As the countdown to PlayStation discontinuing discs for new titles from January 2028 onwards rolls on, CD Projekt RED affirmed plans to release a physical version for The Witcher 4. The latter is targeting a launch in 2028, which means it’s the first confirmed title to be affected by Sony’s plans.
You might think that this means a physical disc. Studio joint-CEO Michał Nowakowski told The Game Business, “We don’t know what’s going to be the case. We know what PlayStation has announced. And we have no influence on the policies of the first parties. The discs for the first parties, including PlayStation, have to be manufactured in their own factories. So, if they stop manufacturing indeed by 2028, then yes [we won’t have a disc].”
However, Nowakowski said that the highly anticipated RPG will “have a box.” “We’re big fans of people having access to tangible collectible things. We’re nerds ourselves, and we like that. We always supported that. So, whatever is the case, we’re going to be for sure having a box. We’re going to have a box that’s going to have some feelies in it. Something you’re going to be wanting to open up and enjoy. But we have no influence actually on what’s the case here.”
While a physical disc for PC in this day and age seems near-impossible, there is still Xbox. The company recently announced an initiative to allow players to digitize physical Xbox One and Xbox Series X discs. The digital entitlement is completely playable without the disc, though the latter still functions as normal.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma noted the benefits of digital media in a recent interview with the BBC but added that players “love physical media.” “I want to make sure people have a choice.” Whether that extends to Project Helix offering a disc drive and physical discs remains to be seen.
In the meantime, The Witcher 4 doesn’t have any confirmed platforms (aside from PC), and we’re yet to see any proper gameplay. CD Projekt RED will release The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered on September 29th as a free upgrade for current owners, and a new expansion, Songs of the Past, in 2027. However, it promised more news to share in the future, including potentially at next year’s Gamescom.
