Geralt of Rivia, the iconic Witcher, is returning in The Witcher 4, according to voice actor Doug Cockle. However, while the White Wolf will make an appearance, the game's focus will shift to new protagonists.
Geralt's Return: A Supporting Role in The Witcher 4
A New Chapter, A New Focus
Doug Cockle, in an interview with Fall Damage, confirmed Geralt's presence in *The Witcher 4*, dispelling rumors that *The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt* would be his final adventure. He clarified, however, that Geralt will not be the central character this time. "Witcher 4 has been announced. I can’t say anything about it. What we know is that Geralt will be part of the game," Cockle stated. "We just don’t know how much. And the game won’t focus on Geralt, so it’s not about him this time."
The identity of the new protagonist remains a mystery. Cockle himself admitted, "We don’t know who it’s about. I’m excited to find out. I want to know," fueling speculation about a fresh face leading the charge.
Intriguingly, a Cat School medallion, buried in the snow, appeared in the Witcher 4 teaser trailer showcased two years ago using Unreal Engine 5. Considering the decimation of the Cat School in The Witcher 3, and hints in Gwent: The Witcher Card Game about surviving members seeking vengeance, this detail sparks considerable interest.
Another strong contender for the protagonist role is Ciri, Geralt's adopted daughter. Evidence supporting this theory includes her acquisition of a Cat medallion in the books and the subtle in-game swap of Geralt's Wolf medallion for a Cat medallion when players control Ciri in The Witcher 3. While some predict a mentor-like role for Geralt, similar to Vesemir, others anticipate a more limited presence, possibly through flashbacks or cameos.
The Witcher 4's Development: A Massive Undertaking
Sebastian Kalemba, the game director of The Witcher 4, (codenamed Polaris), in an interview with Lega Nerd, highlighted the game's goal: to attract newcomers while satisfying long-time fans. Development officially began in 2023, and by October of that year, almost half of CD Projekt Red's development team (approximately 330 developers) was dedicated to the project. This number has since grown to over 400, making it CD Projekt Red's largest project to date, according to Pawel Sasko, associate game director for Cyberpunk 2077’s upcoming sequel.
Despite the significant investment, CEO Adam Kiciński indicated in October 2022 that the release would be at least three years away due to the ambitious scope and the development of new technology within Unreal Engine 5. For release date predictions, please see the article below!
