The Witcher 4 is set to be the most immersive and ambitious installment in the beloved video game series, with Ciri stepping into the spotlight as the next Witcher. CD Projekt Red (CDPR) executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga shared insights into the game's development during an interview with GamesRadar+. "We definitely want to raise the bar with every video game that we create. This is what we did with Cyberpunk 2077 after The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and we want to apply all of the lessons learned from both of these experiences and incorporate them into The Witcher 4," she stated. Game director Sebastian Kalemba echoed this sentiment, emphasizing their commitment to creating an unparalleled open-world experience.
Ciri’s Destiny From The Very Beginning
The grand cinematic trailer unveiled at The Game Awards showcased Ciri, Geralt of Rivia's adopted daughter, taking up her father's mantle as the esteemed Witcher. Story director Tomasz Marchewka explained that Ciri's role was always planned, stating, "From the very beginning, we knew it had to be Ciri - she's a very complex character, and there is so much to be told about her." While fans loved the powerful Ciri from The Witcher 3, her abilities appear slightly nerfed in the trailer, hinting at an intriguing development between the games. Mitręga teased, "Something totally happened in-between," but promised clarity within the game itself. Kalemba reassured fans, "We cannot tell you exactly how. But we can tell you just, like, believe us: that was one of the things, or first things, that we were solving, to make sure—the way we develop here, we do not leave anything without a clear answer." Despite the changes, Ciri's essence remains, with Mitręga noting, "She's faster, more agile—but you can still tell that she was raised by Geralt, right?"
Time For Geralt To Retire—No, Really
As Ciri takes center stage, it's time for Geralt of Rivia to step back and enjoy a well-deserved retirement. At over fifty years old, Geralt has earned his rest. According to Andrzej Sapkowski, the author of the Witcher novels, Geralt was born in 1211, making him 61 during the events of The Witcher 3. By the end of the Blood and Wine DLC, he reaches 64 years old. With the timeline of The Witcher 4 likely placing him in his seventies or nearing eighty, it's clear that Geralt's days as an active Witcher are numbered. While Witchers can live up to a hundred years, the prospect of Geralt's retirement has sparked discussions among fans, many of whom were surprised to learn he wasn't closer to ninety as previously thought.
