The Game Awards 2024 opened with a stunning cinematic trailer for The Witcher IV, the start of a new saga. The trailer confirmed that Cirilla will be the new protagonist, taking the torch from Geralt.
Ciri's Journey and Player Agency
Speaking to IGN, CD Projekt RED developers, including Cian Maher, emphasized that "The Witcher" as a title has always referred to both Geralt and Ciri, with Ciri arguably being more central to the plot. While they didn't elaborate on Geralt's potential role, they suggested he might still appear in some capacity.
Game Director Sebastian Kalemba discussed Ciri's journey as a new Witcher, stating that she is still developing her own code, increasing the player's agency. He also stressed the importance of allowing players to define Ciri's path:
We want to let players try to define her. She's about to form her own codex on her own terms... We want to put player agency at the center. We’re giving more tools for players' disposal, to be able to not only play and go with the consequences narratively but also gameplay-wise. We want to give players more opportunities to be able to feel that they define their experience.
Gameplay Improvements
Kalemba acknowledged that Cyberpunk 2077 offered more gameplay variety than *The Witcher 3*, and they aim to improve in this aspect for *The Witcher IV*. He expressed a desire to provide players with more freedom in character builds and how they approach encounters.
I believe the gameplay in Cyberpunk 2077 was more varied than in The Witcher 3, and it allowed more freedom when it comes to creating character builds and being able to experience encounters in your own way. This is something we definitely want to bring as a lesson to The Witcher IV.
The TGA 2024 trailer underwent numerous revisions to ensure every frame held meaning for fans.
Release Window
There is no official release window for *The Witcher IV*, but a release between late 2026 and early 2027 is speculated.
