Witcher 4 Controversy Resolved

CD Projekt Red addresses the controversy surrounding Ciri's leading role in Witcher 4, while remaining tight-lipped about current-gen console compatibility. Here's a breakdown of the latest news.

Witcher 4 Development Insights: Addressing the Ciri Controversy

Ciri as Protagonist: A Controversial Choice?

In a recent VGC interview (December 18th), narrative director Phillipp Weber acknowledged the potential backlash from making Ciri the protagonist of Witcher 4. He recognized the strong attachment fans have to Geralt, the protagonist of the previous three games, stating, "We knew it could be controversial...everyone loved playing as Geralt."

While acknowledging this "legitimate concern," Weber defended the decision, emphasizing their aim to demonstrate Ciri's potential as a compelling lead. He highlighted that the decision wasn't recent, but rather a long-term strategy, explaining that Ciri's prominence in the novels and Witcher 3 pointed towards this "natural evolution." The choice, he argued, allows for fresh exploration of the Witcher universe and Ciri's character arc.

Executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga added that all will be revealed upon the game's release, hinting at explanations regarding Geralt's fate and other characters' post-Witcher 3 storylines. She stated, "The best answer...will be the game itself."

However, Geralt isn't entirely absent. His voice actor confirmed (August 2024) a smaller, yet significant, role for Geralt, alongside new and returning characters. (See our related article for more details.) Our dedicated Witcher 4 article provides further information and updates.

Console Compatibility: Still Unclear

In a separate Eurogamer interview (December 18th), director Sebastian Kalemba and Phillipp Weber remained elusive about current-gen console support. While confirming the use of Unreal Engine 5 and a custom build, Kalemba stated, "I cannot, right now, tell you more specifics regarding" platform support.

He suggested the reveal trailer serves as a "good benchmark" for their visual goals, implying that the trailer's graphics might not perfectly represent the final product, but offer a reasonable approximation of what to expect.

A New Development Approach

CD Projekt Red's vice president of technology, Charles Tremblay, discussed (Eurogamer, November 29th) a revised development strategy for Witcher 4, aiming to avoid repeating the Cyberpunk 2077 launch issues. This involves prioritizing development on lower-spec hardware (consoles) to ensure smoother cross-platform compatibility and a simultaneous PC/console release. Precise console support remains unconfirmed.

Despite the lack of concrete details on platform compatibility, the developers assure fans that they're striving for broad support, encompassing both low-spec consoles and high-end PCs.