Witcher 4: Geralt Benched, VA Confirms

Geralt of Rivia, the iconic Witcher, is returning in The Witcher 4, according to voice actor Doug Cockle. However, while the White Wolf will make an appearance, the game's focus will shift to new protagonists.

Geralt Returns, But Not as the Star

A Supporting Role for the Butcher of Blaviken

Despite previous suggestions that *The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt* concluded Geralt's story, Doug Cockle confirmed his presence in *The Witcher 4*. But, he clarified that Geralt won't be the central figure this time around. In an interview with Fall Damage, Cockle hinted at a significant change in direction for the series, stating that Geralt's role will be more supportive than leading. "Witcher 4 has been announced. I can’t say anything about it. What we know is that Geralt will be part of the game," Cockle said. "We just don’t know how much. And the game won’t focus on Geralt, so it’s not about him this time."

The identity of the new protagonist remains a secret. 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 face taking the lead.

One intriguing clue comes from the Witcher 4 teaser shown two years ago during an Unreal Engine 5 presentation. A Cat School medallion, buried in the snow, was visible. While the School of the Cat was decimated before The Witcher 3, Gwent hints at surviving members: "As for those who were not present during the attack? They continue to roam the world’s ends—embittered, hungry for vengeance, with nothing left to lose…"

Another popular theory points to Ciri, Geralt's adopted daughter, as the new protagonist. In the books, she obtained a Cat School medallion after defeating a powerful foe, and The Witcher 3 subtly reinforces this connection by replacing Geralt's Wolf medallion with a Cat medallion when players control Ciri. While some envision a mentor-protégé dynamic between Geralt and Ciri, similar to Geralt and Vesemir, others believe Geralt's involvement might be limited to flashbacks or cameos.

The Witcher 4's Development

In an interview with Lega Nerd, The Witcher 4's game director, Sebastian Kalemba, highlighted the game's goal: to attract new players while satisfying long-time fans eager for more of Geralt's story. However, this new chapter is still some time away.

Codenamed Polaris, The Witcher 4 officially entered development in 2023. CD Projekt Red's 2023 earnings report revealed that nearly half their development team (around 330 developers) was dedicated to the project by October 2023, following the release of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. This number has since grown to over 400, making it CD Projekt Red's largest project to date, according to Pawel Sasko, associate game director for Cyberpunk 2077's sequel.

Despite the substantial investment, fans should prepare for a lengthy wait. In October 2022, CEO Adam Kiciński indicated a release date at least three years out, citing the ambitious scope of the project and the development of new technology within Unreal Engine 5.

For our predictions on the release date, check out the article below!