The Witcher 1 Remake Update Reveals Strategic Delay and Post-2028 Release Window

The fix for The Witcher 1 is still in progress, but CD Projekt Red has slowed work on it to focus on The Witcher 4. In its Q3 2025 financial report, CDPR said that the remake has been carefully lowered in priority and will not come out before the next mainline movie in the series. With the number of people working on it now and the way things are going, the earliest likely release date is after 2028.

Instead of coming out alongside a brand-new trilogy, the remake is being promoted as a spin-off that will complement the series' newfound popularity. Work on the project is still underway, but not as many people as some fans may think. The heads of CD Projekt Red said that The Witcher 4 is getting most of the company's attention right now and that only a small team is working on the remake.

A reboot is one of the studio's projects, but most of its workers are busy with a secret project that needs all of their time and attention. 

A lot is riding on this decision because the remake's future depends on the tools, processes, and progress being made on the next-generation Witcher games. This actually means that the version of The Witcher 1 is being kept "warm" rather than pushed hard to finish. Fool's Theory, the company working on the remake, has a lot of things going on at the moment.

At the same time, Fool's Theory does a lot to support The Witcher 4 by providing assets, technical support, content creation services, and other specialized development work. This deal works out well for everyone. It gives CDPR more money for its most important project, keeps Fool's Theory busy, and improves relations between the company and the publication.

The Witcher 1 Remake is only being worked on by a small group because of this. No matter how many people were given, it's clear that this is not a full-fledged production team. Development doesn't seem to be focused on making a lot of stuff. Instead, it seems to be about laying the groundwork, making the first systems, and planning for the long run.

Before Fool's Theory can start full production, it must complete all its other tasks and reallocate its resources to other projects. The rate of growth will be kept low and steady while that lasts. They aren't interested or have given up because they are waiting. It instead shows a well-thought-out plan for business and marketing.

People might get confused if you release The Witcher 1 before The Witcher 4. 

That's because there are going to be two big Witcher games soon. People would have to choose whether to spend money on the first book in a brand-new series or on reading a story from 2007. Marketing funds would be split, and there would be less news coverage. As for the story, CDPR wants the new story to get all the attention and not a remake that is mostly about Geralt's past.

Also, the order of the money is a major factor in this choice. People think that The Witcher 4 will make a lot more money than a remake, and putting it out first will help CDPR. Backers will see that this money helps pay for future projects like Cyberpunk 2 and The Witcher 5. It also shows that the studio's long-term plan is working. CDPR makes sure it can later capitalize on the interest The Witcher 4 has generated rather than fight it by delaying the remake.

Another great way to keep the fun going is with the remake, which comes out after The Witcher 4. If they don't know much about Geralt of Rivia's early life, a lot of new players will want to see where it all began. Fans who have been playing The Witcher games since the third game may not have played the first one. It seems slow and outdated now. The remake brings the story up to date with new technology and a new style, so many more people can enjoy it.

Unreal Engine 5 has been used to make the new Witcher 1 from the start. 

The wait is fine from a technical standpoint. This version isn't a remaster or an improved version; it's a whole new one, made with the latest tools and design ideas. It had trouble with the third-person view, slow movements, small settings, and a lot of loading screens in the first game, which used BioWare's Aurora engine. Unreal Engine 5 can be used to make modern open-world RPGs that are more like later Witcher games in terms of size and quality.

As of now, CDPR has said that the remake will not use the original game's hub-based chapter format. It will instead use an open world that works better. In the first game, areas were broken up into chapters, and once a player finished a chapter, they couldn't go back to those areas. You should be able to explore, go back to places you've already been to, and do jobs in a wider range of ways in the remake.

This is not just a superficial improvement; it was a full makeover that took a lot of time and careful planning. It will change more than just how the world is set up. People from Fool's Theory say that old systems and components will be changed or removed. People didn't agree on the first rhythm-based combat system when it came out because it needed timed clicks during animations.

It's unlikely to return to its original state. There will be more motion in the fights, like in The Witcher 3. Issues with the flow of time will likely be resolved by streamlining and improving the flow of tasks, especially in the main parts of Vizima. Some of the information will likely be changed to make it more useful for modern readers.

Certain parts don't hold up well over time, such as the famous romance-card souvenirs and some portrayals of women.

These parts may be changed or removed from the remake, but the main story and character arcs that made the first one so interesting will stay the same. Like later games in the series, this one's art style will likely feature more colors and details. What will make it famous, though, is the darker Eastern European fairytale feel that it will still have.

The Witcher 4 could come out in late 2027 or early 2028, and The Witcher 5 could come out a few years after that. What a great time for the remake to come out in between big movies! It will keep the series going and keep fans excited. If it came out after 2028, the remake could build on The Witcher 4's success, keep the ball rolling, and give players something to do until the next big game.

It's clear where we need to go, but there are still many questions. 

The remake is also important for CD Projekt Red's long-term plans. It makes more money without having to start a whole new story and brings in new people. Fans can also consistently experience Geralt's whole story. To see how well Fool's Theory can handle big Witcher projects, it's also being used. If it does well, CDPR might make more games like this in the future, either adding to or remaking the first game.

The whole process has not yet started. The remake of The Witcher 1 is not being pushed back, put on hold, or forgotten. A lot of work is going into making sure it comes at the right time, with the right tech, and with the brand's full backing. At the moment, the plan is to wait. When the remake does come out, it should feel less like a remake of an old game and more like a reasonable next step in The Witcher's story.