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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-2024" /> 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>{{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 |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 |access-date=13 December 2024 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{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 |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 |access-date=13 December 2024 |website=]}}</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".<ref name="Purslow-2024" /> Ciara Berkeley was cast as Ciri, replacing ], who voiced the character in ''Wild Hunt''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bevan |first=Rhiannon |date=13 December 2024 |title= The Witcher 4 Trailer Recasts Ciri |url=https://www.thegamer.com/the-witcher-4-ciri-voice-actor-jo-wyatt-recast-rumours/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213212620/https://www.thegamer.com/the-witcher-4-ciri-voice-actor-jo-wyatt-recast-rumours/ |archive-date=13 December 2024 |access-date=13 December 2024 |website=TheGamer}}</ref> ] will reprise his role as Geralt.<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 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213213026/https://www.ign.com/articles/geralt-is-in-the-witcher-4-and-that-is-indeed-doug-cockles-voice-in-the-trailer-cd-projekt-confirms |archive-date=13 December 2024 |access-date=13 December 2024 |website=]}}</ref>
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-2024" /> 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>{{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 |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 |access-date=13 December 2024 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{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 |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 |access-date=13 December 2024 |website=]}}</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".<ref name="Purslow-2024" /> Ciara Berkeley was cast as Ciri, replacing ], who voiced the character in ''Wild Hunt''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bevan |first=Rhiannon |date=13 December 2024 |title= The Witcher 4 Trailer Recasts Ciri |url=https://www.thegamer.com/the-witcher-4-ciri-voice-actor-jo-wyatt-recast-rumours/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213212620/https://www.thegamer.com/the-witcher-4-ciri-voice-actor-jo-wyatt-recast-rumours/ |archive-date=13 December 2024 |access-date=13 December 2024 |website=TheGamer}}</ref> ] will reprise his role as Geralt.<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 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213213026/https://www.ign.com/articles/geralt-is-in-the-witcher-4-and-that-is-indeed-doug-cockles-voice-in-the-trailer-cd-projekt-confirms |archive-date=13 December 2024 |access-date=13 December 2024 |website=]}}</ref>
Game director Sebastian Kalemba stated that the developers aim to expand player agency by offering more narrative choices. Drawing on their experience with ''Cyberpunk 2077'', the studio also seeks to enhance gameplay flexibility, including character builds and encounters, and create greater coherence across main story missions, side quests, and ] activities.<ref name="Purslow-2024" /> 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 |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 |access-date=13 December 2024 |website=]}}</ref>
Game director Sebastian Kalemba stated that the developers aim to expand player agency by offering more narrative choices. Drawing on their experience with ''Cyberpunk 2077'', the studio also seeks to enhance gameplay flexibility, including character builds and encounters, and create greater coherence across main story missions, side quests, and ] activities.<ref name="Purslow-2024" /> 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" />
''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 |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 |access-date=13 December 2024 |website=]}}</ref> The trailer was pre-rendered in-engine on an "unannounced" ] graphics card, rather than showcasing real-time rendered scenes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Edser |first=Andy |date=13 December 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/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213212447/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/ |archive-date=13 December 2024 |access-date=13 December 2024 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Chacos |first=Brad |date=13 December 2024 |title=Nvidia stokes RTX 50-series hype with Witcher 4 and a global LAN party |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/2556729/nvidia-stokes-rtx-50-series-hype-with-witcher-4-and-a-global-lan-party.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214072128/https://www.pcworld.com/article/2556729/nvidia-stokes-rtx-50-series-hype-with-witcher-4-and-a-global-lan-party.html |archive-date=14 December 2024 |access-date=14 December 2024 |website=]}}</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 |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 |access-date=13 December 2024 |website=]}}</ref> The trailer was pre-rendered in-engine on an "unannounced" ] graphics card, rather than showcasing real-time rendered scenes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Edser |first=Andy |date=13 December 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/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213212447/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/ |archive-date=13 December 2024 |access-date=13 December 2024 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Chacos |first=Brad |date=13 December 2024 |title=Nvidia stokes RTX 50-series hype with Witcher 4 and a global LAN party |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/2556729/nvidia-stokes-rtx-50-series-hype-with-witcher-4-and-a-global-lan-party.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214072128/https://www.pcworld.com/article/2556729/nvidia-stokes-rtx-50-series-hype-with-witcher-4-and-a-global-lan-party.html |archive-date=14 December 2024 |access-date=14 December 2024 |website=]}}</ref>
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 was 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". Ciara Berkeley was cast as Ciri, replacing Jo Wyatt, who voiced the character in Wild Hunt. Doug Cockle will reprise his role as Geralt.
Game director Sebastian Kalemba stated that the developers aim to expand player agency by offering more narrative choices. Drawing on their experience with Cyberpunk 2077, the studio also seeks to enhance gameplay flexibility, including character builds and encounters, and create greater 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.
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" Nvidia graphics card, rather than showcasing real-time rendered scenes.
