The Witcher 4: Devs Reveal Pre-Production Secrets

The Witcher 4's Genesis: A Side Quest's Unexpected Role

The development of The Witcher 4 wasn't a sudden leap; it began with a seemingly minor addition to its predecessor. A special quest, "In the Eternal Fire's Shadow," introduced to The Witcher 3 in late 2022, served as an onboarding experience for new team members joining the Witcher 4 project. This cleverly disguised initiation, coinciding with the game's next-gen update and offering a canonical explanation for Henry Cavill's in-game armor, proved invaluable.

Ciri's Rise to the Forefront

The Witcher 4, announced in March 2022, marks a pivotal shift. While Geralt was the undisputed protagonist of the previous trilogy, The Witcher 4 will star Ciri, launching a new trilogy focused on her adventures. The December 2024 Game Awards trailer solidified this change, showcasing Ciri's readiness to take center stage.

A Smooth Transition

Philipp Webber, narrative director for The Witcher 4 and quest designer for The Witcher 3's "In the Eternal Fire's Shadow," highlighted the quest's significance. He described it as "the perfect start to getting back into the vibe," suggesting it effectively eased new team members into the Witcher universe and its narrative style, approximately nine months before the side quest's release. This suggests a gradual integration of new talent into the project, likely including some from CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077 team.

Speculation and Future Implications

While Webber didn't name the initiated team members, their involvement, particularly those potentially transitioning from Cyberpunk 2077, fuels speculation. The possibility of The Witcher 4 incorporating a Phantom Liberty-esque skill tree, similar to the Cyberpunk 2077 expansion, gains weight considering the timeline of new team member integration. This side quest, therefore, wasn't merely a promotional tool; it served as a crucial bridge, shaping the development and potentially the very structure of The Witcher 4.