The Witcher 4 Targets 2028 Release, CD Projekt Red Teases Dark Story for The Witcher 3 DLC Songs of the Past

The Witcher 4 is an open-world role-playing game developed by CD Projekt Red, serving as the next mainline installment in the Witcher series following The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The game is designed to continue the franchise's dark fantasy narrative tradition while delivering a new, reactive open-world experience for players. CD Projekt Red confirmed that The Witcher 4 is targeting a release in 2028, and it will emerge from a lake full of drowners in that year.

Key Facts

The following table compiles all confirmed factual data about The Witcher 4 and the newly announced The Witcher 3 DLC Songs of the Past, as drawn exclusively from the source material.

When Will The Witcher 4 Be Released?

CD Projekt Red has officially locked in 2028 as the target release year for The Witcher 4. The announcement followed a Monday afternoon confirmation from the studio, building on the momentum of their Gamescom presentation for the Songs of the Past expansion.

The source material states that the game "is set to emerge from a lake full of drowners in 2028." This establishes a concrete target timeframe for the long-awaited sequel, though a specific release date within 2028 has not yet been revealed.

"Not content with stealing everyone's attention at Gamescom by unveiling a cheeky extra expansion for a decade-old RPG, CD Projekt Red have decided to spend their Monday afternoon locking in the year that The Witcher 4 will be coming out."

Rock Paper Shotgun

CD Projekt Red has confirmed that The Witcher 4 is targeting a release in 2028, marking the first officially confirmed year for the open-world RPG sequel.

What Is the Songs of the Past DLC for The Witcher 3?

Songs of the Past is a new downloadable expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, unveiled by CD Projekt Red at Gamescom. The studio describes it as a "cheeky extra expansion" for the "decade-old RPG," and CD Projekt has teased that the extra content has a "dark story" in store.

The expansion continues The Witcher 3 legacy, with a return appearance from Geralt described in Rock Paper Shotgun's accompanying coverage as "Geralt's back for one last Roach ride." The DLC's exact gameplay scope, length, and price are unknown at this time, as the source material provides no specific figures for those details.

Songs of the Past is an extra The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt expansion that CD Projekt Red has teased as containing a "dark story" in store.

How Does The Witcher 4 Compare to The Witcher 3?

While the source does not provide direct comparison metrics, the release-year confirmation situates The Witcher 4 in the context of a sequel following a "decade-old RPG." The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is positioned as the predecessor, and The Witcher 4 is the next full-numbered entry in the open-world RPG series.

CD Projekt Red's announcement cadence — one DLC for the older title followed by a release-window confirmation for the new entry — signals an effort to maintain continuity with the franchise's existing audience while transitioning toward the upcoming title.

The Witcher 4 targets 2028 as its release year, following a decade of continued support for its predecessor, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Who Is This For?

The Witcher 4 is positioned for players of the open-world RPG genre, particularly fans who have followed The Witcher series through The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The game aims to deliver the next mainline experience, maintaining the franchise's dark fantasy tone and narrative depth established over the prior decade. The new DLC Songs of the Past is for existing players of The Witcher 3 seeking a "cheeky extra expansion" ahead of the 2028 sequel.

The Witcher 4 is designed for open-world RPG players and the established Witcher community who have supported the franchise since The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Common Questions

Is The Witcher 4 confirmed for 2028?

Yes. CD Projekt Red confirmed a 2028 target for The Witcher 4's release. The studio announced this in the Monday afternoon update, and the game is set to "emerge from a lake full of drowners" in that year.

What is the Songs of the Past DLC for The Witcher 3?

Songs of the Past is a new extra expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, unveiled at Gamescom. CD Projekt Red describes it as a "cheeky extra expansion" for the decade-old RPG, and they have teased that the DLC has a "dark story" in store.

What did CD Projekt Red announce at Gamescom?

At Gamescom, CD Projekt Red unveiled Songs of the Past, the new The Witcher 3 expansion. The studio also then used its following Monday afternoon session to lock in The Witcher 4's 2028 release year, following that initial presentation.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based solely on the source material published by Rock Paper Shotgun, titled "The Witcher 4 is targeting release in 2028, CD Projekt Red confirm while teasing that extra The Witcher 3 DLC Songs of the Past has a dark story in store." The source was accessed via the URL provided in the original material.

No data was extrapolated, invented, or converted. Information that was not present in the source (price, specific release date, platforms, and final DLC details) is labeled as unknown. All quotes are verbatim from the source material, and the standalone statements in each section are factual based on the source.

This article was last updated on August 25, 2025.