CD Projekt Red is stepping in to shut down rumors after talk of a fake The Witcher 4 beta test started making the rounds online.
The Cyberpunk 2077 developer made its announcement on social media today, clarifying that the supposed pre-launch test for its upcoming fantasy RPG is, unfortunately, not real. It’s a tongue-in-cheek public service announcement that should help clear the air for those contacted by scammers while warning unfamiliar players that they should be cautious of any The Witcher 4 news that doesn’t come directly from CD Projekt Red.
Recently, we’ve been getting reports from some community members that they’ve been invited to a beta test of The Witcher 4 — this is a scam! 🚨
We’ve been taking the necessary steps to take this fraudulent messaging down. That said, if you receive any invites to or stumble… pic.twitter.com/nVmHnDSH2M
— The Witcher (@thewitcher) April 16, 2025
“We’ve been taking the necessary steps to take this fraudulent messaging down,” the team’s Witcher 4 PSA says. “That said, if you receive any invites to or stumble upon news of one, we kindly ask you to report the scam using the tools available to you in your email client or the social media platform you are using.
“Remember: professional monster slayers don’t fall for scams; they see right through them and slay them!”
Although The Witcher 4 beta tests are not real, the project is a real game that is very much in active development. We’ve heard whispers of how it might follow up to the story Geralt left players with in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for years, with first confirmation of its development arriving in 2022. As development surrounding Cyberpunk 2077 post-launch support began to wind down, CD Projekt Red announced work on The Witcher 4 was moving forward full steam ahead as of early 2024.
It wasn’t until The Game Awards 2024 that the team would finally reveal The Witcher 4’s first trailer. Although the clip kept many story details under wraps, it did confirm fan-favorite character Ciri would be returning, this time as the protagonist.
For now, The Witcher 4 isn’t expected to launch until 2027 at the earliest. While you continue to dodge phony beta tests and other misleading rumors, you can read up on why CD Projekt Red decided to put Geralt on the back burner in favor of a Ciri-led story. You can also check out Geralt actor Doug Cockle’s thoughts on the series’ new lead character.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
