Doug Cockle, the iconic voice behind Geralt in CD Projekt's acclaimed The Witcher series, has strongly defended the decision to feature Ciri as the protagonist in The Witcher 4. Amidst criticism labeling the shift as "woke," Cockle robustly dismissed these claims, emphasizing Ciri's compelling narrative and character development within the Witcher universe.
"That's just stupid," Cockle remarked candidly about the backlash against CD Projekt's bold move to spotlight Ciri in the upcoming role-playing game. "It's not woke," he clarified in a video by Fall Damage. "There's nothing woke about it. [Ciri]'s a cool character from The Witcher, and they're gonna focus on that character, and that's awesome."
Despite Geralt's continued presence in *The Witcher 4*, the announcement that his adoptive daughter would take the lead role sparked significant controversy among some fans. Cockle, however, sees this as a natural progression for the series, arguing that Geralt's story arc had reached its conclusion with *Blood and Wine*."We can't just have Geralt for every single game for The Witcher ad nauseam, out through eternity," Cockle explained, advocating for Geralt's much-deserved break. "We've seen the end of Geralt's journey. Blood and Wine was supposed to wrap up that journey."
Cockle's enthusiasm for Ciri's starring role is palpable. "I celebrate Ciri. I celebrate her being the protagonist. So all you people who think it's woke... [blows raspberry]."
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Further defending the choice, Cockle suggested that Ciri's prominence in The Witcher 4 is deeply rooted in the lore established by Andrzej Sapkowski's original novels. "If you read the books, then you understand why CD Projekt went down this avenue," he stated. "There's a whole rich world of stuff to explore with Ciri, that they didn't do when they put her into Witcher 3, because the story was about Geralt. But she hints at it."
Cockle urged critics to delve into Sapkowski's works, not only to appreciate their quality but also to understand Ciri's integral role in the Witcher saga. "If you think it's woke, read the damn books — they're good, first of all. And secondly, you won't think it's so woke anymore."
While CD Projekt's games extend beyond Sapkowski's final novel, both the author and the game developers recognize Ciri's importance and her potential to carry the narrative forward when Geralt's journey pauses.
IGN previously explored Geralt's return in The Witcher 4 with CD Projekt's franchise and lore designers, Cian Maher and Marcin Batylda, who clarified how the timeline aligns with the established lore, ensuring a seamless transition and continuation of the beloved franchise.
