CD Projekt Red just dropped news that might disappoint some fans but shouldn’t surprise anyone paying attention to the development cycle. Joint-CEO Michał Nowakowski confirmed on November 26, 2025, that The Witcher 4 will not appear at The Game Awards 2025 on December 11. This comes despite the game being nominated in the Most Anticipated Game category and despite last year’s spectacular cinematic trailer reveal at the same event.
What CD Projekt Red Actually Said
Nowakowski’s statement on social media was straightforward and appreciative. “We won’t be bringing any new content to TGA this year, but we’re, as always, excited to watch the show and celebrate this amazing industry’s great night alongside all of you,” he wrote. The message came shortly after The Game Awards announced its 2025 nominees, with The Witcher 4 landing a spot in the Most Anticipated Game category alongside heavy hitters like Grand Theft Auto VI, Marvel’s Wolverine, and Resident Evil Requiem.
During CD Projekt’s Q3 2025 financial conference call for investors and analysts, executives confirmed they would be present at the ceremony due to the nomination but emphasized no new content would be showcased. The team also reiterated that The Witcher 4 will not launch in 2026 and declined to provide specific release targets beyond confirming a 2027 or later window.
Why This Makes Perfect Sense
The decision to skip The Game Awards 2025 aligns perfectly with where The Witcher 4 currently sits in its development cycle. The game only entered full-scale production at the end of 2024, meaning it’s been in active development for just about a year. Before that, it spent approximately two and a half years in pre-production from May 2022 until November 2024.
As of November 2025, CD Projekt Red has 447 developers working on The Witcher 4, up from 444 in July. The studio recently hired 52 new employees in Q3 2025, bringing total headcount to 851 across all projects. For comparison, The Witcher 3 had around 240 people on its internal development team, making this sequel nearly double that size in terms of dedicated personnel.
The studio already gave fans a substantial look at the game’s technical capabilities during Unreal Fest in June 2025. That 17-minute tech demo, running on a standard PlayStation 5 at 60 frames per second, showcased the snowy region of Kovir built in Unreal Engine 5. While CD Projekt clarified it wasn’t actual Witcher 4 gameplay, it demonstrated the visual fidelity and technical direction for what they’re calling “the most immersive and ambitious open-world Witcher game to date.”
When Can We Actually Expect to See More
Based on typical AAA development cycles and CD Projekt’s own statements, expect the first real gameplay reveal sometime in 2026. CFO Piotr Nielubowicz confirmed during the fiscal year 2024 investor conference that The Witcher 4 will release in 2027 at the earliest, with many industry analysts predicting a late 2027 or 2028 launch window.
CD Projekt Red has been transparent about wanting to avoid repeating the disastrous Cyberpunk 2077 launch. That game faced massive criticism for performance issues on older consoles, countless bugs, and features that didn’t meet pre-release promises. The switch to Unreal Engine 5 from their proprietary REDengine represents part of this new approach, leveraging proven technology rather than building everything from scratch.
The marketing strategy appears measured and deliberate. CD Projekt reportedly wants to “drop a bomb” with their reveals rather than drip-feeding information over years. This approach contrasts sharply with how some publishers handle marketing, particularly Rockstar’s notoriously tight-lipped strategy with Grand Theft Auto VI. The plan seems to be showing substantial content when it’s genuinely ready rather than generating hype too early.
What We Know About Witcher 4 So Far
The cinematic announcement trailer from The Game Awards 2024 confirmed Ciri as the main protagonist. Geralt’s adopted daughter will take center stage in her own journey as a Witcher, marking a significant shift from the previous trilogy focused on Geralt of Rivia. The trailer showed Ciri conducting a monster hunt in a village, demonstrating her unique abilities including time-bending powers that differentiate her from traditional Witchers.
The game will kick off a brand-new trilogy, with CD Projekt planning to release two additional Witcher games within six years following The Witcher 4’s launch. This ambitious roadmap suggests the studio is thinking long-term, likely planning to reuse assets and technology across multiple titles to speed up development on the sequels.
Players will traverse diverse biomes including snow-capped peaks, ancient glacial ruins, fog-laden forests, and Vald, described as a vibrant coastal trade hub filled with intrigue and corruption. The game promises dynamic choices and branching narratives that shape Ciri’s journey, staying true to the series’ emphasis on meaningful player agency.
