GTA 6 vs The Witcher 4: Why Fans Are Split

At the Golden Joystick Awards, GTA 6 took home the coveted Most Wanted Game honor, yet the next full The Witcher role-playing game from CD Projekt Red was not far behind in fan anticipation. Long before either project has a confirmed release date, they are already competing for attention, expectations, and player loyalty. This early rivalry says a lot about how Rockstar and CD Projekt Red have shaped modern gaming, and how their next titles might redefine open worlds again.

This article explores why GTA 6 topped the “most wanted” charts, how the next Witcher RPG nearly matched it, and what this friendly competition tells us about the future of big-budget games.

The Golden Joystick Effect: Why “Most Wanted” Matters

The Golden Joystick Awards are one of the longest-running games award ceremonies, with winners determined largely by public votes rather than closed-door juries.¹ A Most Wanted trophy is more than a shiny badge; it is a measure of player hype and brand trust. When millions of people choose a game they have not yet played as their most anticipated, they are voting on:

• How much they loved the last game in the series.
• How confident they are in the studio’s reputation.
• How compelling the trailers, teasers, and early messaging have been.

In this context, GTA 6’s win shows how powerful Rockstar’s legacy has become, while The Witcher’s strong showing indicates how quickly CD Projekt Red has climbed into the top tier of global studios despite setbacks with Cyberpunk 2077.

GTA 6: Hype Powered by a Cultural Juggernaut

Grand Theft Auto V is one of the most successful entertainment products ever created. According to Take-Two Interactive, GTA V has sold over 195 million copies worldwide as of early 2024, making it one of the best-selling games in history.² Its online component, GTA Online, has kept players engaged for more than a decade. That track record feeds directly into anticipation for GTA 6.

Why GTA 6 Topped the Most Wanted Vote

Several factors explain why GTA 6 edged out the competition at the Golden Joysticks:

• A once-in-a-generation launch: Rockstar releases mainline GTA entries rarely. Each new game feels like an event, not just a sequel.
• Massive mainstream reach: GTA’s sandbox crime formula attracts casual and core players alike, crossing demographic boundaries that many RPGs cannot reach.
• Technical expectations: Players associate Rockstar with detailed cities, advanced physics, and dense emergent gameplay. The next GTA is widely expected to push current hardware to its limits.
• Online potential: With GTA Online still earning significant revenue years after launch, many expect GTA 6 to evolve the online service model even further.

What Players Expect from Rockstar’s Next Sandbox

While Rockstar has only officially revealed limited information, there is a shared understanding across the community of what GTA 6 will likely deliver:

• A larger, more reactive city with crowds, traffic, and systems that feel alive.
• Deeper storytelling, building on the character-driven narratives of GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2.
• Expanded heists and cooperative play that learn from years of GTA Online updates.
• Stronger technical polish at launch, as Rockstar has a reputation for releasing highly stable, carefully tuned experiences compared to many open-world peers.

These expectations form a high bar. If GTA 6 fails to feel like a generational leap, the backlash could be severe. But for now, the Golden Joystick vote shows that fans still trust Rockstar to surprise them.

The Next Witcher: A Quiet Contender with Enormous Momentum

On the other side of this showdown is the next mainline The Witcher game, often informally called “The Witcher 4” by fans, though CD Projekt Red has not committed to that title. Instead, the project is currently known by its internal codename and is confirmed to launch a new saga in The Witcher universe rather than simply continuing Geralt’s story.³

From Cult RPG to Global Phenomenon

The Witcher’s rise is remarkable. While The Witcher and The Witcher 2 built a dedicated fanbase, it was The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt that turned the series into a global landmark. The game earned widespread critical acclaim and multiple Game of the Year awards, and CD Projekt Red has reported sales of over 50 million copies as of 2023.⁴

Several elements made The Witcher 3 stand out:

• Rich narrative choices that ripple across quests and endings.
• Memorable characters like Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri with deep histories and complex relationships.
• Mature themes treated with nuance rather than shock value.
• Expansions that felt like full games, particularly Blood and Wine.

This foundation explains why the next Witcher RPG could nearly match GTA 6 in fan voting: it promises a return to one of the most beloved fantasy worlds in gaming.

A Fresh Saga in the Witcher Universe

CD Projekt Red has confirmed a few key details about the future of The Witcher universe:³

• They are working on a new Witcher saga, implying multiple entries rather than a single sequel.
• Geralt’s original trilogy is complete, suggesting a new protagonist or perspective.
• The game is being built in Unreal Engine 5 under a partnership with Epic Games, marking a major technology shift from CDPR’s in-house REDengine.

For many players, the idea of returning to the Continent with modern technology and a fresh story is enough to generate intense excitement, especially if CDPR can combine Witcher 3’s strengths with the lessons learned from Cyberpunk 2077’s problematic launch.

Comparing Hype: Sandbox Crime vs Fantasy RPG

GTA 6 and the next Witcher title exist in very different genres, yet they dominate the same awards and anticipation lists. A closer look at their core appeals reveals why both can thrive without necessarily cannibalizing each other’s audience.

