Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license.
Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat.
We can research this topic together.
The developers aimed to ensure that the game would not contradict or "break" the established canon, regardless of the player's choices in '']'' (2015). CDPR also recognized that some players might be unfamiliar with the previous games and sought to design ''The Witcher IV'' as both a fresh entry point for newcomers and a continuation for longtime fans.<ref name="Purslow"/> The studio has long considered the idea of a game where ], who appeared as a supporting, occasionally playable character in ''Wild Hunt'', serves as the main protagonist, describing her as a "very organic, logical choice".<ref name="Ciri Choice (IGN)">{{Cite web |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=13 December 2024 |title=The Witcher 4 Developer CD Projekt Explains Why It Went With Ciri Over Continuing With Geralt as Protagonist |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-witcher-4-developer-cd-projekt-explains-why-it-went-with-ciri-over-continuing-with-geralt-as-protagonist |website=IGN |language=en-US |access-date=13 December 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213041028/https://www.ign.com/articles/the-witcher-4-developer-cd-projekt-explains-why-it-went-with-ciri-over-continuing-with-geralt-as-protagonist |archive-date=13 December 2024}}</ref><ref name="Playable Ciri (IGN)">{{Cite web |last=Karmali |first=Luke |date=15 December 2014 |title=The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Will Let You Play as Ciri |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/12/15/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-will-let-you-play-as-ciri |website=IGN |language=en-US |access-date=13 December 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202105252/https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/12/15/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-will-let-you-play-as-ciri |archive-date=2 December 2024}}</ref> Cian Maher, franchise and lore designer at CDPR, explained that "The Witcher as a title refers to both ] and Ciri and always has", with the latter being "arguably more important to the plot than Geralt himself". Unlike Geralt, a seasoned monster hunter throughout the series, Ciri is depicted in ''The Witcher IV'' as an aspiring monster hunter who is "about to form her own codex on her own terms". Game director Sebastian Kalemba emphasized that the developers aim to expand player agency by offering more options for both narrative and gameplay decisions, creating a more personalized experience.<ref name="Purslow"/>
The developers aimed to ensure that the game would not contradict or "break" the established canon, regardless of the player's choices in '']'' (2015). CDPR also recognized that some players might be unfamiliar with the previous games and sought to design ''The Witcher IV'' as both a fresh entry point for newcomers and a continuation for longtime fans.<ref name="Purslow"/> The studio has long considered the idea of a game where ], who appeared as a supporting, occasionally playable character in ''Wild Hunt'', serves as the main protagonist, describing her as a "very organic, logical choice".<ref name="Ciri Choice (IGN)">{{Cite web |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=13 December 2024 |title=The Witcher 4 Developer CD Projekt Explains Why It Went With Ciri Over Continuing With Geralt as Protagonist |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-witcher-4-developer-cd-projekt-explains-why-it-went-with-ciri-over-continuing-with-geralt-as-protagonist |website=IGN |language=en-US |access-date=13 December 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213041028/https://www.ign.com/articles/the-witcher-4-developer-cd-projekt-explains-why-it-went-with-ciri-over-continuing-with-geralt-as-protagonist |archive-date=13 December 2024}}</ref><ref name="Playable Ciri (IGN)">{{Cite web |last=Karmali |first=Luke |date=15 December 2014 |title=The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Will Let You Play as Ciri |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/12/15/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-will-let-you-play-as-ciri |website=IGN |language=en-US |access-date=13 December 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202105252/https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/12/15/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-will-let-you-play-as-ciri |archive-date=2 December 2024}}</ref> Cian Maher, franchise and lore designer at CDPR, explained that "The Witcher as a title refers to both ] and Ciri and always has", with the latter being "arguably more important to the plot than Geralt himself". Unlike Geralt, a seasoned monster hunter throughout the series, Ciri is depicted in ''The Witcher IV'' as an aspiring monster hunter who is "about to form her own codex on her own terms". Game director Sebastian Kalemba emphasized that the developers aim to expand player agency by offering more options for both narrative and gameplay decisions, creating a more personalized experience.<ref name="Purslow"/>
The studio wanted to enhance gameplay flexibility by drawing on their experience with ''Cyberpunk 2077'', particularly in aligning world exploration with improved coherence across main story missions, side quests, and ] activities.<ref name="Purslow"/> The game is being developed using ], which CDPR adopted after transitioning away from their proprietary ]—the technology previously used for '']'' (2011) and ''Wild Hunt''.<ref name="Sarkar 2022"/> Unlike the development of ''Cyberpunk 2077'', the studio began testing the game on consoles early in production to avoid ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Evans-Thirlwell |first=Edwin |date=17 October 2023 |title=What have The Witcher 4 or "Polaris" team learned from Cyberpunk 2077? Test on console early and avoid crunch |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/what-has-the-witcher-4-or-polaris-team-learned-from-cyberpunk-2077-test-consoles-early-and-avoid-crunch |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |access-date=13 December 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241210034558/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/what-has-the-witcher-4-or-polaris-team-learned-from-cyberpunk-2077-test-consoles-early-and-avoid-crunch |archive-date=10 December 2024}}</ref>
