The Witcher 4 Set To Be The Most Ambitious of the Series

CD Projekt Red (CDPR) has announced The Witcher 4, promising the most immersive and ambitious entry in the series yet. Executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga confirmed Ciri's starring role, a destiny hinted at from the franchise's inception. This article delves into Ciri's evolution and Geralt's well-deserved retirement.

A New Era for Witchers

Ciri Takes Center Stage

CDPR aims to surpass previous achievements with The Witcher 4, creating "the most immersive and ambitious open-world Witcher game to date," according to Mitręga in a GamesRadar+ interview. Director Sebastian Kalemba emphasized the team's commitment to learning from past successes with Cyberpunk 2077 and Witcher 3, incorporating those lessons into this latest installment.

The cinematic trailer showcased Ciri, Geralt's adopted daughter, inheriting his mantle as a Witcher. Story director Tomasz Marchewka revealed this was the plan all along: "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 Ciri's overpowered status in Witcher 3, Mitręga hints at a shift in her abilities. The trailer suggests a subtle reduction in her Witcher senses, with Mitręga teasing that "something totally happened in-between." Kalemba assures players that the game will provide a clear explanation for this change.

Despite the adjustments, Ciri retains Geralt's influence. Mitręga notes, "She's faster, more agile⁠—but you can still tell that she was raised by Geralt."

Geralt's Well-Earned Rest

With Ciri's ascension, Geralt's time for peaceful retirement has arrived. Andrzej Sapkowski's latest novel, Rozdroże kruków, reveals Geralt's birth year as 1211. This places him in his seventies or nearing eighty by the events of The Witcher 4, a considerable age even for a Witcher's lifespan of up to a hundred years.

This revelation surprised many fans who had previously overestimated Geralt's age. Regardless, Geralt's advanced years mark a natural progression and a fitting conclusion to his saga.