The Witcher 4 Updates Customizable Ciri and New Combat Mechanics

CD Projekt Red has given some exciting information on its upcoming project, The Witcher 4. Fans of the franchise can celebrate now that it is already in full production. That all happened just after the studio finished work on Cyberpunk 2077, allowing almost all developers to switch gears to The Witcher 4. The concept and pre-production of this game have already taken place, and now it is being fully developed. 

This next installment is part of a larger plan for the Witcher universe. Alongside The Witcher 4, CD Projekt Red is supporting two other Witcher-related projects: a multiplayer game and a remake of The Witcher 1. These are being developed by other studios, with CD Projekt Red providing guidance.

At The Game Awards, fans got their first official glimpse of The Witcher 4 through a cinematic trailer. This trailer, rendered using Unreal Engine 5, showcased the potential of cutting-edge RTX 50 Series graphics cards. While primarily a teaser, it offered an exciting look into what lies ahead for the series.

Ciri Takes Center Stage

The trailer confirmed that Ciri is going to be the main protagonist of The Witcher 4, though that was officially confirmed in 2022 by CD Projekt Red. It will launch a brand-new trilogy, which is now actually described as a "new saga" for the series; but according to developers, this is going to be quite the ambitious project, with the second and third games planned for release in the same six years after The Witcher 4's release. Such a road map suggests a consecutive and very organized process of continuing the legacy of The Witcher. 

It certainly does make sense to choose Ciri as the main character, especially for those who know the previous games and book series quite well. Malgorzata Mitera, executive producer at CD Projekt Red, said in an interview with IGN that organic logic was used when making that choice. As per her, understanding Ciri is an integral part of the saga-from-the-books-and-games.

"It was always about her," Mitera said. "When you read the books, she's an amazing, layered character. And, of course, as a protagonist, we said goodbye to Geralt previously, so this is a continuation. For all of us, it feels like she was meant to take this role."

Fans have followed Ciri's journey since the first Witcher game, making her transition to the lead role a logical progression. While some might have expected a new Witcher to take center stage, many agree that Ciri, with her rich backstory and development, is the perfect choice.

Freedom to Customize Ciri

Sebastian Kalemba, the game director, shared more insights into how Ciri's role will differ from Geralt's. As a younger character, Ciri offers more flexibility for players to shape her personality and choices. Unlike Geralt, whose decisions were partly shaped by his established personality in the books, Ciri provides a blank slate in many respects.

Kalemba explained that The Witcher 4 will explore Ciri's journey as she becomes a Witcher. Players will witness her growth, including how she develops her own Witcher codex, handles monsters, and navigates quests. "She's about to actually form her codex, but on her own terms," Kalemba said. This allows for a deeper exploration of her character and unique storytelling opportunities.

The game will explore the same themes as the previous Witcher titles, such as the ambiguous human and monster behavior ethics. Still, with Ciri's perspective, it is sure to take on a different flavor. Her education from Geralt, magical gifts learned from Yennefer, and Elder Blood bloodlines all combine to make her an interesting and powerful protagonist.

Gameplay and Story Highlights

The trailer teased new gameplay elements and mechanics. Ciri seemed to handle a chain weapon, which could possibly mean the inclusion of new combat mechanics. You can also observe how agile her movements are compared to Geralt's, hinting at her relative youth and training under the legendary Witcher.

Fans are also eager to see how the game handles the process of Ciri becoming a Witcher. While it's unclear whether she will undergo the Trial of the Grasses—a dangerous ritual that grants Witchers their abilities—the game will undoubtedly explore her transformation and challenges.

Kalemba indicated that where Witchers tend to stifle their emotions, Geralt would almost always go out of his way to soften them with compassion and heroism. This is likely one such spectrum where the Geralt arc has influenced Ciri, as evidenced in the trailer where she attempts to rescue a young girl. It is much akin to the very strand of Geralt's characteristic in which he would assist the less fortunate without expecting anything in return.

Freedom in Storytelling

The creative freedom that comes with the character of Ciri is perhaps one of the most exciting things about The Witcher 4. Unlike Geralt, whose story will stem from Andrzej Sapkowski's novels, Ciri is largely unexplored. Hence, CD Projekt Red will have the freedom to create a new narrative while letting players shape Ciri's personality, depending on their choices. 

Developers have stated that certain fans will complain that Ciri is going to take the lead. But Kalemba and Mitera were confident in what they were doing because it was no random decision. On their part, discussions over Ciri becoming the protagonist began back in 2015, soon after the release of The Witcher 3.

"We were talking about who's next," Kalemba recalled. "The very, very instant answer was Ciri. There were many reasons behind that… she really deserves a stage. We want players to really experience her story because she has so much to tell, so much to prove. The challenges ahead give us so much energy and fuel to create an epic saga."

Building on a Strong Foundation

That pattern of the Witcher trilogy has always relied on story-telling, and so will the next installment of the Witcher. The first three games, which were based on Sapkowski's books, established the character of Ciri as the groundwork for her character. CD Projekt Red is now ready to take her narrative further, exploring her as a Witcher and her unique point of view.

Apart from The Witcher 4, CD Projekt Red is also developing a complete remake of The Witcher 1. This remake intends to entirely reimagine the original title, bringing it up to a modern standard. Although Geralt does return in this project, Ciri's more prominent role, such as the one in The Witcher 4, marks a notable shift for this franchise.

Looking Ahead

CD Projekt Red has big plans for the entire Witcher universe; they are working on The Witcher 4 and, at the same time, planning the fifth and sixth installments of this trilogy. This long-term view will serve as proof for any dissenter of the studio as it maps out a cohesive narrative through many games.

They have established themselves as master storytellers in Cyberpunk 2077 and its expansion, Phantom Liberty. One would expect similar quality and minutiae from the developers in this new trilogy.

Finally…

Ciri is set to lead the charge. All Witcher fans can really look forward to something new yet familiar in The Witcher 4. It follows the newly developed growth of her character as a Witcher, and with all new gameplay mechanics and an original narrative, this chapter of the series promises to be really exciting.

As the Witcher universe grows, players can look forward to being able to explore even more stories with new characters and well-loved ones, such as Geralt. And if there is anything to go by, CD Projekt Red has grand plans in store for creating memorable experiences for players in the future of the Witcher saga.