Summary
AlthoughCyberpunk 2077has certainly made a name for developer CD Projekt Red, it wouldn’t be anywhere without itsWitcherfranchise. Based on the books by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski and now renowned enough to have received its ownlive-action adaptation on Netflix, CD Projekt Red’sWitcherseries is where it all began for the developer, so it goes without saying that the acclaimed fantasy gaming franchise is held in high regard by its maker. Now, in celebration of over fifteen years ofThe Witcher, CD Projekt Red - alongside Fool’s Theory - is in the process of developing a complete remake of its very first game, originally released in 2007 on PC.
CD Projekt Red’sWitcherremake was just announced in 2022, but the developer has yet to give it a formal release date. More than likely, a remake of this caliber is going to take quite some time to complete, especially considering how antiquated the original game is now. However, regardless of how long the development of the remake may take, it faces some rather hefty competition in the coming years, which means it will need to plan its release date strategically to avoid being overshadowed by other highly anticipated releases. Thankfully, there may be a release window already primed and ready for the launch of theWitcherremake.
The Witcher Remake Needs to Be Released at the Right Time
The Witcher Remake May Not Launch for Another Couple of Years
Currently, theWitcherremake has not been given a concrete release window by CD Projekt Red. Instead, the developer is likely playing it safe by not making any promises it could potentially break. After all, everything that went wrong with thelaunch ofCyberpunk 2077is not worth repeating. That being said, there have been estimated guesses about when theWitcherremake could see the light of day, simply based on CD Projekt Red’s release patterns and the competition the game could face in the next couple of years.
The Witcher Remake Faces Some Stiff Competition in the Next Couple of Years
As of right now, it’s entirely possible that bothThe Elder Scrolls 6andThe Witcher 4will launch in 2026. CD Project Red CEO Adam Kicinski confirmed in 2022 thatThe Witcher 4is “at least three years away,” so if it isn’t released in 2025, it could be in 2026. However, since Bethesda has already claimed thatThe Elder Scrolls 6’s projected release windowis in “early 2026,” CDPR may want to avoid pittingThe Witcher 4against it, so the developer may indeed be doing its best to see the next installment released in 2025.
TheWitcherremake also faces some competition in 2024, though there’s very little reason to believe it will be released that soon. Obsidian Entertainment’s fantasy RPGAvowedis currently slated for a fall 2024 release, so it wouldn’t benefit theWitcherremake to release anytime this year. It also wouldn’t benefit it to launch in the same year asThe Witcher 4, which could be 2025. As such, withAvowedlaunching in late 2024,The Witcher 4potentially launching in 2025, andThe Elder Scrolls 6likely launching in early 2026, theWitcherremake may be better off opting for a late 2026 release or even early 2027 to ensure it stands out.
Release windows for games are a tricky thing to master. If not careful, developers can find the games they’ve worked so hard on placed on the back burner due to any competition they may face. SincetheWitcherremakeis only a remake and not a new IP, this puts it at an even greater disadvantage. Still, if this remake ends up being anything likeThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, it could feel like a brand-new adventure to veterans and newcomers alike. Nevertheless, its release window is important, just as it is for any other game.
