"Witcher 4: Most Ambitious Game Yet"

The Witcher 4 is poised to be the most immersive and ambitious installment in the acclaimed video game series, with Ciri stepping into the spotlight as the next Witcher, as confirmed by CD Projekt Red (CDPR) executive producer. Delve deeper into Ciri's ascent and Geralt's well-earned retirement.

Most Immersive Witcher Title Yet

Ciri’s Destiny From The Very Beginning

CD Projekt Red is reaching for new heights with The Witcher 4, describing it as "the most immersive and ambitious open-world Witcher game to date," according to executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga in an interview with GamesRadar+. "We definitely want to raise the bar with every video game that we create. This is what we did with Cyberpunk 2077 after The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and we want to apply all of the lessons learned from both of these experiences and incorporate them into The Witcher 4," added game director Sebastian Kalemba.

The latest addition to the renowned Witcher series will spotlight Ciri, Geralt of Rivia's adopted daughter, who appears to have embraced her destiny as the new Witcher. This was showcased in the grand cinematic trailer unveiled at The Game Awards. CDPR had this transition in mind from the outset, as story director Tomasz Marchewka explained, "From the very beginning we knew it had to be Ciri - she's a very complex character, and there is so much to be told about here."

However, fans will notice a slight change in Ciri's abilities from the previous game. At the end of The Witcher 3, Ciri was "totally overpowered," but the trailer suggests some of her Witcher senses may have dulled. Mitręga remained cryptic, only hinting that "something totally happened in-between." Kalemba reassured fans that the game will provide clarity, stating, "We cannot tell you exactly how. But we can tell you just, like, believe us: that was one of the things, or first things, that we were solving, to make sure—the way we develop here, we do not leave anything without a clear answer."

Despite these changes, Ciri will retain much of Geralt's influence. "She's faster, more agile—but you can still tell that she was raised by Geralt, right?" Mitręga noted.

Time For Geralt To Retire—No, Really

With Ciri taking on the mantle of the Witcher in the new game, it's time for Geralt of Rivia to enjoy his well-deserved retirement. At over fifty years old, Geralt has earned his peace, especially considering he was 61 during The Witcher 3, as confirmed by the series' author, Andrzej Sapkowski.

In Sapkowski’s latest book, Rozdroże kruków (Raven’s Crossing or Crossing of the Ravens in English), it was revealed that Geralt was born in 1211, making him 59 during the events of the first Witcher game, 61 in The Witcher 3, and 64 by the end of the Blood and Wine DLC. By the time The Witcher 4 unfolds, Geralt could be in his seventies or nearing eighty, depending on the game's timeline.

While Witchers can live up to a hundred years according to the lore, many fans were surprised to learn Geralt's true age, having previously believed he was around 90 years old.