The Witcher 4 Enters Full-Scale Production
CD Project Red have announced that their next major project codenames ‘Polaris’ has wrapped pre-production and has now entered full scale production. This is where the bulk of the game will be made including character models, environment design, quest implementation and much, much more. Of course, as a result, don’t expect to see anything from this project for many years. Still, if the studio’s history is anything to go by (Cyberpunk 2077, anyone?), its far better to wait a bit longer to polish up the result.
Image by CD Projekt Red
This was announced by CEO Michał Nowakowski as part of an earnings call held at the end of November. In it, he confirmed that Polaris would be ramping up production as the studio pushes forward into 2025. This comes after the studio confirmed that there would be no more major updates to Cyberpunk 2077 after it’s DLC ‘Phantom Liberty’ dropped at the tail end of last year. ‘Polaris’ is informally being called ‘The Witcher 4’ by the widescale community but, judging by its promo image and the finality of Geralt’s story in The Witcher 3, we’re likely to see the series take a shift in direction.
Over 150 staff members were involved in pre-production- a number that is likely far higher now that its progressed further into its development. Polaris was confirmed to be the first game in a ‘new Witcher triogy’ that will likely span the next decade or so as CD Project Red attempt to live up to Geralt’s iconic legacy with their original Witcher trilogy. Apart from knowing that it is indeed another chapter in this universe, next to nothing is known about Polaris- including who the main character is.
Image by CD Projekt Red
Ciri, a completely new Witcher or a character involved in a sort of prequel are all fair guesses. Unfortunately, given the timescale to produce modern AAA games, we’re not likely to find out anytime soon. Polaris was announced back in 2022 and its only just now entering production. With a remake of the first Witcher game also being made, a sequel to Cyberpunk in the works and the mysterious ‘Hadar’, which is its very own IP. CD Projekt Red is clearly not slowing down anytime soon. Let’s hope that ambition doesn’t prove too much and that we see Project Polaris live up to its potential when it releases at some point before the end of the decade (hopefully).
