CD Projekt says the PlayStation edition of The Witcher 4 will receive a boxed release, even if future platform rules make including a physical disc impossible.
Sony has announced that PlayStation games will be released entirely digitally from 2028, a policy expected to align with the launch of the PS6 towards the end of that year. The change would mark a major shift for players who still value physical ownership, displayable packaging and the extras traditionally found in a game box.
For more coverage of changing game formats and the wider industry, visit the RETROCADE Arcade Blog.
CD Projekt joint CEO Michał Nowakowski told The Game Business, in comments reported by Eurogamer, that the studio has “no influence” over whether PlayStation discs can be produced. First-party discs must be manufactured in the platform holder’s own factories, leaving CD Projekt unable to determine how Sony’s policy develops.
A physical box can survive without a disc
Although CD Projekt cannot control disc production, it can still create the packaging and contents that accompany a boxed release. Nowakowski said the company remains committed to giving players tangible, collectible items, describing the studio’s staff as enthusiasts who appreciate physical products.
“Whatever is the case, we’re going to be for sure having a box,” Nowakowski said. “We’re going to have a box that’s going to have some feelies in it. Something you’re going to be wanting to open up and enjoy.”
In this context, “feelies” means the physical extras included inside a game package. Modern slim cases offer less room than the oversized cardboard boxes of the 1990s, which could include items such as cloth maps and code wheels, but they still provide a physical object for a collection.
The proposed The Witcher 4 package could therefore resemble a boxed special edition that contains memorabilia and other extras, while the actual game is supplied digitally. That arrangement would not restore disc-based ownership, but it would preserve some of the ritual of opening a new release and putting it on a shelf.
Why packaging still matters to collectors
The shift away from discs raises concerns about long-term access and the idea that buying a game does not necessarily mean permanently owning a self-contained copy. It also removes the artwork, manuals and collectibles that helped physical releases feel distinct.
CD Projekt’s position suggests that packaging may remain part of gaming culture even as distribution becomes digital. For collectors, a well-made box can matter independently of the storage format inside it—much as a carefully chosen arcade cabinet can become part of a home gaming space rather than simply a way to run software.
The final contents of The Witcher 4’s PlayStation box have not been specified. CD Projekt has confirmed its intention to produce a box with physical extras, while the availability of a disc will depend on PlayStation’s manufacturing and release policies.
That makes the project an interesting example of how gaming’s physical traditions may evolve. Collectors could still have something substantial to open and display, even if the game itself arrives as a download.
For readers building a dedicated games room, the Arcade Machine Buying Guide covers practical considerations for choosing physical gaming hardware, while bartop arcades offer a more compact display option.
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