The Bigger Gaming Landscape
The Witcher 4’s absence from The Game Awards 2025 leaves room for other major announcements. Exodus, a new sci-fi RPG from Archetype Entertainment founded by former BioWare developers James Ohlen, Chad Robertson, and Drew Karpyshyn, has confirmed it will show a new trailer at the ceremony. Several other anticipated titles could also make appearances.
The Most Anticipated Game category itself highlights the industry’s current landscape. Grand Theft Auto VI dominates conversation despite Rockstar revealing almost nothing beyond a single trailer. Marvel’s Wolverine from Insomniac Games continues generating buzz. Resident Evil Requiem keeps the beloved horror franchise in the spotlight. And 007 First Light from IO Interactive promises a fresh take on James Bond gaming.
CD Projekt’s patience with The Witcher 4 marketing reflects lessons learned from both their own mistakes and industry trends. Games revealed too early often suffer from unrealistic expectations, development changes that disappoint fans, and fatigue before launch. By keeping the marketing window tighter, CD Projekt can ensure what they show matches what players will actually experience.
FAQs
Will The Witcher 4 be shown at The Game Awards 2025?
No, CD Projekt Red joint-CEO Michał Nowakowski officially confirmed on November 26, 2025, that The Witcher 4 will not be shown at The Game Awards on December 11. The studio stated they won’t be bringing any new content to the event, though they remain excited to watch the show.
Why isn’t The Witcher 4 appearing at The Game Awards?
The game only entered full-scale production at the end of 2024, meaning it’s been in active development for about a year. CD Projekt already showed a technical demo at Unreal Fest in June 2025, so they’re likely focusing on development rather than rushing to create marketing materials.
When will The Witcher 4 be released?
The Witcher 4 will not launch before 2027 according to CD Projekt Red’s CFO Piotr Nielubowicz. Many industry analysts predict a late 2027 or 2028 release window based on typical AAA development cycles and the game’s current production stage.
Is The Witcher 4 nominated for any awards?
Yes, The Witcher 4 is nominated in the Most Anticipated Game category at The Game Awards 2025. It competes against Grand Theft Auto VI, Marvel’s Wolverine, Resident Evil Requiem, and 007 First Light in that category.
Who is the main character in The Witcher 4?
Ciri, Geralt’s adopted daughter, will be the main protagonist in The Witcher 4. The cinematic announcement trailer from The Game Awards 2024 showed her conducting a monster hunt and demonstrated her unique time-bending abilities that differentiate her from traditional Witchers.
How many developers are working on The Witcher 4?
As of November 2025, CD Projekt Red has 447 developers working on The Witcher 4. This represents nearly double the team size that worked on The Witcher 3, which had around 240 people on its internal development team.
What engine is The Witcher 4 being built on?
The Witcher 4 is being developed using Unreal Engine 5, marking a shift away from CD Projekt Red’s proprietary REDengine. A 17-minute technical demo showcased at Unreal Fest in June 2025 demonstrated the game running at 60 frames per second on a standard PlayStation 5.
When can we expect to see real gameplay from The Witcher 4?
While CD Projekt hasn’t announced specific dates, industry observers expect the first real gameplay reveal sometime in 2026. The studio appears to be taking a measured marketing approach, waiting until content is genuinely ready before showing it publicly.
Will there be more Witcher games after The Witcher 4?
Yes, The Witcher 4 will kick off a brand-new trilogy. CD Projekt plans to release two additional Witcher games within six years following The Witcher 4’s launch, likely reusing assets and technology to speed up development on the sequels.
What This Means for Fans
The absence of The Witcher 4 from The Game Awards 2025 shouldn’t be viewed as disappointing news. It’s actually a sign of maturity from CD Projekt Red, a studio that learned painful lessons from overpromising and underdelivering with Cyberpunk 2077. By keeping the marketing window tight and only showing content when it’s truly ready, they’re setting realistic expectations and giving the development team space to work without pressure to create demo-ready content prematurely. With 447 developers dedicated to the project and a clear vision for the most ambitious Witcher game yet, patience now will likely pay off with a polished experience at launch. The next major reveal will come when CD Projekt is genuinely ready to showcase substantial gameplay, probably sometime in 2026 as the 2027 release window approaches.