Ciri's Witcher 4 Fate: Devs Address Controversy

CD Projekt Red addresses the controversy surrounding Ciri's protagonist role in Witcher 4, while remaining tight-lipped about current-gen console compatibility. Here's a breakdown of the recent news.

Witcher 4 Development Insights: Addressing the Ciri Controversy

Ciri's Protagonist Role: A Controversial Choice?

In a December 18th interview with VGC, narrative director Phillipp Weber acknowledged the potential backlash of replacing Geralt with Ciri. He understands the strong attachment fans have to Geralt, calling concerns about this change "legitimate." However, Weber defends the decision, stating that making Ciri the protagonist allows for exciting new narrative avenues and is a natural progression from her established role in previous games and novels. He emphasizes that this decision wasn't recent, but rather a long-term plan.

Weber highlights Ciri's growing prominence as a secondary protagonist in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and the novels, positioning her role in Witcher 4 as a logical evolution. He promises that the game will provide answers regarding Geralt's fate and other characters' stories following the events of The Witcher 3. Executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga adds that the game itself will be the ultimate response to fan concerns.

Geralt's return is confirmed, albeit in a smaller capacity, as revealed by his voice actor in August 2024. This allows for the introduction of both new and returning characters.

Console Compatibility Remains Unclear

A December 18th Eurogamer interview with director Sebastian Kalemba and Phillipp Weber shed little light on current-gen console compatibility. While Kalemba confirmed the use of Unreal Engine 5 and a custom build, he avoided specifics regarding platform support, stating only that they aim for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation compatibility. He indicated that the reveal trailer serves as a "good benchmark" for their visual goals, suggesting the final product may be similar but not identical to the trailer's visuals.

A New Development Approach

In a November 29th Eurogamer interview, CDPR's vice president of technology, Charles Tremblay, explained a shift in their development strategy to prevent a repeat of the Cyberpunk 2077 launch issues. The team is now prioritizing development on lower-spec hardware (consoles) to ensure cross-platform compatibility. Simultaneous PC and console releases are likely, though supported platforms remain unconfirmed. Despite the lack of specifics, the developers assure fans that they are committed to supporting both low-spec consoles and high-end PCs.