Geralt of Rivia's return in The Witcher 4 has been confirmed by voice actor Doug Cockle, but his role will be significantly different this time. While the beloved Witcher will feature, the spotlight will shift to a new protagonist.
Geralt's Role in The Witcher 4
A Supporting Character, Not the Star
The White Wolf is back! Contrary to earlier suggestions that *The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt* marked the end of Geralt's journey, his presence in *The Witcher 4* is assured. However, Cockle clarified that Geralt won't be the central focus. In an interview with Fall Damage, he hinted at a narrative shift, stating Geralt's involvement will be supportive rather than leading."Witcher 4 is happening. I can't reveal details. Geralt will be in the game," Cockle stated. "But his role won't be the main focus. This time, it's not about him."
The game's protagonist remains a mystery. Cockle himself admitted, "We don't know who the main character is. I'm eager to find out!" This strongly suggests a new character will take the lead.
Speculation points towards several possibilities. A Cat School medallion, glimpsed in a two-year-old Unreal Engine 5 teaser, hints at a surviving member of this decimated Witcher School. Gwent card game lore suggests these survivors are vengeful and desperate.
Another popular theory centers on Ciri, Geralt's adopted daughter. Book lore shows Ciri obtaining a Cat School medallion, and The Witcher 3 subtly connects her to the medallion by replacing Geralt's Wolf medallion with a Cat medallion during Ciri's playable segments.
While some anticipate a mentor-like role for Geralt, similar to Vessemir, others believe his appearance may be limited to flashbacks or cameos.
The Development of The Witcher 4
Game director Sebastian Kalemba, in an interview with Lega Nerd, highlighted the game's goal: to attract new fans while satisfying existing ones' desire for more Geralt. However, the wait will be considerable.
The Witcher 4, codenamed Polaris, began development in 2023. CD Projekt Red's 2023 report revealed that nearly half its development team (around 330 developers) was dedicated to the project by October 2023, following Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty's release. This number has since increased to over 400, making it the studio's largest project.
Despite the immense resources, a lengthy wait is expected. CEO Adam Kiciński stated in October 2022 that the release would be at least three years away, due to the ambitious scope and the development of new Unreal Engine 5 technology. For release date predictions, see the linked article.
