Alongside Onimusha: Method of the Sword and the long-awaited sequel to Okami, CD Projekt RED’s The Witcher 4 was maybe the largest announcement from The Sport Awards 2024. Although Geralt returns in some unknown function (and is heard within the trailer), Ciri is now the protagonist.
The response has prompted a myriad of reactions, from positivity to outrage. Nonetheless, per narrative director Philipp Weber, the choice wasn’t made as a result of the crew was “all of a sudden making up stuff.” Slight spoilers observe for The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt and the books, so beware.
Talking to Eurogamer alongside sport director Sebastian Kalemba, Weber responded about how collection creator Andrzej Sapkowski felt concerning the selection. “I can really provide you with an excellent reply as a result of it’s the reply Andrzej Sapkowski often offers: the reply is within the books. Within the books, Andrzej Sapkowski calls Ciri a witcher a number of instances, and Geralt calls Ciri a witcher within the books too. So, I believe that mainly says what Andrzej Sapkowski thinks concerning the subject.”
Nonetheless, Weber stated there are “many very legitimate worries and responses” relating to Ciri because the protagonist. “As a result of I believe lots of them come out of ardour, and I believe lots of these questions are additionally questions that we requested ourselves.
“So we actually, once more, say that we’re beholden to the lore, the canon of the books by Andrzej Sapkowski, the three earlier Witcher video games, and we’d need to take that significantly, and we actually need to respect that. So, all of the solutions we mainly need to give in The Witcher 4 are in step with this perspective. We’re not all of a sudden making up stuff simply because we need to. We actually need to take this stuff significantly.”
Weber acknowledged that he may “make video games about Geralt till the day I die,” and understood how followers would need one other sport with him. “However I believe for me, and I believe for all of us [at CDPR], it’s additionally simply actually thrilling to see all of the alternatives that Ciri brings us, each along with her character and in addition by simply advantage of who she is, what we are able to do along with her by way of the gameplay as effectively.
“So I believe the perfect reply for us, for these individuals that actually are apprehensive proper now, is mainly to point out them after we are prepared, that we actually do that effectively and with care. And I believe – I hope – we are able to then persuade them with the sport itself. As a result of I believe actions converse louder than phrases.”
On prime of this, Kalemba famous how seeds had been already planted in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for Ciri to develop into playable. “Please keep in mind that we’re additionally not solely builders, however we’re additionally players, proper? And, you recognize, we’ve began with the second protagonist already in The Wild Hunt. And so there was already a tease. So we actually [are] all about ensuring such calls are very educated calls. And we actually consider, as Philip already stated, that we even have a lot of an incredible story to inform with Ciri, and she or he deserves that.”
The Witcher 4 is developed on Unreal Engine 5 for Xbox Collection X/S, PS5, and PC. It doesn’t have a launch date, however full manufacturing started final month, so it’s doubtless a means off. Keep tuned for updates, and take a look at our characteristic right here.
