Witcher 4 Ciri Controversy Addressed by Devs

CD Projekt Red addresses the controversy surrounding Ciri's starring role in Witcher 4, while remaining tight-lipped about current-gen console compatibility. Here's a summary of the latest news.

Witcher 4 Development Insights: Addressing the Ciri Controversy

Ciri's Leading Role: A Controversial Choice?

In a December 18th interview with VGC, narrative director Phillipp Weber acknowledged the potential backlash of replacing Geralt with Ciri as the protagonist. He admitted the team was aware of the strong attachment fans have to Geralt, calling it a "legitimate concern." However, Weber defended the decision, stating that making Ciri the lead allows for exciting new narrative possibilities and is a natural progression given her established role in previous games and the novels.

Weber emphasized that the decision wasn't made lightly and that the team has been working on this direction for a considerable time. He highlighted Ciri's evolution as a character, suggesting Witcher 4 will explore uncharted territory in her story.

Executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga added that all questions about the narrative choices, including Geralt's fate and the fates of other characters, will be answered in the game itself.

While Ciri takes center stage, fans can rest assured Geralt will still feature. His voice actor confirmed his presence in the game, albeit in a supporting role, back in August 2024. This opens the door for new and familiar faces to take the spotlight in Witcher 4.

For more details on Geralt's involvement, check out our previous coverage!

Console Compatibility Remains Unclear

In a separate December 18th interview with Eurogamer, director Sebastian Kalemba and other developers confirmed the use of Unreal Engine 5 and a custom build, but declined to specify which current-gen consoles will support the game. They stated that the reveal trailer serves as a "good benchmark" for their visual goals, implying the final product may differ.

A New Development Approach

CD Projekt Red's vice president of technology, Charles Tremblay, revealed in a November 29th Eurogamer interview that the development process for Witcher 4 has been fundamentally altered to prevent a repeat of the Cyberpunk 2077 launch issues. The team is prioritizing development on lower-spec hardware, like consoles, to ensure cross-platform compatibility and a simultaneous release across PC and consoles. However, the exact console lineup remains unconfirmed.

While the developers remain cautious about revealing full platform support details, they assure fans that they're working diligently to make Witcher 4 accessible across a wide range of hardware, from lower-spec consoles to high-end PCs.