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

The Witcher 4 promises to be the most immersive and ambitious installment in the acclaimed video game series, with Ciri stepping into the role of the next Witcher, as confirmed by CD Projekt Red's executive producer. Dive deeper to discover more about Ciri's journey and Geralt's well-earned retirement.

Most Immersive Witcher Title Yet

Ciri’s Destiny From The Very Beginning

CD Projekt Red (CDPR) is setting new heights with The Witcher 4, which they describe as "the most immersive and ambitious open-world Witcher game to date." This bold statement was made by executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga in an interview with GamesRadar+. "We are committed to pushing boundaries with each new game. After The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077, we are applying all the lessons learned to make The Witcher 4 exceptional," added game director Sebastian Kalemba.

The latest addition to the Witcher franchise will spotlight Ciri, Geralt of Rivia’s adopted daughter, who has seemingly inherited her father’s mantle as the Witcher. This was dramatically unveiled in the cinematic trailer during The Game Awards. CDPR had planned this trajectory from the outset. "Ciri was always the character we envisioned for this role. Her complexity offers a rich narrative to explore," explained story director Tomasz Marchewka.

However, fans will notice a slight nerf in Ciri’s abilities compared to her portrayal in The Witcher 3. At the end of the previous game, Ciri was "totally overpowered," but the trailer suggests a few of her Witcher senses may have dulled. Mitręga teased, "Something significant happened in between," yet remained tight-lipped on the details. Kalemba reassured fans that all would be explained within the game itself. "We've ensured every question has a clear answer in our development process," he stated. Despite this, Ciri will still embody many of Geralt's traits. "She's faster, more agile, yet unmistakably influenced by Geralt," Mitręga added.

Time For Geralt To Retire—No, Really

With Ciri taking on the Witcher role in the upcoming game, it's time for Geralt of Rivia to step back and enjoy his retirement. After over fifty years of battling monsters, Geralt deserves a peaceful life. According to the novels by Andrzej Sapkowski, Geralt was born in 1211, making him 61 during the events of The Witcher 3 and 64 by the end of its DLC, Blood and Wine.

In Sapkowski’s latest book, Rozdroże kruków (Raven’s Crossing), Geralt's age is confirmed, placing him at around 59 during the first Witcher game. With the timeline of The Witcher 4, Geralt could be in his seventies or nearly eighty, depending on the game's timeskip. Witchers can live up to a hundred years if they survive their dangerous profession, but many fans were surprised to learn Geralt is not as old as previously thought, around 90 years old.