Witcher 4: Geralt Benched, VA Confirms

The Witcher's Geralt of Rivia is back for The Witcher 4, according to voice actor Doug Cockle. However, while the renowned Witcher will feature in the game, the emphasis will change to new characters.

Geralt of Rivia Returns in The Witcher 4, But Not as the Protagonist‘It’s Not About Him This Time’, Voice Actor Said

The White Wolf returns! Despite prior suggestions that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt would conclude his tale, voice actor Doug Cockle confirmed Geralt’s presence in The Witcher 4. However, enthusiasts should moderate their anticipations, as Cockle also disclosed that the game won’t center on the seasoned monster hunter.

In a recent interview with Fall Damage, Cockle alluded to an alteration in the series’ trajectory. While he couldn’t offer specifics, he stressed that Geralt’s part will be supplementary instead of pivotal to the storyline.

"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 protagonist in Witcher 4 remains a closely guarded secret. "We don’t know who it’s about. I’m excited to find out. I want to know," admitted Doug Cockle, lending credence to the notion of a fresh face taking center stage.

One intriguing possibility arises from a seemingly minor detail in the Witcher 4 teaser posted two years ago in an Unreal Engine 5 presentation. A Cat medallion, symbol of the once-feared School of the Cat, was spotted buried in the snow. Though the order was decimated by Nilfgaardian forces years before The Witcher 3, Gwent: The Witcher Card Game’s seasonal tree hints at survivors: "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…"

However, many also wager on Ciri, Geralt’s adopted daughter, to assume the lead. Evidence supporting this theory is plentiful. In the Witcher books, she obtained a Cat medallion after vanquishing a powerful adversary. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt subtly strengthens this connection by replacing the Wolf medallion next to Geralt’s health bar with a Cat medallion when players control Ciri.

While some imagine Ciri taking center stage with Geralt in a guiding role, similar to Vessemir, others believe his participation might be more restricted, perhaps confined to flashbacks or brief appearances.

The Witcher 4’s Development

In an interview with Italian news outlet Lega Nerd, The Witcher 4’s game director, Sebastian Kalemba, highlighted the game’s objective: to attract new players while pleasing established fans wanting to continue Geralt’s narrative. While excitement is substantial, the wait for the new installment could extend several years.

The Witcher 4, codenamed Polaris, officially commenced development in 2023. According to CD Projekt Red’s 2023 financial report, roughly half of the studio’s development team—around 330 developers—was assigned to the project by October that year, after the launch of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. This figure has since increased to over 400, making The Witcher 4 the studio’s most extensive undertaking in terms of personnel, according to Pawel Sasko, associate game director for Cyberpunk 2077’s forthcoming sequel.

Despite this considerable investment, enthusiasts should prepare for a prolonged wait. In October 2022, CEO Adam Kiciński suggested the game’s launch would be at least three years away given the project's ambitious scale, which involves creating new technology using Unreal Engine 5.

For our projections regarding the game's release, see the article below!