CDPR Lore Devs Answer Questions Surrounding The Witcher 4

The Witcher franchise, beloved by millions, is entering a new chapter with The Witcher 4. During The Video Game Awards 2024 strings of reveal trailers CDPR drops The Witcher 4 debut trailer where Ciri steps into the lead role, bringing a mix of familiarity and transformation. With CD Projekt Red’s lore designers Cian Maher and Marcin Batylda providing intriguing insights during an interview with IGN, fans are buzzing with speculation and questions. Here’s an in-depth look at what the loremasters are sharing so far and the mysteries that still surround the game.

Ciri Takes Franchise Reins: The Evolution of a Heroine

In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Ciri’s narrative arcs were pivotal, and her brief playable sequences showcased her immense potential as a protagonist. Now, with The Witcher 4, Ciri takes center stage. Unlike Geralt, who always maintained a professional neutrality, Ciri’s motivations are deeply personal. She knows she caused so much death because of the Wild Hunt and carries the weight of her bloodline. But the Ciri we meet in Witcher 3 is more emotionally-driven and the trailer shows she’s still as vocal as ever but the opening scenes suggests she’s gotten better at being tactically stoic, more fitting of the Witcher profession.

The trailer reveals a matured Ciri, now having undergone the Trial of the Grasses—a grueling process central to creating a Witcher. This marks a significant change in her character. Her cat-like eyes and ability to consume Witcher potions without harm indicate her transformation. Fans familiar with her journey will recall that she was trained as a Witcher without the mutagenic enhancements, making this shift monumental in her development. Fans will also recall that the witcher mutation also slows down aging and in related material, it is teased that Geralt is still active 100 years after the Witcher 3. If Ciri had the mutation past her 20s, her looks suggest she’s aged a bit which could be deceptively longer due to her mutation.

What does this mean for her identity? How will her struggles with lineage, Elder Blood, and personal autonomy play out in this new saga? These are some of the burning questions as we anticipate a Ciri-led narrative.

A New Saga for the Witcher games: Made for New and Old Players

CD Projekt Red has stated that The Witcher 4 will serve as the beginning of a new saga, making it accessible to newcomers while maintaining ties to the existing lore for veterans.

The cinematic trailer hints at this balance by introducing foundational Witcher elements: a monstrous threat, moral ambiguity, and the protagonist’s internal conflicts. Fans of the original games and Andrzej Sapkowski’s books will notice callbacks to pivotal themes—fate versus free will, the nature of heroism, and the cost of power.

Still, the question remains: How much of the established lore will new players need to know? While CD Projekt Red has assured fans that reading the books or playing previous games won’t be mandatory, it’s clear that an understanding of Ciri’s journey so far—her ties to Geralt, her magical powers, and her political entanglements—will enhance the experience.

What is the School of the Lynx?

Hints about a new Witcher school have circulated since earlier teasers, with many speculating that the School of the Lynx will play a central role in the game. Could Ciri be the founder of this new school, or will she become its most prominent member?

The trailer shows Ciri wearing a witcher medallion but bears the symbol of the school of the Lynx. The Witcher schools have always represented unique philosophies and approaches to monster hunting. The Lynx, if confirmed, could embody Ciri’s ideals: a rejection of neutrality and a commitment to actively helping those in need. This would stand in stark contrast to Geralt’s more detached professionalism.

The Mythology Behind the Monsters

In the trailer, Ciri faces a monstrous creature identified as a Bauk, rooted in Serbian mythology. The Bauk serves as a reminder of the franchise’s commitment to drawing from rich, varied European folklore.

Interestingly, the battle with the Bauk seems to result in unintended consequences. The villagers sacrifice a young woman to their gods after Ciri disrupts their ritual, raising moral questions about interference versus neutrality—a theme deeply ingrained in the series.

How will Ciri navigate these dilemmas? Her rejection of neutrality signals a shift in tone, but the trailer suggests that even with good intentions, her actions may have tragic repercussions. This introduces a fresh take on the “lesser evil” motif that fans have come to associate with The Witcher.

The Role of Elder Blood and Prophecy

Ciri’s Elder Blood—a key component of her identity—remains a central narrative element. This genetic inheritance grants her immense power, including the ability to traverse dimensions. It also ties her to an ancient prophecy that paints her child as either the savior or destroyer of the world.

With many of her previous enemies dealt with in The Witcher 3, The Witcher 4 is poised to explore how Ciri chooses to wield this power. Will she embrace her destiny, defy it, or create a new path entirely? And how will this influence her interactions with factions like the mages and Nilfgaard?

The Geralt Question

One of the most discussed topics among fans is Geralt’s potential involvement. While CD Projekt Red has emphasized that this is Ciri’s story, Geralt’s presence—even in a supporting role—could serve as an emotional anchor for long-time fans. The lore experts hinted at Geralt’s longevity, referencing a prequel novel epilogue set over a century after The Witcher 3. Whether as a mentor, a shadow of his former self, or a symbol of the old guard, his role will undoubtedly carry weight.

Speculation on Gameplay and Themes

Given Ciri’s magical abilities and her combat training, her gameplay style is likely to differ from Geralt’s. Ciri is already a very adept sword fighter and mage, trained by Geralt and Yenefer on both disciplines with Vesemir providing wisdom on world knowledge to mold Ciri into one of Kaer Morhen’s finest warriors.

CDPR was careful not to reveal if Ciri still retains her Elder Blood magic but did show usage of Signs and potions. Ciri’s never been shown to have the same graceful proficiency with a blade like Geralt so this game could showcase what the years after Witcher 3 has given her in terms of skill and wisdom.

Moreover, her more idealistic nature might influence quest design, with moral choices leaning toward altruism rather than mercenary pragmatism.

Themes of identity, legacy, and moral ambiguity will remain at the forefront, but Ciri’s perspective offers a fresh lens. How will her past, mutation, and Elder Blood shape how she approaches her role as a Witcher?

Final Thoughts

Witcher 4 will most likely introduce us to a much more aged Ciri. She’s definitely packed on muscle as she easily cleaved through the monster’s limbs and swiftly cut off its neck in their fight. I’ve seen criticisms that this is another attempt at a) pushing a female lead and b) uglifying said female and this is just plain misinformation. Ciri has been a central figure of Witcher game lore since its launch almost 2 decades ago, that doesn’t even include the actual Sapkowski writings from the books which go further back. And fuck you if you think she’s ugly.

As fans eagerly await more details, The Witcher 4 already promises to be a transformative entry in the franchise. Ciri’s journey, her ties to the past, and her vision for the future offer a compelling narrative foundation. With CD Projekt Red’s commitment to blending deep lore with accessibility, this new saga could redefine what it means to be a Witcher. It also helps to rinse the stain that Netflix has put on the IP with their direction for the live-action series. While not a direct adaptation, losing their champion lead actor who is a big fan of the game is a gut-punch on an already floundering project.

For now, we’re left with compelling questions: What will Ciri’s mutation mean for her humanity? How will her rejection of neutrality shape the world around her? And most importantly, how will her story carve out a new legacy for The Witcher series? And damn, they were using an RTX 50-series graphics card to do the in-engine trailer?