Witcher 4 Boots Geralt from Lead Role According to VA

Geralt of Rivia's return in The Witcher 4 has been confirmed by voice actor Doug Cockle. However, this doesn't mean he'll be the protagonist. The game will feature a new lead character, leaving Geralt in a supporting role.

Geralt's Return, But Not as the Star

A Shift in Focus

While the White Wolf's presence is confirmed, Cockle clarified in an interview with Fall Damage that Geralt won't be the central figure this time. He stated, "Witcher 4 has been announced. I can’t say anything about it. What we know is that Geralt will be part of the game...And the game won’t focus on Geralt, so it’s not about him this time."

The new protagonist's identity remains a secret, even to Cockle, who admitted, "We don’t know who it’s about. I’m excited to find out. I want to know." Speculation centers around a Cat School Witcher, hinted at by a Cat medallion in a previous Unreal Engine 5 teaser, or Ciri, Geralt's adopted daughter, whose connection to the Cat School and past game mechanics suggest a potential lead role.

The possibility of Ciri as the protagonist is fueled by her possession of a Cat medallion in the books and the game's subtle use of the medallion during her playable segments in The Witcher 3. However, Geralt's involvement could range from a mentor-like role to limited appearances in flashbacks or cameos.

The Witcher 4's Development and Release

Game director Sebastian Kalemba, in an interview with Lega Nerd, highlighted the game's aim to attract new players while satisfying existing fans. The Witcher 4, codenamed Polaris, officially began development in 2023, with over 400 developers currently working on it, making it CD Projekt Red's largest project. However, due to its ambitious scope and development of new Unreal Engine 5 technology, CEO Adam Kiciński indicated a release date at least three years out.