Polish development studio CD Projekt Red continues to stick with physical game releases. As co-CEO Michał Nowakowski made clear in the interview, the highly anticipated role-playing game The Witcher 4 will definitely get a Classic box in stores. However, whether there is actually a disc in the box is not up to the developers, but entirely dependent on future guidelines from the console manufacturers.
The debate surrounding the declining importance of optical storage media is growing in the gaming industry. The background to the current statement is reports that Sony plans to stop producing new game discs starting in 2028. Since a release window around 2028 is also being targeted for the next big Witcher epic, this development directly affects the project.
In an interview with industry platform The Game Business, Nowakovsky emphasized that the team itself is made up of passionate game fans who appreciate tangible collectibles on the shelves. Therefore, there is guaranteed to be a physical version for sale. To give you something tangible when unpacking, the box should be packed with various physical inserts – so-called “feelings”, such as cards or gifts.
However, when it comes to the actual data carrier, the studio is at its wits end. Nowakowski made it clear that game console discs for platforms such as PlayStation must be produced directly in the first-party company’s own factories. If Sony or Microsoft stop making discs altogether at launch, CD Projekt Red won’t be able to avoid this step on its own. In this case, the box will come with a digital download code instead of a data carrier.
While the disc debate continues, CDPR’s commitment to physical packaging underscores how important the tactile experience remains to collectors. How physical versions of The Witcher 4 will ultimately be equipped will likely not be decided until shortly before sales begin.
