The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has undoubtedly left a lasting mark on the video game industry. Games like Assassin's Creed and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth have drawn inspiration from its remarkable open world. Following such a massive game is a challenging task, but CD Projekt Red is ready to take on the challenge after nearly a decade. And the plan has been in the making for longer than one might think.

Uncover the Mysterious Path of Ciri in The Witcher 4

Becoming a Witcher - The Path Ahead

After becoming a Witcher, Ciri is now on "The Path." This term describes the period after a Witcher leaves their school to roam the continent and hunt monsters. CD Projekt Red is dedicated to exploring this new phase in Ciri's life.Players were introduced to Ciri in The Witcher 3 as the second playable character. She had her own small sections in the game, and the story focused on Geralt's relationship with her as his adopted daughter. While players may be familiar with the character, there is still much of her personality and history to discover."Ciri deserves it, and she'll help us expand the world even more," says game director Sebastian Kalemba. "She's a new, predefined, but not well-defined character. This gives players and us the opportunity to showcase what a Witcher really is in this world."

From Geralt to Ciri - The Protagonist Shift

In the Witcher books, Ciri is a super important character. In The Witcher 3, she was also introduced as a playable character and was one of the main story elements. Geralt was looking for her because they loved each other. Although Geralt will appear in The Witcher 4, the story will focus on Ciri."We decided nine years ago that whenever we get back to the IP, the spotlight needs to be on Ciri," Kalemba explains. "She'll help us expand the world, and players will have more freedom in defining her. As a younger character, she doesn't have her own Codex yet and is on The Path, making her the first Witcher by choice. This is a great step forward for the franchise."

New Abilities and Choices in The Witcher 4

In the trailer, it's clear that Ciri can use Witcher spells. She has passed The Trial of Grasses and has new powers and skills. But there are also some mysteries surrounding her story."For newcomers, it might just seem like a new power and skill set," says executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga. "But for those who have played The Witcher, they'll notice that something is different. We can't share too much yet, but we want to tease and start some discussions among our fans."The Witcher 3 is a choice-heavy game, and those choices will be taken into account in The Witcher 4. "Witcher 4 happens a few years after The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt," Kalemba says. "We'll refer to some endings, and seasoned players will notice changes on a deeper level. But it's the same world, and you'll have the opportunity to explore different regions."Mitręga adds, "If you don't know anything about the Witcher world, you can still start with Witcher 4 and have a different experience. Your introduction to the Witcher profession and the world will be with Ciri, and you can make many choices about your progression in the game."

Learning from Cyberpunk 2077

CD Projekt Red has transformed Cyberpunk 2077 into a completely different game over the last few years. They have learned valuable lessons from this experience."After Cyberpunk, there were struggles, but we learned a lot," Kalemba says. "With The Witcher and this new project, we are continuing to evolve, improve, and transform. We have better and more transparent communication within the teams and with the board. We all have the same goals and can rely on each other."The Phantom Liberty expansion was a significant step in their development process. It showed them how to develop a game on a different level and handle the release stage and marketing campaign.

Redefining Witcher Games

Each Witcher game redefines what it means to be a Witcher game. For The Witcher 4, the team is looking back at not only The Witcher 3 but also the first two games."This is how we evaluate our development process and establish unique selling points for upcoming games," Kalemba says. "We take it seriously and use our knowledge and empirical data to make informed decisions. We want to make this process as deterministic as possible."Mitręga adds, "We're opening a new saga and already have a bigger plan in mind. Right now, we're fully focused on Witcher 4."The Witcher 4 is currently in development, and fans are eagerly awaiting its release.