Bonkers as it is to consider, it has been almost seven years since we joined Geralt on his quest to find Ciri and defeat the Wild Hunt. The intended conclusion of the White Wolf’s story only made us want more. The legacy of the Witcher has been extended with spin-off games, continued prints of the book series, and a Netflix show starring the world’s most handsome PC gamer. Now, having weathered the PR nightmare that was Cyberpunk 2077, CD Projekt Red has confirmed they are returning to Andrzej Sapkowski’s fantasy world with Witcher 4.
As much as we as Witcher fans want to get caught up in a storm of hype, there’s a dark cloud still hanging. Cyberpunk 2077’s disastrous launch and the press surrounding development shattered the developers’ goodwill. Their reputation is in serious need of rehabilitation. Thankfully, the first glimmer of hope can be sighted already.
The Witcher 4 Official Announcement
Not a lot has been officially announced so far. We only have this short post from CD Projekt Red to confirm that a new saga is beginning.
“We’re happy to announce that the next installment in The Witcher series of video games is currently in development, kicking off a new saga for the franchise.
This is an exciting moment as we’re moving from REDengine to Unreal Engine 5, beginning a multi-year strategic partnership with Epic Games. It covers not only licensing but technical development of Unreal Engine 5, as well as potential future versions of Unreal Engine, where relevant. We’ll closely collaborate with Epic Games’ developers with the primary goal being to help tailor the engine for open-world experiences.
At this point, no further details regarding the game — such as a development time frame or release date — are available.
REDengine, the technology which powers Cyberpunk 2077, is still being used for the development of the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 expansion.”
Witcher 4 Will Run on the Unreal Engine
We are all understandably giddy at the news of more Witcher. A continuation of the games has long been rumoured, but there’s something just as interesting at hand. The bulk of this announcement is dedicated to some tantalising technical news. A long-term deal with Epic Games, infamous for developing the battle royale Fortnite, gives CD Projekt Red the Unreal Engine to play with. This is going to start with Unreal Engine 5, which has been tailored for open-world games.
CD Projekt Red has not signed the IP over to be distributed exclusively through the Epic Games Store. This is a technical partnership between the two parties and getting such strong backing for Witcher 4 is promising for a number of reasons.
Both Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077 used iterations of the in-house REDengine. Speculation is that developing and updating this engine for the latter title was a massive headache, one that contributed to the well-documented behind-the-scenes problems. By adopting Unreal Engine 5 for the Witcher 4, CD Projekt Red should ease some of the technological burdens they experienced in the past and have a smoother launch and objectively better game.
What Do We Know About Witcher 4’s Story?
This is where the detective work begins. While we are all calling it Witcher 4, because of course we are, CD Projekt Red’s tagline for the announcement is ‘A New Saga Begins’. Considering Blood and Wine retired Geralt to a blissful vineyard this makes sense. The White Wolf is unlikely to feature so the next game needs a new hero. Ciri would make a natural successor, but CD Projekt Red would have to pick a canon ending for her.
Our biggest hints come from the image shared with the announcement. At first glance, you would assume the medallion in the snow is a wolf. The design is quite a departure from previous iterations, leading to speculation it could be from a different Witcher School altogether. CD Projekt Red’s Global Community Director Marcin Momot all but confirmed as much with a GIF.
So, the fan-made School of the Lynx is canon now? If you’re unfamiliar, it is made up of Lambert and reformed assassin Witchers from the School of the Cat. The snow indicates a winter setting, the time when Witchers retreat to their keeps. Putting the focus on the titular monster hunters, possibly including a new generation and Lambert as a Vesemir-like figure, would be a compelling take. What’s more, it would set it apart from the politics and world-ending stakes we dealt with alongside Geralt.
What Else is Coming for Witcher Fans?
There is lots coming that Witcher fans can look forward to before the next monster hunting adventure. We did a big round-up earlier in the year (which you can read here), and even more has happened since then. If you’re already missing Henry Cavill streaming into your home then the good news is the third season of Netflix’s The Witcher just began filming. There’s also a new Gwent spin-off coming. Tentatively titled Project Golden Nekker, we’ve broken down everything we know so far on our blog if you want to learn more.
Meditate on Your Upgrades
The long road back to the Continent has begun. Now’s a good time to brew your decoctions, sharpen your steel and silver swords, and get your PC and setup upgraded. We may not have any official system specifications to work with, but there’s plenty you can do to stay on the cutting edge. We here at Overclockers UK have got you covered with must-have hardware, help to find the best gaming chair, and peripherals aplenty.
ASUS GeForce RTX 3090 Ti TUF Gaming Graphics Card
When the time comes to return to the Continent, make sure you’re getting the best view. The high performance offered by the RTX 3090 Ti GPU is perfect for powering 4K gaming with high FPS. Unlock the maximum potential for playing and creating with second generation Ampere architecture. Alongside enhanced Ray Tracing, Tensor cores, and new streaming multiprocessors, the ASUS GeForce RTX Ti Graphics Card provides everything you’ll need for the next generation of games.
Available to buy for £1,879.00
LG UltraGear 27GP950 4K Gaming Monitor
Available to buy for £798.95
Once you’ve got high-end graphical prowess baked into your gaming computer, you’re going to need a 4K monitor to support it. The LG UltraGear 27GP950 Gaming Monitor is a perfect choice, with its Nano IPS technology supporting vivid colours and sharp details. This 27” screen has an ultra-fast 144Hz Refresh Rate and is compatible with NVIDIA G-SYNC, providing a smooth experience. Need to know more about gaming monitors before deciding? Then be sure to check out our blog for a full explanation of monitor types.
Get the Best Gaming Chair
There’s plenty of time to find your throne, and no brand better than noblechairs to choose from. The best gaming chairs provide unparalleled luxury and comfort, and noblechairs have that in spades. With three incredible models on offer – EPIC, ICON, and HERO – in a wide range of stylish and nerdtastic designs and materials you are sure to find a gaming chair to suit you. Find yours now, and read our full guide to finding the ultimate gaming chair to suit you for some help shopping.
Style Up Your Set-Up
If Geralt taught us anything, it’s that the best equipment is also the most stylish. While the School of the Bear doesn’t produce PC peripherals, these ones from Corsair are just what the Witcher ordered.
The Corsair Wireless Gaming Bundle features the K55 Pro Gaming Keyboard and HARPOON RGB Pro Gaming Mouse. Both feature gorgeous RGB lighting effects and are engineered to provide comfortable gaming, loaded with features to enhance your experience. They’ll go great with the Corsair Gaming POLARIS Mouse Pad. This mouse mat features a generous surface area, made from a special textile weave so friction doesn’t ruin your game. The 15 zone RGB LED customisable lighting adds plenty of style just to sweeten the pot.
Kickstart Your Streaming Career
Witchers might adventure alone, but you don’t have to. Streamplify has all the tools you need to share your monster hunting with the world. From a 1080p, 60FPS output webcam and ring lights to collapsible green screens there’s everything you need to create the ultimate streaming set-up. These high-quality and affordable products are available to purchase individually, or as part of one of our great value bundles. See the full range now!
- 8 min read
Jacob Smith
Author
Jacob is a passionate gamer, plus a noted Pokemon and LEGO nutjob, who emerges only when doing the words here at Overclockers UK. Since starting at the tail end of 2021, Jacob has gone on to write dozens of blogs on everything from the latest games to whimsical Dickens-inspired poetry. Outside of creating content and being the one person in the office daring to champion Nintendo, he is often found fawning over his Pokemon card collection and his trio of lovely doggos.
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