CD Projekt Red Warns of The Witcher 4 Beta Test Scam
On April 16, 2025, CD Projekt Red, the acclaimed developer behind The Witcher series and Cyberpunk 2077, issued a public service announcement to address a growing scam targeting eager fans of The Witcher 4. Reports surfaced that some community members had received invitations to participate in a supposed beta test for the highly anticipated RPG, prompting the studio to swiftly clarify that no such test exists. This fraudulent scheme, leveraging the excitement surrounding the game’s development, underscores the need for vigilance in an era where gaming hype can be exploited by malicious actors.
The Witcher 4, officially revealed at The Game Awards in December 2024, marks a new chapter in the beloved franchise, with Ciri stepping into the spotlight as the protagonist. The cinematic trailer, while light on story details, confirmed the game’s ambitious scope and its shift from Geralt of Rivia, the series’ long-standing lead. With full production underway since late 2024 and a release not expected until at least 2027, the project is still in its early stages. This timeline makes the notion of a public beta test highly improbable, as CD Projekt Red has historically reserved such tests for multiplayer titles like Gwent, not single-player RPGs like The Witcher 4.
The scam, as outlined by CD Projekt Red, involves fake invitations sent via email or social media, enticing fans with promises of early access to the game. These messages, often riddled with spelling and grammatical errors, aim to harvest personal information or distribute malware. One such fraudulent ad, shared on Reddit, appeared on Instagram, catching unsuspecting fans during late-night scrolling. The studio’s response was unequivocal: “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!” They urged fans to report these messages using available tools on email clients or platforms like X, where the official Witcher account posted the warning. The tongue-in-cheek tone of the announcement, with lines like “professional monster slayers don’t fall for scams; they see right through them and slay them,” reflects the studio’s effort to engage its community while emphasizing the seriousness of the issue.
CD Projekt Red’s proactive measures include working to remove the fraudulent content, though the scope and ultimate goals of the scam remain unclear. Common motives for such schemes include data harvesting for phishing or selling contact information, or tricking users into downloading malicious software. The studio reassured fans that any legitimate beta tests in the future would be announced exclusively through official channels, such as their website or verified social media accounts. This commitment to transparency draws on lessons from the troubled launch of Cyberpunk 2077, which faced criticism for its rocky debut in 2020. The developer has since prioritized clear communication, as evidenced by their regular updates on The Witcher 4’s progress.
The excitement for The Witcher 4 is palpable, fueled by its promise of a darker, Ciri-led open-world adventure. Development began gaining momentum in 2022, with CD Projekt Red confirming in early 2024 that the project was advancing “full steam ahead.” The decision to focus on Ciri, described by game director Sebastian Kalemba as a natural evolution, has sparked enthusiasm, with Geralt voice actor Doug Cockle praising the move as “really interesting for all kinds of reasons.” However, the game’s distant release window leaves ample room for scammers to exploit fans’ anticipation, as seen with similar fraudulent campaigns targeting other high-profile titles like Grand Theft Auto 6.
For now, CD Projekt Red advises caution and skepticism toward unsolicited offers. The studio’s broader slate, including a Witcher 1 remake, the multiplayer-focused Project Sirius, and a Cyberpunk 2077 sequel, reflects its ambitious vision, but The Witcher 4 remains a flagship project. Fans eager for Ciri’s journey can explore mods to play as her in The Witcher 3 or revisit the books for context, but they should steer clear of any “beta test” invites. As the studio aptly put it, true monster slayers stay sharp and slay scams with precision, ensuring their focus remains on the real adventure ahead.
