Geralt of Rivia is confirmed to return in The Witcher 4, according to his longtime voice actor, Doug Cockle. However, while fans can expect to see the legendary monster hunter once more, the spotlight will shift to new characters, marking a significant evolution in the franchise’s storytelling.
Geralt Returns—But Not as the Protagonist
“It’s Not About Him This Time,” Voice Actor Confirms
The White Wolf is making a comeback—but not in the leading role. Despite earlier assumptions that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt would conclude Geralt’s journey, Doug Cockle has confirmed that the character will appear in The Witcher 4. That said, the narrative focus will no longer center on him.
In a recent conversation with Fall Damage, Cockle shared insights into the upcoming title. While bound by confidentiality, he made it clear that Geralt’s role will be more supportive than central.
"The Witcher 4 has been announced. I can’t say much, but we do know Geralt will be in the game," Cockle revealed. "We just don’t know how much. And it won’t be focused on him—this time, it’s not about him."
The identity of the new protagonist remains under wraps. Even Cockle admits he’s in the dark: "We don’t know who the story is really about. I’m excited to find out. I want to know." His comment fuels speculation that a fresh character will take the helm, ushering in a new era for the series.
One compelling clue comes from the Witcher 4 teaser released during an Unreal Engine 5 presentation two years ago. Buried in the snow, a Cat medallion—symbol of the nearly extinct School of the Cat—was subtly featured. Though the order was largely wiped out by Nilfgaardian forces long before the events of The Witcher 3, Gwent: The Witcher Card Game lore suggests survivors remain: "As for those who were not present during the attack? They continue to roam the world’s ends—embittered, hungry for vengeance, with nothing left to lose…"
Another strong candidate for the lead role is Ciri, Geralt’s adopted daughter. Evidence points in her direction. In Andrzej Sapkowski’s original books, Ciri earns a Cat medallion after defeating a powerful enemy. This connection is echoed in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, where the Wolf medallion beside Geralt’s health bar is replaced with a Cat medallion when players control Ciri—hinting at a deeper narrative significance.
While some believe Ciri will step into the protagonist role with Geralt serving as a mentor figure—similar to Vesemir—others speculate his presence may be limited to flashbacks or brief appearances.
The Witcher 4: A New Chapter in Development
In an interview with Italian outlet Lega Nerd, The Witcher 4 game director Sebastian Kalemba outlined the team’s vision: to craft an experience that welcomes newcomers while honoring long-time fans invested in Geralt’s legacy. The goal is to expand the universe, not just continue the same story.
Officially codenamed Polaris, development on The Witcher 4 began in 2023. According to CD Projekt Red’s 2023 earnings report, around 330 developers—nearly half the studio—were assigned to the project by October of that year, following the release of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. That number has since grown to over 400, making it the largest development effort in the studio’s history, as confirmed by Pawel Sasko, associate game director for the upcoming Cyberpunk sequel.
Despite the massive team and advanced technology being built on Unreal Engine 5, fans should prepare for a wait. In October 2022, then-CEO Adam Kiciński stated the game was at least three years away due to its ambitious scope, including the creation of proprietary engine tools and next-gen gameplay systems.
For more on our predicted release window, check out the article below!
