CD Projekt Red has confirmed that The Witcher 4 will get a physical retail release when it launches in 2028 — but whether PS5 owners actually get a disc inside that box is completely out of the studio’s hands.
The confirmation came during Gamescom 2026, where CD Projekt Red laid out its plans for the first entry in its new Witcher trilogy. Built on Unreal Engine 5, the game is targeting PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC at launch, with a strong likelihood of support extending to PlayStation 6 and Xbox Helix given how far out the release window sits.
Physical copies are a given, according to the studio, meaning players will still be able to grab a boxed edition from a store shelf on day one. The uncertainty lies in what’s actually inside that box for PS5 buyers.
Joint-CEO Michał Nowakowski addressed the situation directly in an interview with The Game Business, explaining that the fate of the disc rests entirely with Sony‘s manufacturing plans. Since PlayStation discs are produced in Sony‘s own factories, CD Projekt Red has no say in the matter.
“The discs for the first parties, including PlayStation, have to be manufactured in their own factories,” Nowakowski said. “If they stop manufacturing by 2028, then yes (we won’t have a disc).”
That’s a real possibility — Sony has already announced plans to end PS5 disc production starting in 2028, putting The Witcher 4‘s release timeline right in the crosshairs of that shift.
Despite the uncertainty, Nowakowski made it clear that CD Projekt Red isn’t interested in leaving physical buyers empty-handed. Even if a disc isn’t in the cards, the studio intends to make sure the box itself is worth owning.
“We’re big fans of people having access to tangible collectible things,” Nowakowski adds. “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.”
The comments arrive as Sony‘s disc-production announcement continues to generate friction within the PlayStation community. What started as a single policy announcement has snowballed into a persistent point of contention, overshadowing coverage of other major first-party releases — including gameplay breakdowns for the upcoming Marvel’s Wolverine. Frustrated players have organized petitions and even a coordinated platform blackout, and weeks after the initial announcement, the backlash shows no signs of dying down.
