CD Projekt Confirms The Witcher 4 for PlayStation Will Be Available in Physical Format, Despite No Disc Inside

CD Projekt has confirmed that a boxed edition of the PlayStation version of The Witcher 4 will be available, even if it won’t include a disc. With Sony planning for all PlayStation games to be released digitally starting in 2028—likely aligning with the PS6 launch—many gamers are feeling the sting of losing physical media, along with the joy of having a collectible box to display. Michał Nowakowski, the joint-CEO of CD Projekt, mentioned that while the studio has “no influence” over the inclusion of a disc, they are “big fans of people having access to tangible, collectible things.”

The decline of physical media is disappointing for numerous reasons, not least the fact that it means we never truly own the games we purchase. However, the simple joy of having a physical box and the extras it might include is often overlooked. While the slim DVD cases of today can’t compare to the grand cardboard boxes of the ’90s filled with cloth maps and code wheels, they still offer something. Thankfully, CD Projekt appears committed to maintaining this format, even if including the game itself proves challenging.

“We don’t know what’s going to be the case,” Nowakowski stated, likely not intending the pun. “We know what PlayStation has announced. And we have no influence on the policies of first parties. The discs for the first parties, including PlayStation, have to be manufactured in their own factories.” Fortunately, the boxes themselves don’t have the same restrictions, allowing CD Projekt some creative freedom.

“We’re big fans of people having access to tangible, collectible things,” Nowakowski added. “We’re nerds ourselves, and we like that. We always supported that. So, whatever happens, we’re definitely going to have a box. We’re going to have a box that’s going to have some feelies in it. Something you’re going to want to open up and enjoy.”

“Feelies” is a rather odd term for the physical items included in game boxes, which may sound silly until you remember that we still refer to films as “movies.” So, there’s still hope that we’ll be able to stroll into a store and pick up a physical edition, even if it ends up being a tongue-in-cheek version of those special editions that don’t actually contain the game.