Witcher fans hoping for more from the franchise’s literary roots can breathe a little easier: author Andrzej Sapkowski has confirmed he is actively working on the next book in the series, with a target completion date of the end of 2027. The announcement came at a recent convention appearance in Poland, where Sapkowski said he intends to finish the manuscript within the year, potentially giving Polish readers a copy by late 2027 or early 2028 and international audiences one roughly a year later. The news arrives as the franchise’s video game adaptations continue to generate buzz, with a remaster of The Witcher 3, the Songs of the Past expansion, and The Witcher 4 all expected sometime in 2028. Those developments are built on the same iconic book series that inspired the Netflix show, and now the source material itself is getting a fresh chapter.
For those unfamiliar with the franchise’s origins, the games and screen adaptation are direct descendants of Sapkowski’s novels, which trace the adventures of Geralt of Rivia, a professional monster hunter. The most recent entry, 2025’s The Witcher: Crossroads of Ravens, served as a prequel exploring young Geralt’s first major adventure as a Witcher. Because the short story collections and novels place Geralt in middle age, there remains a substantial stretch of his life unexplored, and Sapkowski is clearly aware of the opportunity. In an interview with IGN, he was asked whether there is room to delve further into Geralt’s formative years through additional prequels, and his response was emphatic: “Sky is the limit.”
A New Chapter for a Middle-Aged Hero
The timing of the new book is notable given the franchise’s ongoing expansion. As the video game series moves toward its next major installment, the appetite for deeper lore has never been stronger. Yet Sapkowski has made clear that his focus remains squarely on the man who defined the world. He said he does not intend to write any Witcher books about other characters, such as Yennefer, signaling that the narrative spotlight will stay on Geralt regardless of the book’s setting or era.
“Sky is the limit,” Sapkowski said when asked if there’s room to delve further into Geralt’s formative years in more prequels. He also said, “I am considering writing more short stories.”
Andrzej Sapkowski, via Redanian Intelligence
The author’s enthusiasm is matched by a candid acknowledgment of the craft involved. The Witcher series began with a short story, and Sapkowski published two collections before the first novel, Blood of Elves, establishing a format that shaped the entire saga. Still, he finds writing short stories to be a unique challenge. “It is not an easy thing to create a good short story. This is much more difficult than writing a novel,” Sapkowski said, underscoring the care he brings to every entry in the franchise.
Whether the next book features a younger Geralt revisiting his origins or an experienced monster hunter facing new threats, Sapkowski is aiming for completion by the end of next year. The schedule mirrors the pattern set by Crossroads of Ravens, where Polish readers typically gained access to the book before its international release. That cadence suggests the new title could follow a similar trajectory, with local audiences reading it first and the broader global market receiving it within the following year.
Looking Ahead
For now, the franchise’s roadmap points toward a busy period across both literature and gaming. The confirmed completion target of end of 2027 gives fans a concrete milestone to anticipate, while the parallel development of The Witcher 4 and its supporting content keeps the interactive side of the world in motion. As Sapkowski continues to shape the next chapter, one thing is certain: the monster hunter’s story is far from over, and the sky remains the limit.
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