Ciri to Star in The Witcher 4: A Natural Choice

CD Projekt Red has announced that Ciri will take a central role in the eagerly anticipated The Witcher 4, marking a significant shift in the franchise's narrative direction. This transition from Geralt to Ciri is seen as a natural evolution of the storyline, aligning with the development of the game series and the broader universe crafted by author Andrzej Sapkowski.

Executive producer Malgorzata Mitrega explained that with Geralt's story arc reaching its conclusion in The Witcher 3, the stage is set for Ciri to step into the spotlight. Ciri, a character deeply explored in both the books and the games, offers a wealth of creative possibilities due to her complex and multifaceted nature. Director Sebastian Kalemba highlighted that Ciri's younger age compared to Geralt allows for greater player freedom in shaping her character's development, an opportunity not available with the well-established Geralt.

Interestingly, the idea of shifting the protagonist from Geralt to Ciri has been in discussion at CD Projekt Red for nearly a decade, underscoring the studio's long-term vision for Ciri as Geralt's successor. Kalemba further noted that the new challenges and perspectives that Ciri will face are poised to usher in a new epic saga within the Witcher universe.

Doug Cockle, the voice actor behind Geralt, has expressed his support for this narrative shift, emphasizing the rich potential that Ciri brings as a central character. While Geralt will still make an appearance in The Witcher 4, his role will be secondary, allowing the game to fully embrace Ciri's new narrative perspective.