Witcher 4 Shifts Protagonist, VA Confirms

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 around. While the beloved Witcher will feature, the narrative focus will shift to new protagonists.

Geralt's Reduced Role in The Witcher 4

A Supporting Character, Not the Star

The iconic White Wolf is back! Contrary to earlier suggestions that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt concluded his story, Cockle confirmed his presence in the upcoming sequel. However, he clarified that Geralt won't be the central figure. In an interview with Fall Damage, Cockle hinted at a narrative shift, stating that Geralt's participation will be supportive rather than leading. He emphasized the game's departure from Geralt's perspective: "The game won’t focus on Geralt, so it’s not about him this time."

The identity of the new protagonist remains undisclosed. Cockle himself admitted, "We don’t know who it’s about," fueling speculation about a fresh character taking the lead.

Clues and Speculation

A Cat School medallion, visible in a two-year-old Unreal Engine 5 teaser, has sparked intrigue. While the Cat School was decimated prior to The Witcher 3, Gwent card game lore suggests surviving members, fueling speculation about a potential protagonist from this school.

Another strong contender is Ciri, Geralt's adopted daughter. Book lore details her acquisition of a Cat School medallion, and The Witcher 3 subtly hints at this connection by replacing Geralt's Wolf medallion with a Cat medallion during Ciri's playable segments.

While some predict a mentor-like role for Geralt, similar to Vesemir, others anticipate a more limited presence, possibly through flashbacks or cameos.

The Witcher 4's Development and Release

Game director Sebastian Kalemba, in an interview with Lega Nerd, highlighted the game's dual objective: attracting new players while satisfying veteran fans. Despite the substantial development effort, a lengthy wait is expected.

Codenamed "Polaris," The Witcher 4 commenced development in 2023. CD Projekt Red's 2023 earnings report revealed that nearly half their development team was dedicated to the project by October, following the release of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. This team has since expanded, making it CD Projekt Red's largest project to date. However, CEO Adam Kiciński previously indicated a release date at least three years out, due to the project's ambitious scope and the development of new Unreal Engine 5 technologies.