Witcher 4: Geralt Benched, New Protagonist Confirmed

The Witcher's Geralt of Rivia is back for The Witcher 4, according to voice actor Doug Cockle. However, while the renowned Witcher will feature, the emphasis will change to new characters.

Geralt of Rivia Returns in The Witcher 4, But Not as the Protagonist‘It’s Not About Him This Time’, Voice Actor Said

The White Wolf returns! Despite prior indications that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt would be the conclusion of his tale, voice actor Doug Cockle confirmed Geralt’s presence in The Witcher 4. However, enthusiasts should moderate their expectations, as Cockle also disclosed that the game won’t center on the seasoned monster hunter.

In a recent interview with Fall Damage, Cockle alluded to an alteration in the series’ trajectory. While he couldn’t offer specifics, he stressed that Geralt’s part will be supplementary rather than pivotal to the storyline.

"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 main character in Witcher 4 remains a closely guarded secret. "We don’t know who it’s about. I’m excited to find out. I want to know," admitted Doug Cockle, lending credence to the notion of a new character taking center stage.

One intriguing possibility arises from a seemingly minor detail in the Witcher 4 teaser posted two years ago in an Unreal Engine 5 presentation. A Cat medallion, symbol of the once-powerful School of the Cat, was spotted buried in the snow. Though the order was devastated by Nilfgaardian forces years before The Witcher 3, Gwent: The Witcher Card Game’s seasonal tree hints at survivors: "As for those who were not present during the attack? They continue to roam the world’s ends—embittered, hungry for revenge, with nothing left to lose…"

However, many also wager on Ciri, Geralt’s adopted daughter, to assume the lead. Evidence supporting this theory is plentiful. In the Witcher books, she obtained a Cat medallion after vanquishing a powerful adversary. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt subtly strengthens this connection by replacing the Wolf medallion next to Geralt’s health bar with a Cat medallion when players control Ciri.

While some picture Ciri taking center stage with Geralt adopting a mentor-like role, similar to Vesemir, others believe his participation might be more restricted, perhaps confined to flashbacks or brief appearances.

The Witcher 4’s Development

In an interview with Italian media outlet Lega Nerd, The Witcher 4’s game director, Sebastian Kalemba, highlighted the game’s goal: to attract new players while pleasing devoted fans wanting to continue Geralt’s journey. While excitement is high, the launch of this new chapter may be several years away.

The Witcher 4, codenamed Polaris, officially began development in 2023. According to CD Projekt Red’s 2023 financial report, almost half of the studio’s development team—roughly 330 developers—was assigned to the project by October that year, after the release of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. This number has since increased to over 400, making The Witcher 4 the studio’s most extensive project in terms of personnel, according to Pawel Sasko, associate game director for Cyberpunk 2077’s forthcoming sequel.

Despite this substantial investment, fans should prepare for a lengthy wait. In October 2022, CEO Adam Kiciński suggested the game’s release would be at least three years off given the project’s ambitious scale, which involves creating new technology within Unreal Engine 5.

For our predictions regarding the game's release, check out the article below!