Once Cyberpunk 2077 finally releases and wraps its entire run, however long it may be, many expect CD Projekt Red’s next big project to be The Witcher 4. Without spoiling the multiple endings, the hit third installment The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt sets the sun on Geralt’s adventures, also earmarked by developer comments that the Witcher series was meant to be a trilogy. Unless the next game is a prequel or midquel, Witcher 4 will likely end up not including the beloved chiseled star of the franchise.
This leaves Witcher 4 with two main routes: either featuring the option for an original, customizable main character or that Ciri will be the star of the next game. At the end of Witcher 3, Ciri’s story is left very open and ambiguous, and this was likely done intentionally for the following game. Of course, it could also be someone brand new, the entire franchise could be sunset, and while it seems likely that CD Projekt Red does return some day, it’s likely to be a brand new ball park. With Geralt’s game trilogy come to an end, players should be prepared for the pros and cons of another Witcher installment that doesn’t include the White Wolf as its main protagonist.
Making big changes to beloved franchises is always a risky move, and with Geralt of Rivia being such a widely renowned character in the gaming industry, it’s tough to say how fans would take a game that doesn’t feature him as the playable character. Likely, many would miss playing as Geralt while still keeping an open mind if given the opportunity to play his adoptive daughter, much like The Last of Us and Part 2‘s change between Joel and Ellie. Even though the news is out there that Geralt’s story is more or less done, fans will still likely feel sad about his lack of inclusion, and his shoes are undoubtedly difficult to fill.
However, a new protagonist also leaves room for refreshing new gameplay. Though Geralt of Rivia is the Continent’s most renowned hunter, Cirilla has her own set of unique abilities. For starters, she’s a descendant of a legendary elven sorceress with strong magical skills, granting her powers to blink through planes as well as control time. This is on top of any Witcher abilities if CD Projekt Red kept this direction canon in a possible Witcher 4 game.
Similarly, if an original player character is the protagonist of the fourth installment, this could lead to the opportunity for expansive skill trees and differing background options, much like Cyberpunk 2077‘s options for a Corpo-Rat, Nomad, or Street kid options that each offer unique abilities and perks throughout the story. It’s definitely a con that Geralt is gone, but there’s undeniable pros in new openings, new characters, and new ways to explore the Continent.
The universe that the original novel series author Andrzej Sapkowski created leaves much creative space to be explored and played with, but this can also be a big risk. The Witcher video game series is based on the books but is sometimes considered a continuation, sometimes an alternate universe, and sometimes merely not canon because it takes inspiration from them while imagining a brand new chapter for the characters.
However, though Ciri is considered a second main character of the book series, she’s never been the main protagonist, let alone anyone else in the series. Changing up the protagonist, whether it be Ciri or anyone else, will be a big departure for both the books and video games, which means new story territory that hasn’t been written. With Ciri or an original character as the protagonist, there’s less book content to draw from for a solid storyline, but writing for Witcher 3 proved that CD Projekt Red is capable of continuing and exploring a strong plot. The risk here is a huge con, but the pay-off here would be a huge pro.
There’s a lot of options CD Projekt Red could take with a Witcher 4 game, whether it be Ciri, a malleable Witcher character customizable by the player, or even the side character Jezza being featured as the main character. However, many are worried about a Mass Effect Andromeda reception, because living up to Geralt of Rivia will be no easy task. But both the developer and writer Sapkowski have a strong reputation with a solid cast of characters and story already built, so many fans are optimistic that a game without the White Wolf would still be successful.
The Witcher 4 is not know to be in development.
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