New Witcher

Geralt of Rivia's return in The Witcher 4 has been confirmed by voice actor Doug Cockle, but the iconic Witcher won't be the protagonist this time around. While he'll feature, the spotlight shifts to new characters.

Geralt's Role in The Witcher 4

The White Wolf is back! Contrary to earlier suggestions that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt concluded his story arc, Geralt's presence in The Witcher 4 is confirmed. However, Cockle clarified that Geralt's role is supporting, not central to the narrative. In an interview with Fall Damage, he stated Geralt's involvement is significant but not the main focus.

"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 explained. "We just don't know how much. And the game won't focus on Geralt, so it's not about him this time."

The new protagonist remains a secret, even to Cockle: "We don't know who it's about. I'm excited to find out. I want to know," he admitted.

Clues and Speculation

A Cat School medallion, visible in a two-year-old Unreal Engine 5 teaser, sparks speculation. While the Cat School was decimated, Gwent hints at surviving members seeking vengeance. This, alongside Ciri's acquisition of a Cat medallion in the books and the subtle game mechanic in The Witcher 3 where Ciri's medallion replaces Geralt's, strengthens the theory that Ciri could be the lead, potentially with Geralt in a mentor role similar to Vesemir. Alternatively, his appearances might be limited to flashbacks or cameos.

The Witcher 4's Development

Game director Sebastian Kalemba, in an interview with Lega Nerd, emphasized the game's aim to attract newcomers while satisfying long-time fans. The Witcher 4, codenamed Polaris, entered development in 2023, with a team of over 400 developers—making it CD Projekt Red's largest project. However, given its ambitious scope and the development of new Unreal Engine 5 technology, CEO Adam Kiciński indicated a release date at least three years out (October 2022).