The Witcher 4: One of the Most Anticipated Games Ever

Few game announcements carry the weight of expectation that The Witcher 4 does. After The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt redefined open-world RPG alongside Dragon Quest VIIs in 2015 and sold over 50 million copies, CD PROJEKT RED's return to the franchise was inevitable—but the developer's choice of protagonist has fundamentally reshaped what this new saga represents.

Revealed at The Game Awards 2024 on December 13 with a stunning six-minute cinematic trailer, The Witcher 4 puts players in control of Ciri, Geralt's adopted daughter and one of gaming's most beloved characters, now transformed into a professional monster slayer in her own right. This isn't a passing-the-torch moment—it's the beginning of an entirely new trilogy built on Unreal Engine 5 that aims to be the most ambitious Witcher experience yet.

Ciri's Journey from Child of Destiny to Witcher

The reveal trailer addresses what fans have debated for years: how Ciri becomes a true Witcher. The answer lies in the Trial of the Grasses, the brutal mutation process that transforms ordinary humans into superhuman monster hunters. Historically, only young boys underwent this trial, with adult candidates suffering fatal outcomes. The trailer confirms Ciri has not only survived but mastered the transformation.

Game Director Sebastian Kalemba emphasized the significance of this choice: "We're kicking off a brand-new Witcher saga, this time with Ciri as the heart of the story! For the longest time we knew that we wanted Ciri to be the protagonist of The Witcher 4." This positions the game as a fresh entry point while rewarding longtime fans who followed Ciri's journey through previous titles and Andrzej Sapkowski's novels.

The trailer showcases Ciri wielding Witcher signs, silver swords, and alchemical potions—tools of the trade she can now use alongside her innate Elder Blood powers. This combination of traditional Witcher abilities and unique supernatural gifts promises gameplay depth that differentiates her from Geralt's more methodical approach.

Unreal Engine 5 Powers a New Vision

CD PROJEKT RED's shift from its proprietary REDengine to Epic Games' Unreal Engine 5 represents one of the most significant technical decisions in the franchise's history. The partnership between the studios aims to "redefine open-world design and functionality" through cutting-edge rendering technology.

The reveal trailer, rendered in a custom build of Unreal Engine 5 using actual game assets and models, demonstrates the visual leap players can expect. Photorealistic environments showcase UE5's signature features: Nanite virtualized geometry enables unprecedented environmental detail, while Lumen delivers real-time global illumination that makes firelight flicker naturally across monster scales and reflects dynamically in Ciri's eyes during tense confrontations.

This technical foundation supports CD PROJEKT RED's ambition to create the most immersive Witcher world yet. Where The Witcher 3 impressed with handcrafted vistas, The Witcher 4 leverages procedural assistance and advanced streaming technology to build denser forests, more populated cities, and seamless transitions between biomes without loading screens.

Exploring the Kingdom of Kovir

The new saga ventures into Kovir, a previously unseen region in the Witcher universe. Book readers know Kovir as a wealthy northern kingdom enriched by silver and gold mines, making it a stark contrast to the war-torn territories of previous games. This prosperity brings its own darkness—corruption, political intrigue, and monsters attracted to concentrations of wealth and power.

Kovir's unexplored status in the games gives CD PROJEKT RED creative freedom while maintaining franchise continuity. Fans familiar with the books will recognize references and locations, but newcomers won't feel lost without prior knowledge. The setting also enables fresh monster designs inspired by Slavic folklore that hasn't appeared in previous titles.

The reveal trailer hints at Kovir's cultural richness through its village architecture, ceremonial dress, and religious imagery. One scene depicts a ritual sacrifice Ciri intervenes to stop, suggesting the game will explore moral complexity beyond simple monster-slaying contracts. These choices may shape Ciri's reputation and influence how communities respond to her presence.

A New Trilogy Begins

CD PROJEKT RED has confirmed The Witcher 4—internally codenamed "Polaris"—launches a new trilogy separate from Geralt's story arc. This structure mirrors the original games while signaling long-term commitment to Ciri's narrative. The studio entered full-scale production in late 2024, with CFO Piotr Nielubowicz confirming a release window of 2027 at the earliest.

This timeline reflects lessons learned from Cyberpunk 2077's troubled launch. CD PROJEKT RED has emphasized internal development practices reform, including more realistic scheduling, extensive cross-platform testing, and avoiding crunch culture. The multi-year runway suggests the studio won't compromise scope or quality to meet arbitrary deadlines.

The trilogy structure also allows for escalating stakes across three games rather than attempting to resolve everything in a single entry. Ciri's transformation into a Witcher is just the beginning—her Elder Blood heritage, ties to multiple worlds, and the Wild Hunt's legacy all present narrative threads that could span multiple adventures.

Single-Player Focus in a Live Service Era

In an industry increasingly dominated by multiplayer experiences and live service models, CD PROJEKT RED's commitment to single-player storytelling stands out. The Witcher 4 is confirmed as a single-player, narrative-driven RPG with no announced multiplayer components or microtransactions.

This decision aligns with what made The Witcher 3 a cultural phenomenon: player agency in a reactive world where choices have meaningful consequences. Ciri's relationships, contract outcomes, and major story decisions will shape her journey in ways that only work in carefully crafted single-player experiences.

CD PROJEKT RED's track record with post-launch support also bodes well. The Witcher 3 received two massive expansions—Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine—that many consider superior to the base game. The studio has indicated similar DLC plans for The Witcher 4, potentially exploring different regions of the Witcher world or Ciri's past adventures.

The Witcher Official Website

Game Information

The Witcher 4 represents CD PROJEKT RED's most ambitious project, combining cutting-edge technology with a beloved protagonist to launch a new era for one of gaming's most acclaimed franchises.