Different Fantasy, Same Pressure

Though one game offers fast cars and heists while the other deals in swords and sorcery, both share several pressures:

• They must justify long development cycles and sky-high budgets.
• They must launch in relatively stable condition to avoid reputational damage in an era where buggy releases face intense scrutiny.
• They must satisfy both old fans and new players, expanding the audience without losing what made their predecessors special.

Lessons from Past Successes and Failures

The hype surrounding GTA 6 and the next Witcher game is shaped as much by past missteps as by previous triumphs. Understanding those histories helps explain why players are simultaneously excited and cautious.

Rockstar’s Reputation for Polished Launches

Rockstar’s recent major releases, such as Red Dead Redemption 2 and earlier console versions of GTA V, have generally shipped in highly polished states. While PC ports have faced issues at times, the console releases have supported Rockstar’s image as a studio that takes its time to ship finished products. This is particularly significant after years of industry discourse around “crunch” and rushed releases.⁵

As a result, players often assume that if Rockstar delays a game, it is to protect quality rather than to salvage a troubled project—an assumption not always extended to other studios.

CD Projekt Red and the Cyberpunk 2077 Turnaround

CD Projekt Red’s path has been more turbulent. Cyberpunk 2077 launched in 2020 to strong sales but widespread criticism of bugs and performance issues, especially on last-generation consoles.⁶ Over the next several years, CDPR committed to substantial patches and updates, culminating in the well-received Phantom Liberty expansion and a major 2.0 overhaul.

This long-term support eventually improved the game’s reputation and demonstrated that CDPR can course-correct, but the episode left a lasting lesson for players: do not take pre-release marketing at face value. For some fans, the next Witcher RPG is an opportunity for the studio to fully regain the trust it earned with Witcher 3.

Why Both Studios Need to Succeed

The contest between GTA 6 and the next Witcher game is not just about bragging rights at award shows; it also influences the broader industry.

Setting Standards for Future Open Worlds

When Rockstar and CD Projekt Red raise the bar, other developers notice. If GTA 6 delivers a more interactive city with believable crowds and systemic gameplay, that will become the new benchmark for urban sandboxes. If the next Witcher combines deep role-playing with strong technical stability, it could encourage more studios to invest in complex narrative systems rather than shallow open worlds.

Successful launches also justify the enormous budgets associated with AAA games. In an era where development costs and timelines are growing, high-profile disasters can make publishers more risk-averse, leading to fewer ambitious projects.

What This Means for Players

For players, the near tie between GTA 6 and the next Witcher game in the “most wanted” conversation is good news. It indicates a future where:

• Multiple flagship franchises can coexist, giving fans choices across genres and tones.
• Studios feel pressure to innovate rather than simply follow market leaders.
• Single-player campaigns remain central in an era dominated by live-service and competitive titles.

Whether you prefer urban crime drama or dark fantasy, the fact that both are commanding global attention suggests that sprawling, narrative-rich games still have a strong place in the industry.

FAQ: GTA 6, The Witcher, and the Golden Joysticks

Did GTA 6 really win the Most Wanted Game award?

Yes. GTA 6 captured the Most Wanted Game category at the Golden Joystick Awards, a ceremony that draws millions of public votes each year.¹ This reflects how intensely players are waiting for Rockstar’s next big release.

Is the next Witcher game officially called The Witcher 4?

CD Projekt Red has not officially named the game The Witcher 4. The studio describes it as the start of a new Witcher saga, indicating that it will expand the universe beyond Geralt’s completed trilogy.³ Fans and media often use “Witcher 4” as shorthand, but that is not the confirmed title.

Will the next Witcher game still feature Geralt?

The studio has strongly suggested that Geralt’s story arc concluded with The Witcher 3 and its expansions.³ While cameos or references are possible, players should expect a new main character or different narrative focus in the upcoming saga.

How did Cyberpunk 2077’s launch affect hype for the next Witcher?

Cyberpunk 2077’s troubled launch made some players more cautious about CD Projekt Red’s promises.⁶ However, the company’s long-term support and major updates restored confidence for many, and the enduring love for The Witcher 3 means anticipation for a new Witcher RPG remains very strong.

Do these awards actually influence development?

Awards like the Golden Joysticks do not fundamentally change a game’s design, but they validate ongoing decisions and signal that player interest is high. For publishers, strong anticipation can reinforce marketing budgets and long-term support plans.

Looking Ahead: Two Titans, One Generation

GTA 6 and the next Witcher RPG are poised to become defining releases of the current console generation. GTA 6 brings the promise of a bigger, more reactive city and the evolution of a massively successful online ecosystem. The next Witcher offers a return to a beloved fantasy world, built with new technology and informed by hard-earned lessons from both triumph and controversy.

The Golden Joystick outcome—GTA 6 winning, but The Witcher close behind—captures the mood of a gaming audience that refuses to place all its hopes in a single franchise. If both studios deliver on their promises, players will be the real winners, enjoying two very different but equally ambitious visions of what open-world games can be.