The Witcher 4 May Not Arrive Until 2028, but Its Combat Could Really Change

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According to jeuxvideo, The Witcher 4 has made a major animation hire: Felix Pedulla, a former senior animation artist who spent six years at Larian Studios and worked on Baldur's Gate 3, has joined CD Projekt Red as the game's Lead Animator. The studio has also confirmed its switch to Unreal Engine 5, and from June 16 to 18 at Unreal Engine Fest in Chicago, it plans to show new tech, gameplay footage, and the latest project update. For now, the release window remains late 2027 to 2028.

The more interesting part is what the hire says about the team's priorities: CD Projekt Red appears to be taking animation and combat responsiveness much more seriously this time. A lot of players remember the previous game's slightly stiff swordplay. Great visuals can only do so much if the action still feels awkward. This time, the team has rebuilt the combat system, and even the basic moves alone account for more than 80 animations. That sounds less like a cosmetic pass and more like a real overhaul.

For anyone who cares how a game actually moves, Pedulla's resume matters. He spent six years at Larian Studios as a senior animation artist, contributed to Baldur's Gate 3, and has now moved to CD Projekt Red to lead animation on The Witcher 4. When he joined, he said he would devote himself fully to crafting the game's epic animation work. It's a bold promise, but the goal is clear: better character animation and better movement.

The game has already confirmed Ciri as its protagonist, tied to the brand-new School of the Lynx. That alone gives the project a different emphasis. Ciri's appeal is not just her power, but her natural agility. Official details also say she will be able to cast while moving, with stronger three-dimensional combat options. That suggests less stationary trading of blows and more mobile spell use, which could give combat a faster rhythm than the last game.

The broader development shift is just as important. Back in 2022, CD Projekt Red abandoned its in-house RED Engine for Unreal Engine 5, with technical support from Epic Games. The studio has also changed priorities, no longer focusing on PC first and instead targeting home consoles as the lead platform. One stated goal is getting The Witcher 4 to run at 60 frames per second on a standard PS5. For most players, that matters more than any technical sales pitch. Consistent performance is more reassuring than nice-looking specs on paper.

Last year's tech demo already drew worldwide attention, so the June 16 to 18 showing at Unreal Engine Fest in Chicago is the next real checkpoint. If the gameplay footage shows cleaner character turning, spell transitions, and hit reactions, that alone would do a lot for the game's overall impression. After spending half a year on Project Polaris, Pedulla later shared his thoughts on LinkedIn, saying the experience had its twists and turns but kept pushing him to grow. He also said that players are "not ready" for this new game. That may be standard teaser talk, but it sets expectations high.

That said, this is not the moment to go overboard on hype. The Witcher 4 is still expected in late 2027 to 2028, and that is a long wait by any standard. Thankfully, CD Projekt Red is also working with Fool's Theory on a new The Witcher 3 expansion, Songs of the Past, planned for 2027 and intended to connect the story of The Witcher 3 and The Witcher 4. For longtime fans, it should serve as a useful bridge. For more casual followers, the better move is simple: watch the mid-June gameplay first, then decide how much excitement this project has really earned.