The Witcher 4 Will Still Get A Physical Release, Even Though It's Launching In 2028
Overview & Key Takeaways
CD Projekt is planning a The Witcher 4 physical release, even though it admits it has "no influence" over PS5 and Xbox disc production
CD Projekt has confirmed that a physical version of The Witcher 4 will be released, even though the RPG is slated to launch after Sony stops producing physical games for PlayStation 5.
Will The Witcher 4 get a physical release?
Sony plans to end the production of game discs for PlayStation consoles in January 2028. The Witcher 4 is the highest-profile AAA game currently slated to launch that year, and it comes from a studio that enjoys releasing its games physically. In an interview with The Game Business, CD Projekt joint CEO Michał Nowakowski confirmed that CD Projekt would still like to release a physical version of The Witcher 4.
"We’re big fans of people having access to tangible collectible things. We’re nerds ourselves, and we like that. We always supported that," Nowakowski explained. "So, whatever is the case, we’re going to be for sure having a box. We’re going to have a box that’s going to have some feelies in it. Something you’re going to be wanting to open up and enjoy."
That said, Nowakowski said he's unsure whether the game itself will be on a disc, as CD Projekt has no control over what Sony decides to manufacture. "We know what PlayStation has announced. And we have no influence on the policies of the first parties," he admitted. "The discs for the first parties, including PlayStation, have to be manufactured in their own factories. So, if they stop manufacturing indeed by 2028, then yes [we won’t have a disc]."
Although Nowakowski went on to tell The Game Business that he has "no influence" over whether it'll even be possible to print discs for The Witcher 4, it's good that CD Projekt is committing to a physical release regardless. That said, it's clear that PlayStation needs to better explain its plans to developers, some of whom are clearly still expressing demand for physical discs.
The Witcher 4 will be released on PS5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X sometime in 2028. Before then, fans of the series can look forward to a current-generation remaster of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on Sept. 29 and the Songs of the Past expansion for that game sometime in 2027.
