyberpunk sequel and additional Witcher games planned as part of a new trilogy. The company has emphasized its commitment to quality over rushed releases, a philosophy reinforced by the reputational damage caused by Cyberpunk 2077’s initial console performance issues.

Gamescom 2026 and Industry Expectations

Gamescom remains one of the gaming industry’s premier events, attracting hundreds of thousands of attendees to Cologne, Germany, each year. The opening night ceremony typically features major announcements from leading publishers and developers, making it a prime venue for highly anticipated reveals. CD Projekt RED’s decision to manage expectations ahead of the event demonstrates a mature approach to community communication, preventing the disappointment that often follows when fan speculation outpaces official plans.

The focus on ‘Ballads of the Past’ suggests this expansion will be substantial enough to warrant a major stage presentation. Given the studio’s track record with Witcher 3 expansions, fans can likely expect new regions to explore, compelling storylines, and potentially dozens of hours of additional content. This strategy of supporting existing games while developing sequels has become increasingly common in the industry, allowing studios to maintain player engagement across extended development cycles.