A Witcher 4 Genesis: How a Witcher 3 Side Quest Prepared the Team
The development of The Witcher 4, featuring Ciri in a leading role and kicking off a new trilogy, began surprisingly with a seemingly unrelated task: a side quest for The Witcher 3. This revelation comes from Philipp Webber, narrative director for The Witcher 4 and former quest designer for The Witcher 3.
Two years prior to The Witcher 4's announcement, the "In the Eternal Fire's Shadow" side quest was added to The Witcher 3. While ostensibly promoting the game's next-gen update and providing in-game justification for Henry Cavill's Netflix armor, Webber reveals its true purpose: onboarding new team members. This quest served as an initiation, immersing them in the Witcher universe and setting the tone for The Witcher 4's development.
Webber describes this approach as "the perfect start to getting back into the vibe," a sentiment aligning perfectly with the Witcher 4 timeline. Announced in March 2022, the game's development likely began before the official announcement, but the side quest, released nine months later, clearly played a significant role in integrating new talent.
While Webber doesn't name names, speculation points to potential transfers from the Cyberpunk 2077 team, released in 2020. This, combined with the timing of the side quest, fuels theories about potential similarities between The Witcher 4's mechanics and Cyberpunk 2077's "Phantom Liberty" expansion, particularly concerning skill trees. The side quest, therefore, wasn't just a minor addition to The Witcher 3; it was a crucial step in forging the team that will bring Ciri's new adventure to life.
