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Highlights
- CD Projekt Red’s Witcher series is getting a complete remake of its very first game, which is set to be a tribute to over fifteen years of the franchise.
- The Witcher remake’s release date is uncertain, but due to competition in the gaming industry, it is important for it to find a good window so that it avoids veing overshadowed by other titles.
- With tough fantasy competition in the next few years like Avowed and The Elder Scrolls 6, strategizing the release window for the Witcher remake is crucial for its success in the gaming market.
Although Cyberpunk 2077 has certainly made a name for developer CD Projekt Red, it wouldn’t be anywhere without its Witcher franchise. Based on the books by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski and now renowned enough to have received its own live-action adaptation on Netflix, CD Projekt Red’s Witcher series 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 of The 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’s Witcher remake 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 the Witcher remake.
The Witcher’s Multiplayer Game Could Elevate a Wild Hunt Feature to New Heights
The Witcher multiplayer game, codenamed Sirius, could benefit from integrating a feature from one of The Witcher 3’s expansions.
The Witcher Remake Needs to Be Released at the Right Time
The Witcher Remake May Not Launch for Another Couple of Years
Currently, the Witcher remake 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 the launch of Cyberpunk 2077 is not worth repeating. That being said, there have been estimated guesses about when the Witcher remake 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 both The Elder Scrolls 6 and The Witcher 4 will launch in 2026. CD Project Red CEO Adam Kicinski confirmed in 2022 that The Witcher 4 is “at least three years away,” so if it isn’t released in 2025, it could be in 2026. However, since Bethesda has already claimed that The Elder Scrolls 6‘s projected release window is in “early 2026,” CDPR may want to avoid pitting The Witcher 4 against it, so the developer may indeed be doing its best to see the next installment released in 2025.
The Witcher remake also faces some competition in 2024, though there’s very little reason to believe it will be released that soon. Obsidian Entertainment’s fantasy RPG Avowed is currently slated for a fall 2024 release, so it wouldn’t benefit the Witcher remake to release anytime this year. It also wouldn’t benefit it to launch in the same year as The Witcher 4, which could be 2025. As such, with Avowed launching in late 2024, The Witcher 4 potentially launching in 2025, and The Elder Scrolls 6 likely launching in early 2026, the Witcher remake 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. Since the Witcher remake is only a remake and not a new IP, this puts it at an even greater disadvantage. Still, if this remake ends up being anything like The 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.
