The long-awaited next installment in the Witcher saga, codenamedPolaris, was officially revealed atThe Game Awards2024 asThe Witcher 4. A new trailer from CD Projekt Red unveiled the game’s title and, significantly, its protagonist: Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon, better known as Ciri.This marks a departure from the series' previous focus on Geralt of Rivia, opening a new chapter in the Witcher’s narrative.
The trailer confirms thatThe Witcher 4will not simply be another Geralt-centric story but a new narrative focusing on a familiar but significantly different protagonist. The trailer’s depiction of Ciri’s combat skillshints at gameplay that is slightly different from Geralt’s, potentially emphasizing different strengths and fighting styles. This shift offers both a fresh perspective and a significant opportunity to expand the franchise’s lore and storytelling possibilities beyond Geralt’s well-trodden path. This is thestart of a new trilogyso it suggests thatThe Witcher 4is intended as a foundational title for the franchise’s future with Ciri at the helm.
What The Witcher 4 Means To Fans
Ciri Is The Hero
The choice of Ciri as the protagonist signifies a calculated risk and a bold step for CD Projekt Red. While Geralt’s popularity is undeniable, focusing on Ciri allows for exploring a different facet ofThe Witcherworld, particularly her unique struggles and experiencesas a powerful sorceress and trained warrior. The success of this decision will largely depend on how effectively the developers manage to create a compelling narrative that stands on its own merit while remaining faithful to the established lore and the spirit ofThe Witcherseries.
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The potential for this decision to broaden the player base is considerable, allowing players who weren’t necessarily invested in Geralt’s storyto connect with Ciriand her journey. Moreover, a new trilogy built around Ciri provides the framework for exploring previously untouched storylines and characters. It’s a great idea to freshen up a series that seems to have relied on a single protagonist for a while.
Our Take: Is Ciri A Good Choice?
She’s Been Trained For This
I’m genuinely excited about this news, and I had no doubt Ciri was going to take center stage inThe Witcher 4.The Witcher 3: Wild Huntconcluded Geralt’s story in a satisfying way, and whileI’d always welcome more Geralt, focusing on Ciri feels like a natural, refreshing evolution. It’s a smart move that allows the series to continue without relying on the familiar, potentially opening it up to a whole new audience. Even though this has been announced, fans will likely have towait a lot longer forThe Witcher 4.
Since there will be more games in the series, I knowthatCiri is going to go through significant character developmentand maybe start a family of her own. The fact that Geralt was taking care of the young girl as his surrogate daughter added a lot to the story and I hope to see something similar start to build inThe Witcher 4.
The Witcher IV
In the interest of full disclosure and transparency, Screen Rant confirms it is on the judging panel at The Game Awards 2024. Our editorial process is separate from our contributions to judging, and as such, our panel inclusion does not compromise our journalistic integrity.
