Unveiling the Future Witcher Games: A Complete Breakdown

Highlights

The Witcher series, based on Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski's novels, is highly popular and has spawned spin-offs and adaptations.

Two projects are currently in development - Project Canis Majoris, a remake of the first Witcher game, and Project Sirius, a standalone spinoff. Limited details are currently available regarding these projects.

The upcoming Witcher trilogy will commence with a game called Polaris, which is not considered the fourth installment but rather a fresh "Part 1" featuring a new protagonist and the School of the Lynx as its central theme. Developed using Unreal Engine 5, its anticipated release is scheduled for 2025.

Eight years have passed since the release of CD Projekt Red's critically acclaimed RPG, The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt. Despite the time that has elapsed, gamers continue to be enthralled by and enjoy this epic gaming experience. The Witcher series, renowned as one of the greatest fantasy RPG sagas ever created, is based on the novels of Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. It has gained such immense popularity that it has spawned numerous spin-offs, including games centered around its in-universe playing card mini-game, Gwent. Additionally, there is an ongoing Netflix series, a prequel series, and even an animated movie.

The Witcher delves into the adventures of Geralt of Rivia, the eponymous Witcher and renowned monster-hunter. In the lore, the land known as the Continent is plagued by an abundance of monsters, ghosts, and other supernatural entities. Through a rigorous and painful transformation process, Geralt has become a formidable warrior, specializing in eliminating these creatures. Though there are various Witchers from different Schools, Geralt has taken center stage in the games thus far. However, a new trilogy of Witcher games is currently in development, alongside two side-projects that expand the Witcher universe.

Project Canis Majoris and Project Sirius Will Dive Into the Series' Past and Expand Its Future

Rather than immediately discussing the main three-game saga that builds upon the original Witcher trilogy in terms of gameplay and narrative, it is more relevant to begin with the two offshoot projects. These projects receive less attention and have even scarcer information available compared to the former. Project Canis Majoris aims to remake the first Witcher game entirely, taking full advantage of modern PC and console technology. As for Project Sirius, it is an independent spinoff of the Witcher series being developed by the CD Projekt Red-owned studio, Molasses Flood.

Currently, little else is known about Canis Majoris apart from the fact that it will combine the partially open-world elements of The Witcher into one fully open world for players to explore. On the other hand, Project Sirius is intended to be a multiplayer Witcher game; however, it will also offer a single-player campaign for those who prefer to play alone. Unfortunately, not much more information has been revealed regarding these two titles.

The Next Witcher Trilogy of Games Starts With One Codenamed 'Polaris'

The term "Witcher 4" should be approached cautiously, as CD Projekt Red has emphasized that the Witcher series was designed as a trilogy. Marcin Iwinski, co-founder of CD Projekt Red, stated during an investor call that a trilogy cannot have a fourth part. Furthermore, Radek Grabowski, the Global PR Director, confirmed this fact with a tweet.

Instead, Polaris should be regarded as the beginning of a brand new Witcher trilogy, distinct from the previous three games. It is unlikely that Geralt of Rivia, the protagonist of the previous games, will continue to be the main character in Polaris and its sequels. With Geralt advancing in age during The Witcher 3, and his story being neatly wrapped up in the game and its expansions, it is time for a fresh perspective. Moreover, the one teaser image released for Polaris suggests that a different Witcher School will take center stage, rather than Geralt's School of the Wolf or Ciri's School of the Cat.

The image depicts a Witcher medallion partially buried in snow, but it is evident that this medallion is not from any previous games. CD Projekt Red has recently confirmed that the medallion represents the School of the Lynx, a choice that is intriguing since this school has not been mentioned in any Witcher novels or games. It appears to have originated from a fan-fiction wiki site.

Another significant piece of information about Polaris is that it will be developed using Unreal Engine 5, rather than CD Projekt Red's own game engine. This is a first for both the series and the developer. This exciting prospect promises enhanced gameplay and visuals for a franchise that has always been at the forefront. However, adapting to the new engine may slightly impede the progress of the programmers, indicating that the game is still a considerable time away. CD Projekt Red has made it clear that Polaris is not expected to be released until 2025.

The Witcher games codenamed Polaris, Canis Majoris, and Sirius are currently in development.