Devs Address Ciri Controversy in Witcher 4

Explore the latest updates on The Witcher 4, including the developers' response to the controversy over Ciri's role as the protagonist and the unclear status of the game's compatibility with current-gen consoles.

Witcher 4 Devs Shared Some Insights About the Game’s Development

Addressed Controversy About Ciri’s Lead Role

The narrative director for The Witcher 4, Phillipp Weber, recently addressed the controversy surrounding the decision to make Ciri the protagonist in an interview with VGC on December 18. The decision has sparked debate, primarily because fans have grown accustomed to Geralt as the central figure in the previous three Witcher games.

Weber acknowledged the fans' attachment to Geralt, stating, "I think we definitely knew it could be controversial for some people because of course, in the previous three Witcher games, Geralt was the protagonist and I think everyone really loved playing as Geralt." Despite understanding the fans' concerns, Weber believes that choosing Ciri is the right move. He emphasized that the decision was made long ago, saying, "The best thing that we can do, and I think this is really our goal, is to prove that with Ciri, we can do a lot of interesting things so we can really make it worth it because this decision to have Ciri as a protagonist wasn’t made yesterday, we started making this a very long time ago."

Weber further justified the choice by highlighting Ciri's established role in the novels and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, describing it as "the natural evolution of what we’ve been making for so long." This decision allows the team to explore new dimensions of the Witcher universe and Ciri's character following the events of the last game.

Executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga also weighed in, reassuring fans that the game's release will provide clarity on what happens to Geralt and other characters post-Witcher 3. She stated, "Everyone has the right to have an opinion, and we do believe it comes from the passion for our games and I think the best answer for that will be the game itself when the game is released."

Despite the shift in focus, fans of Geralt have something to look forward to. In August 2024, Geralt's voice actor confirmed that Geralt will make an appearance in The Witcher 4, albeit in a more minor role, allowing for the introduction of new and returning characters. For more details on this update, you can visit our dedicated article.

Stay informed with our comprehensive The Witcher 4 coverage for the latest news and updates.

Witcher 4 Technical Specifications Remain Unclear

In a separate interview with Eurogamer on December 18, Phillipp Weber and Witcher 4 director Sebastian Kalemba discussed the game's compatibility with current-gen consoles but remained vague on specifics. Kalemba mentioned, "Yes, we are working on a new engine right now, together with Epic's engineers, and there is a great synergy and a great collaboration between us. And currently we're working on Unreal Engine 5 and our custom build. And obviously, we want to support all the platforms - meaning PC, Xbox, and Sony, right? - but I cannot, right now, tell you more specifics regarding that."

Kalemba also noted that the reveal trailer serves as a "good benchmark" for the game's aspirations, suggesting that while the trailer's graphics may not be final, they are indicative of the visual quality the team is aiming for.

Witcher 4 Devs New Approach

CDPR's vice president of technology, Charles Tremblay, shared in an interview with Eurogamer on November 29 that the development approach for The Witcher 4 has been adjusted to prevent issues similar to those experienced with Cyberpunk 2077's launch. The team is now developing on hardware with the "lowest" specifications, such as consoles, to ensure smooth performance across various platforms. While the exact consoles that will support The Witcher 4 remain undisclosed, the developers are committed to ensuring the game runs well on both low-spec consoles and high-end PCs. The possibility of simultaneous launches on PC and consoles is also being considered, though no final decisions have been announced.