Geralt of Rivia's return in The Witcher 4 has been confirmed by voice actor Doug Cockle, but his role will be significantly different this time around. While the iconic Witcher will feature, the narrative focus shifts to new protagonists.
Geralt's Supporting Role in The Witcher 4
A New Chapter, A New Hero
Cockle, in an interview with Fall Damage, confirmed Geralt's presence but clarified that he won't be the central figure. The game's narrative will not revolve around the seasoned monster hunter. He stated, "Witcher 4 has been announced...Geralt will be part of the game...but the game won’t focus on Geralt, so it’s not about him this time." The extent of his involvement remains undisclosed.
The identity of the new protagonist is currently under wraps. Cockle himself admitted, "We don’t know who it’s about. I’m excited to find out. I want to know," fueling speculation about a fresh character taking the lead.
Clues and Speculation
A Cat School medallion, visible in a previous Unreal Engine 5 teaser, hints at a potential connection to the School of the Cat. While decimated, Gwent suggests surviving members, "embittered, hungry for vengeance, with nothing left to lose…"
Another strong contender is Ciri, Geralt's adopted daughter. Her possession of a Cat medallion in the books, and the game's subtle substitution of the Wolf medallion for a Cat medallion when playing as Ciri in The Witcher 3, strengthens this theory. Her role could range from a leading protagonist with Geralt as a mentor figure, to a more limited appearance.
The Witcher 4's Development and Release
Game director Sebastian Kalemba, in an interview with Lega Nerd, highlighted the game's goal: to attract new players while satisfying long-time fans. However, the release date remains distant.
The Witcher 4, codenamed Polaris, commenced development in 2023. CD Projekt Red's 2023 report revealed that nearly half their development team was dedicated to the project by October, expanding to over 400 developers. Despite the significant investment, CEO Adam Kiciński suggested a three-year minimum wait due to the project's scale and the development of new Unreal Engine 5 technologies.
