"Witcher 4 Director Clarifies: Ciri's Face Unchanged"

In an effort to clarify recent discussions around the appearance of Ciri in *The Witcher 4*, the game's director, Sebastian Kalemba, has addressed fan speculation head-on. CD Projekt recently unveiled a behind-the-scenes video showcasing the cinematic reveal trailer for the highly anticipated game, where two specific clips at 2:11 and 5:47 spotlighted Ciri's face, prompting a flurry of comments from fans who noticed subtle differences in her facial features compared to the original trailer. Some fans even praised the 5:47 mark as a "perfect representation of a slightly older Ciri," expressing enthusiasm for her updated look.

Speculation arose, fueled by some corners of the internet, suggesting that CD Projekt may have altered Ciri's appearance in response to criticism labeling her as "ugly" in the initial reveal trailer. However, Kalemba took to social media to set the record straight, confirming that the in-game model of Ciri remained unchanged. He explained that the clips in the behind-the-scenes video were raw footage, captured before the addition of cinematic enhancements such as facial animations, lighting, and virtual camera lenses. These elements significantly influence the final look of characters in the game's trailers.

"The behind-the-scenes video features the same in-game model of Ciri as seen in the original trailer," Kalemba stated. "We have not modified it. What you're seeing is raw footage—without facial animation, lighting, or virtual camera lenses. While it's still in-engine, it represents a work-in-progress snapshot taken before we applied cinematic touches for the purpose of that video. This variation is a natural part of the game development process. At this point, any character's appearance may vary depending on the medium—whether it's in a trailer, a 3D model, or in-game."

*The Witcher 4* marks the beginning of a new trilogy set post-*The Witcher 3* events, with Ciri stepping into the spotlight as the protagonist, a departure from Geralt's leading role in previous games. In an exclusive interview with IGN before the game's reveal, executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga highlighted Ciri as "the very organic, logical choice" due to her rich, multi-layered character arc established in the books. Kalemba added that Ciri's younger age offers players more flexibility to shape her character, providing developers with broader avenues to explore her narrative.

Despite potential backlash concerning Ciri's role as the lead, both Mitręga and Kalemba reiterated that her position as the protagonist was a deliberate and long-considered decision. Kalemba emphasized that the choice to focus on Ciri was not random but a well-thought-out strategy to delve deeper into her story and the myriad challenges she faces, which energizes the development team and fuels the creation of an epic saga.

In a broader discussion with IGN regarding Netflix's upcoming animated film, *The Witcher: Sirens of The Deep*, Geralt's voice actor, Doug Cockle, expressed his support for the narrative shift to Ciri in *The Witcher 4*. He highlighted the exciting potential of continuing the saga through Ciri's eyes, influenced by developments in the books that he encouraged fans to explore.

For those eager to dive deeper into *The Witcher 4*, IGN offers exclusive content, including a detailed trailer breakdown and insights from CD Projekt on how the game will avoid the launch issues experienced with *Cyberpunk 2077*.