The studio wanted to enhance gameplay flexibility by drawing on their experience with ''Cyberpunk 2077'', particularly in aligning world exploration with improved coherence across main story missions, side quests, and ] activities.<ref name="Purslow"/> The game is being developed using ], which CDPR adopted after transitioning away from their proprietary ]—the technology previously used for '']'' (2011) and ''Wild Hunt''.<ref name="Sarkar 2022"/> Unlike the development of ''Cyberpunk 2077'', the studio began testing the game on consoles early in production to avoid ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Evans-Thirlwell |first=Edwin |date=17 October 2023 |title=What have The Witcher 4 or "Polaris" team learned from Cyberpunk 2077? Test on console early and avoid crunch |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/what-has-the-witcher-4-or-polaris-team-learned-from-cyberpunk-2077-test-consoles-early-and-avoid-crunch |website=] |access-date=13 December 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241210034558/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/what-has-the-witcher-4-or-polaris-team-learned-from-cyberpunk-2077-test-consoles-early-and-avoid-crunch |archive-date=10 December 2024}}</ref>
''The Witcher IV'' was announced with its debut trailer at ] in December 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Diaz |first=Ana |date=13 December 2024 |title=Witcher 4 trailer reveals Ciri as its playable progatonist |url=https://www.polygon.com/gaming/495520/witcher-4-trailer-reveal |website=Polygon |language=en-US |access-date=13 December 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213020826/https://www.polygon.com/gaming/495520/witcher-4-trailer-reveal |archive-date=13 December 2024}}</ref> The trailer was pre-rendered in-engine on an "unannounced" ] ] GPU rather than showing real-time rendered scenes.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Edser |first1=Andy |date=December 13, 2024 |title=The Witcher 4 reveal trailer has been 'pre-rendered on an unannounced Nvidia GeForce GPU' which tells us... not much actually |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/graphics-cards/the-witcher-4-reveal-trailer-has-been-pre-rendered-on-an-unannounced-nvidia-geforce-gpu-which-tells-us-not-much-actually/ |website=PC Gamer |language=en-US |access-date=December 13, 2024}}</ref>
''The Witcher IV'' was announced with its debut trailer at ] in December 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Diaz |first=Ana |date=13 December 2024 |title=Witcher 4 trailer reveals Ciri as its playable progatonist |url=https://www.polygon.com/gaming/495520/witcher-4-trailer-reveal |website=Polygon |language=en-US |access-date=13 December 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213020826/https://www.polygon.com/gaming/495520/witcher-4-trailer-reveal |archive-date=13 December 2024}}</ref> The trailer was pre-rendered in-engine on an "unannounced" ] ] GPU rather than showing real-time rendered scenes.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Edser |first1=Andy |date=December 13, 2024 |title=The Witcher 4 reveal trailer has been 'pre-rendered on an unannounced Nvidia GeForce GPU' which tells us... not much actually |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/graphics-cards/the-witcher-4-reveal-trailer-has-been-pre-rendered-on-an-unannounced-nvidia-geforce-gpu-which-tells-us-not-much-actually/ |website=PC Gamer |language=en-US |access-date=December 13, 2024}}</ref> Following the release of the trailer, which stars Irish actress Ciara Berkeley as Ciri, CD Project Red confirmed that ] would return as original triology protagonist Geralt in an undisclosed role.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=13 December 2024 |title=Geralt Is in The Witcher 4 and That Is Indeed Doug Cockle's Voice in the Trailer, CD Projekt Confirms|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/geralt-is-in-the-witcher-4-and-that-is-indeed-doug-cockles-voice-in-the-trailer-cd-projekt-confirms |website=]|access-date=13 December 2024}}</ref>
== References ==
== References ==
Revision as of 19:01, 13 December 2024
Upcoming video game
A request that this article title be changed to The Witcher 4 is under discussion. Please do not move this article until the discussion is closed.
In March 2022, CD Projekt Red (CDPR) announced that they were working on a new game in The Witcher series. By October, the studio revealed that it would serve as the first installment in a new trilogy. Following the release of Cyberpunk 2077 (2020), CDPR made structural changes to its production process, extending the pre-production phase to establish clear development stages and ensure cohesive designs for future projects, including the new Witcher game, which remained in pre-production from May 2022 until November 2024, when full-scale development began. Internally, the game referred to by the codename Project Polaris.
The developers aimed to ensure that the game would not contradict or "break" the established canon, regardless of the player's choices in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015). CDPR also recognized that some players might be unfamiliar with the previous games and sought to design The Witcher IV as both a fresh entry point for newcomers and a continuation for longtime fans. The studio has long considered the idea of a game where Ciri, who appeared as a supporting, occasionally playable character in Wild Hunt, serves as the main protagonist, describing her as a "very organic, logical choice". Cian Maher, franchise and lore designer at CDPR, explained that "The Witcher as a title refers to both Geralt and Ciri and always has", with the latter being "arguably more important to the plot than Geralt himself". Unlike Geralt, a seasoned monster hunter throughout the series, Ciri is depicted in The Witcher IV as an aspiring monster hunter who is "about to form her own codex on her own terms". Game director Sebastian Kalemba emphasized that the developers aim to expand player agency by offering more options for both narrative and gameplay decisions, creating a more personalized experience.
The studio wanted to enhance gameplay flexibility by drawing on their experience with Cyberpunk 2077, particularly in aligning world exploration with improved coherence across main story missions, side quests, and open world activities. The game is being developed using Unreal Engine 5, which CDPR adopted after transitioning away from their proprietary REDengine—the technology previously used for The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (2011) and Wild Hunt. Unlike the development of Cyberpunk 2077, the studio began testing the game on consoles early in production to avoid crunch.
The Witcher IV was announced with its debut trailer at the Game Awards in December 2024. The trailer was pre-rendered in-engine on an "unannounced" NvidiaGeForce RTX 50 Series GPU rather than showing real-time rendered scenes. Following the release of the trailer, which stars Irish actress Ciara Berkeley as Ciri, CD Project Red confirmed that Doug Cockle would return as original triology protagonist Geralt in an undisclosed role.
