CD Projekt Red plans to release a physical edition of The Witcher 4, but players may not get an actual game disc inside the box. The situation is linked to Sony’s reported plans for PlayStation physical media, with the company expected to stop producing game discs from January 2028. That timing could have a direct effect on The Witcher 4, which CD Projekt Red has now confirmed is targeting a 2028 release.
The studio’s joint CEO Michał Nowakowski confirmed that CD Projekt Red still intends to offer a physical version of the game. However, whether a PlayStation 5 disc will be included is not entirely up to the developer. The company can prepare the physical packaging, but Sony’s manufacturing plans will determine whether a disc can actually be placed inside the box.
This could leave The Witcher 4 in an unusual position. Players may be able to purchase a boxed physical edition with collectible material, but the package could require a digital download instead of providing the game on a Blu-ray disc. For collectors, the box itself could therefore become the main physical part of the release.
The timing makes the situation more interesting because CD Projekt Red recently moved The Witcher 4 into a 2028 release window. The studio has more than 500 developers working on the project, while the game is being built as the beginning of a new Witcher saga with Ciri in the lead role. CD Projekt Red has also described the game as its largest and most ambitious project to date.
For now, there is no final confirmation that every physical edition of The Witcher 4 will ship without a disc. The game is still some distance from release, and Sony’s physical-media plans could change before CD Projekt Red starts preparing retail copies.
The current situation can be summed up as follows:
- The Witcher 4 will have a physical edition.
- CD Projekt Red wants to provide a boxed release for collectors.
- A PS5 game disc is not guaranteed.
- Sony’s reported disc-production plans could affect the physical version.
- The Witcher 4 is currently targeting a 2028 release.
- The game stars Ciri and is being developed as the start of a new Witcher trilogy.
If Sony proceeds with its reported plans, The Witcher 4 could become an early example of a major console game receiving a traditional retail box while relying on a digital copy of the game. That would be a notable change for players who still prefer buying boxed games, although CD Projekt Red’s commitment to producing physical packaging means collectors will at least have something tangible to add to their shelves.
