"Witcher 4 to Be Series' Most Ambitious Game"

The Witcher 4 is poised to be the most immersive and ambitious installment in the video game series, with Ciri stepping into the spotlight as the next Witcher, as confirmed by CD Projekt Red (CDPR) executive producer. Dive into the details of Ciri's ascension and Geralt's well-deserved retirement.

Most Immersive Witcher Title Yet

Ciri’s Destiny From The Very Beginning

CD Projekt Red (CDPR) is setting the bar high with The Witcher 4, describing it as "the most immersive and ambitious open-world Witcher game to date," according to executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga in an interview with GamesRadar+. "We definitely want to raise the bar with every video game that we create. This is what we did with Cyberpunk 2077 after The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and we want to apply all of the lessons learned from both of these experiences and incorporate them into The Witcher 4," added game director Sebastian Kalemba.

The latest entry in the acclaimed Witcher series will spotlight Ciri, Geralt of Rivia's adopted daughter, who has seemingly taken up her father's mantle as the esteemed Witcher, as showcased in the grand cinematic trailer unveiled at The Game Awards. This was always part of CDPR's plan, as story director Tomasz Marchewka explained, "From the very beginning we knew it had to be Ciri - she's a very complex character, and there is so much to be told about her."

However, fans should note that the Ciri from the previous game will be slightly less powerful this time around. At the end of The Witcher 3, Ciri was "totally overpowered," but her skillset in the trailer suggests a slight dulling of her Witcher senses. Mitręga remained tight-lipped about the reasons, only hinting that "something totally happened in-between." Kalemba reassured fans that the game will provide a clear answer to these changes, stating, "We cannot tell you exactly how. But we can tell you just, like, believe us: that was one of the things, or first things, that we were solving, to make sure—the way we develop here, we do not leave anything without a clear answer."

Despite these changes, Ciri will still embody much of Geralt's essence. As Mitręga noted, "She's faster, more agile—but you can still tell that she was raised by Geralt, right?"

Time For Geralt To Retire—No, Really

With Ciri now carrying the Witcher title in the upcoming game, it's time for Geralt of Rivia to enjoy his retirement. At over fifty years old, he's earned his peace. According to the novels by Andrzej Sapkowski, Geralt was 61 years old during The Witcher 3.

In Sapkowski’s latest book, Rozdroże kruków (Raven’s Crossing or Crossing of the Ravens in English), it's revealed that Geralt was born in 1211. This timeline places him at 59 years old during the events of the first Witcher game, 61 during The Witcher 3, and 64 by the end of its DLC, Blood and Wine. By the time The Witcher 4 occurs, Geralt could be in his seventies or nearing eighty, depending on the game's time skip.

While Witchers can live up to a hundred years according to the lore, many fans were surprised to learn Geralt's true age, having previously believed him to be around 90 years old.