Geralt Retires, Witcher 4 Introduces New Protagonist

Geralt of Rivia's return in The Witcher 4 has been confirmed by voice actor Doug Cockle. However, while the iconic Witcher will feature, the narrative focus shifts to new protagonists.

Geralt's Role in The Witcher 4: A Supporting Character

A New Era for the Witcher Saga

The White Wolf is back! Contrary to previous assumptions that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt concluded his story arc, Cockle confirmed Geralt's presence in the upcoming installment. Crucially, he clarified that Geralt won't be the central figure.

In an interview with Fall Damage, Cockle alluded to a significant change in the series' direction. While details remain scarce, he highlighted Geralt's supporting role, stating, "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 said. "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 Witcher 4's protagonist remains undisclosed. Cockle's admission, "We don’t know who it’s about. I’m excited to find out. I want to know," fuels speculation about a new lead character.

Intriguing clues from the Witcher 4 teaser, showcased two years prior in an Unreal Engine 5 presentation, reveal a Cat School medallion buried in the snow. While the School was decimated before The Witcher 3, Gwent hints at surviving members, described as "embittered, hungry for vengeance, with nothing left to lose…"

Another strong contender is Ciri, Geralt's adopted daughter. Supporting this theory, Ciri obtained a Cat School medallion in the books after a significant victory. Furthermore, The Witcher 3 subtly connects Ciri to the Cat School by replacing Geralt's Wolf medallion with a Cat medallion when players control Ciri.

Potential scenarios range from Ciri taking the lead with Geralt as a mentor, similar to Vesemir's role, to more limited appearances, perhaps through flashbacks or cameos.

The Witcher 4's Development and Release Date

In an interview with Lega Nerd, game director Sebastian Kalemba emphasized the game's dual objective: attracting new players while satisfying long-time fans. Despite the excitement, the release date remains distant.

Codenamed Polaris, The Witcher 4 officially commenced development in 2023. CD Projekt Red's 2023 earnings report revealed that nearly half their development team (approximately 330 developers) was dedicated to the project by October, following Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty's release. This number has since increased to over 400, making it CD Projekt Red's largest project to date.

However, CEO Adam Kiciński's October 2022 statement suggests a release at least three years out, due to the project's ambitious scope and the development of new Unreal Engine 5 technologies. For further release date predictions, refer to the linked article.