CD Projekt Red Confirms Release Is Coming The Witcher 4 Physical boxed format. However, fans who prefer collector’s editions to digital versions shouldn’t count on traditional game discs just yet. When new installments of The Witcher are released, the industry may finally move toward releasing console games without physical media.
CD project red It has been confirmed that “The Witcher 4” will be released in 2028, but the specific date has not yet been announced. It’s this period that could become a problem for the company: According to Sony’s current policy, starting in January 2028, production of physical discs of new PlayStation games must stop.
Therefore, if Sony’s plans do not change, CD Projekt Red will actually lose the opportunity to independently release the regular disc version of “The Witcher 4” for the PlayStation.
CD Projekt co-CEO Michal Nowakowski talked about this in an interview with The Game Business. According to him, the company does not control the production of physical media on consoles and is therefore forced to consider the decisions of platform holders. At the same time, the person in charge emphasized that CD Projekt still intends to provide customers with a complete boxed version of “The Witcher 4”.
The main question is what exactly is in this box.
Nowakovsky promised that the company hopes to include various physical rewards and souvenirs in the physical version. However, he cannot guarantee the existence of the game disc itself. Therefore, one of the most likely options is a box with a download code for The Witcher 4, along with the complete collection.
Some major publishers are already using a similar approach. In theory, CD Projekt could go the route of buyers receiving a physical box, but the game itself would be launched via a digital code. In this case, we are not talking about the standard retail version, but a special version with additional items for collectors.
This problem is mainly related to game console. In July this year, Sony announced plans to stop producing physical discs for new PlayStation games starting in January 2028. Projects that were launched earlier will not be affected by this policy. However, after this period, individual games will still be available in the store in boxes with download codes.
Unless Sony rethinks its plans, The Witcher 4 will be one of the first major AAA games to face this new reality. CD Projekt will be able to prepare beautiful physical copies, but will no longer be able to insert a full PS5 disc into them.
It’s unclear how similar things will be on Xbox. Microsoft has not officially announced that it will stop making physical media, but it has also raised questions about the future of optical disc drives in the company’s next-generation game consoles. It was previously reported that future Project Helix systems may adopt a fully digital configuration. At Gamescom 2026, Xbox head Asha Sharma did not explicitly confirm the existence of the disc drive, only issuing a statement about the need to consider the cost and availability of the device.
Ultimately, The Witcher 4 may become a prime example of how the industry is changing. Physical games no longer just mean discs with games. Boxes, collectibles, and download codes may become the new standard for buyers who want a physical copy.
This is especially noteworthy for CD Projekt Red: the company apparently won’t abandon physical releases entirely, and wants to keep the boxed format itself. But whether there will be an actual disc by the time The Witcher 4 is released may no longer depend on the developer, but entirely on the policies of the console manufacturer.
