In the trailer, CD Projekt Red revealed a major shift in its best-selling fantasy franchise, announcing that Ciri, instead of Geralt, will take the lead role in the new game.
Originally teased in March 2022 under the codename “Project Polaris,” “The Witcher 4” remained shrouded in secrecy—until now. The six-minute debut trailer showcased fresh locales, foreboding landscapes, and a story that pivots away from the series’ former protagonist, Geralt of Rivia. Instead, players will follow Ciri, Geralt’s adopted daughter and a formidable monster hunter in her own right, as she confronts a horrific threat terrorizing a small village.
The choice to center the new installment on Ciri is a bold departure from tradition and hints at the narrative possibilities long suggested by one of “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s” endings. The trailer’s action sequence, capturing Ciri battling a towering creature demanding ritualistic offerings, sets a darker, more personal tone for the series. Fans worldwide have already begun reacting with excitement and speculation online.
Lead engine programmer Charles Tremblay has promised that the new title will be “better, bigger and greater” than any of the studio’s previous successes—a bold claim given the acclaim surrounding “The Witcher 3” and the recent resurgence in popularity for “Cyberpunk 2077.”
By returning to the world that made it a heavyweight in the AAA gaming sphere, CD Projekt Red is signaling its intention to expand further upon the legacy that established The Witcher series as one of the foremost names in contemporary video games.
The Witcher franchise is based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s books that have been translated into 20 languages and sold millions of copies worldwide, making him Poland’s second most translated author after sci-fi writer Stanisław Lem.
(jh)
Source: IGN, CNET, CD Projekt Red