The long-awaited announcement is finally here: The Witcher 4 has been officially unveiled during The Game Awards 2024, complete with an impressive cinematic trailer that introduces fans to the new protagonist, Cirilla (Ciri).
In this next chapter of the Witcher saga, Ciri has matured since her last appearance in The Witcher 3. The trailer features her heroically intervening in a village where a young woman is about to be sacrificed to a monster, highlighting her growth and commitment to the witcher path.
Game director Sebastian Kalemba expressed the team’s long-standing desire to center the story around Ciri. He remarked on the discussions held nine years ago about choosing the next protagonist, explaining that Ciri was the clear choice. Kalemba emphasized her importance, stating, “She really deserves a stage and we want players to really experience her story because she has so much to tell, so much to prove.”
Addressing concerns regarding the continuity of the Witcher lore, Cian Maher, the franchise and lore designer at CD Projekt Red, noted that while one of the endings in The Witcher 3 allows for Ciri’s death, there are implications suggesting she survives, which paves the way for her new adventures.
Although no release date has been announced yet, CDPR mentioned a tentative timeline of 1 to 2 years post-full reveal, suggesting that fans may be enjoying the new installment within that timeframe if all goes as planned.
It’s worth noting that the voice actress for Ciri has not yet been disclosed, adding an extra layer of anticipation for fans.
The announcement of The Witcher 4 signals an exciting new chapter for the franchise, and with Ciri at the helm, players can look forward to a deeply engaging narrative filled with challenges and adventure. The excitement surrounding this release suggests that the Witcher franchise continues to captivate audiences, promising a thrilling experience for gamers in the coming years.