While Geralt of Rivia will return in The Witcher 4, according to voice actor Doug Cockle, the iconic Witcher won't be the protagonist. This confirms Geralt's presence, but shifts the narrative focus to new characters.
Geralt's Return: A Supporting Role in The Witcher 4
A New Protagonist Takes Center Stage
The White Wolf is back! Contrary to previous suggestions that *The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt* concluded his story, Doug Cockle has confirmed Geralt's appearance in the upcoming sequel. However, Cockle clarified that Geralt will play a supporting role, not the leading one.In a recent interview with Fall Damage, Cockle hinted at a significant change in direction for the series. While remaining tight-lipped about specifics, he stressed Geralt's supporting role in the narrative.
"Witcher 4 is confirmed. I can't divulge details. What we know is Geralt will be in the game," Cockle stated. "The extent of his involvement is unclear. But the focus won't be on Geralt; it's a different story this time."
The identity of The Witcher 4's protagonist remains a mystery. "We don't know who the main character is. I'm eager to find out myself," Cockle admitted, strongly suggesting a new lead character.
Speculation on the New Protagonist
An intriguing clue surfaced in the Witcher 4 teaser from two years ago, showcased during an Unreal Engine 5 presentation. A Cat School medallion, buried in the snow, was visible. Although the School of the Cat was decimated before The Witcher 3, Gwent's seasonal tree suggests surviving members: "Those who weren't present during the attack... roam the world's ends—bitter, vengeful, with nothing left to lose…"
Another leading candidate is Ciri, Geralt's adopted daughter. Supporting this theory, Ciri obtained a Cat School medallion in the books after defeating a powerful enemy. The Witcher 3 subtly hints at this connection by replacing Geralt's Wolf medallion with a Cat medallion when players control Ciri.
Some predict Ciri will take the lead, with Geralt acting as a mentor, similar to Vessemir's role. Others speculate on a more limited appearance for Geralt, possibly in flashbacks or cameos.
The Witcher 4's Development and Release
In an interview with Lega Nerd, The Witcher 4's game director, Sebastian Kalemba, highlighted the game's aim: to attract new fans while satisfying long-time fans eager for Geralt's continued story. However, the wait may be lengthy.
The Witcher 4, codenamed Polaris, began development in 2023. CD Projekt Red's 2023 earnings report shows almost half their development team—around 330 developers—were dedicated to the project by October, following Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty's release. This number has increased to over 400, making it CD Projekt Red's largest project in terms of personnel.
Despite this substantial investment, CEO Adam Kiciński indicated in October 2022 that the release would be at least three years away due to the project's ambitious scope and the development of new Unreal Engine 5 technology.
