Fans hoping for massive Hearts of Stone or Blood and Wine‑style expansions for The Witcher 4 have been dealt a surprising blow. CD Projekt Red has confirmed that the upcoming sequel – which stars Ciri as the sole protagonist – will not have any post‑launch DLC or expansion packs. But before you mourn, hear the studio out. The reason is actually fantastic news.
No Room for Expansions? Here’s Why
During an earnings call, joint CEO Michał Nowakowski explained that adding expansions to The Witcher 4 would be “difficult” because the game is already packed with content. But the real reason is much bigger: CD Projekt Red plans to release three Witcher games within a six‑year period.
“The plans are pretty ambitious,” Nowakowski said. “Specifically, it’s to release three Witcher games within a six‑year period; it would be difficult, to be very honest, for us to add an expansion to the upcoming trilogy.”
In other words, instead of spending years on DLC for one game, the studio is moving full speed ahead on the next two installments. The Witcher 4 will be followed by The Witcher 5 and The Witcher 6 in rapid succession – a trilogy of Ciri’s saga released over roughly half a decade.
Why This Is Great News
- Faster sequels: We won’t have to wait another decade between main entries. A six‑year window for three games means a new Witcher roughly every two years.
- Focused storytelling: The trilogy will be designed as a cohesive arc, likely avoiding the “waiting for the next chapter” frustration.
- Songs of the Past as the true finale: Geralt’s final adventure is already covered by The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past (2027). That expansion will bridge the gap to Ciri’s era, so the new trilogy can hit the ground running.
What About DLC for Later Games?
Nowakowski’s comments didn’t rule out expansions for The Witcher 5 or The Witcher 6. It’s possible that after the trilogy is complete, the studio might revisit one of the entries with additional content. However, the immediate focus is on delivering three complete, expansive games without the “expansion pause” that traditionally slows down development.
Also, Read
- New Witcher 3 DLC Will Tie Directly Into The Witcher 4 – Geralt’s Last Hunt Before Ciri’s Era
- The Witcher 4 Hit With Bad News As Official New Geralt DLC Takes Its Place
- The Witcher 3 New DLC Expansion Confirmed By CD Projekt RED With Release Window
A New Era for The Witcher
This marks a significant shift in CD Projekt Red’s strategy. The studio learned from Cyberpunk 2077’s troubled launch and the long gaps between The Witcher 3 and its sequels. By committing to a tight release schedule for the new trilogy, they aim to keep players engaged without the agonizing wait.
For fans, the news is bittersweet. Yes, we won’t get a Blood and Wine‑sized add‑on for The Witcher 4. But we will get three full Ciri adventures in the time it used to take to make one. That’s a trade‑off worth celebrating.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past arrives in 2027. The Witcher 4 is expected in late 2028 or 2029, with The Witcher 5 and The Witcher 6 to follow within the six‑year window.