Ciri Role in 'Witcher 4' Explored: Dev Statement

CD Projekt Red addresses the controversy surrounding Ciri's protagonist role in Witcher 4, while remaining tight-lipped about current-gen console compatibility. Here's a breakdown of the recent news.

Witcher 4 Development Insights: Addressing the Ciri Controversy

Ciri's Protagonist Role: A Controversial Choice?

In a December 18th interview with VGC, narrative director Phillipp Weber acknowledged the potential backlash of replacing Geralt with Ciri. He recognized the strong player attachment to Geralt, calling concerns about the change "legitimate." However, Weber defended the decision, stating that showcasing Ciri's story was a natural progression given her established presence in previous games and novels. He emphasized their aim is to demonstrate the compelling narrative possibilities with Ciri as the lead.

Weber highlighted Ciri's evolution from a secondary protagonist in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt to the central figure in Witcher 4, presenting it as a logical continuation of the established narrative arc. This shift, he argued, opens up exciting new avenues for exploring the Witcher universe and Ciri's character arc.

Executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga reassured fans that the narrative choices will be clarified upon release, hinting at explanations regarding Geralt's fate and other characters' post-Witcher 3 storylines. She emphasized that the team understands the passionate feedback and believes the game itself will provide the best answers.

Geralt's return is confirmed, however. His voice actor revealed in August 2024 that Geralt will appear, though in a supporting role, alongside new and returning characters.

For further details, refer to our dedicated Witcher 4 articles.

Console Compatibility Remains Unclear

In a separate December 18th interview with Eurogamer, director Sebastian Kalemba and Phillipp Weber discussed the game's development using Unreal Engine 5 and a custom build. While confirming their goal is to support PC, Xbox, and PlayStation platforms, they refrained from specifying which current-gen consoles will be supported. Kalemba stated the reveal trailer serves as a benchmark for their visual aspirations, suggesting that the final product may differ.

A Revised Development Approach

CDPR's vice president of technology, Charles Tremblay, revealed in a November 29th Eurogamer interview that the development process for Witcher 4 has been significantly altered to prevent a repeat of the Cyberpunk 2077 launch issues. The team is now prioritizing development on lower-spec hardware (consoles) to ensure broader platform compatibility and aims for simultaneous release across PC and consoles, although supported consoles remain unconfirmed. The developers are committed to ensuring the game runs smoothly on both low-spec consoles and high-end PCs.