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| A screengrab of Geralt from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered trailer |
The White Wolf may be stepping out of the spotlight, but he isn't leaving the stage. In a recent clarification that is sure to ease the minds of longtime fans, CD Projekt Red (CDPR) narrative director Philipp Weber has confirmed that Geralt of Rivia will still hold a significant presence in the upcoming The Witcher 4. The news comes just days after the studio’s joint CEO, MichaÅ‚ Nowakowski, confirmed the game is targeting a 2028 release window, sparking both excitement and volatility among investors.
The gaming community has been rife with speculation since the title’s cinematic reveal at The Game Awards in December 2024, which confirmed that Ciri, Geralt’s former protégé, would be stepping into the role of the primary protagonist. While many have embraced the changing of the guard, a vocal minority has expressed hesitation, preferring to see the grizzled veteran Geralt remain the face of the franchise. Weber addressed these concerns directly on social media, explaining that the studio understands the fan sentiment but stands firmly behind their narrative pivot.
“I understand where you are coming from, and honestly, early in development I felt the same way,” Weber wrote in a response to a fan requesting Geralt remain the lead. “But we see Ciri’s role as something the studio still has to earn rather than something owed to her by default.”
Crucially, the narrative director clarified that the shift in protagonists does not signal the retirement of the legendary monster slayer. When pressed on Geralt’s involvement, Weber stated emphatically that Geralt “will always have an important role.”
An Ongoing Endeavor That Gamers Will First Get Their Hands on in 2028
The transition to Unreal Engine 5 has been a massive undertaking for the Polish studio, which famously abandoned its proprietary REDengine after the turbulent launch of Cyberpunk 2077. Currently, more than 500 developers are working on The Witcher 4, which entered full-scale production in 2024. The studio has publicly stated an ambitious six-year plan to ship not just one game, but an entire new trilogy set in the Witcher universe.
However, the road to 2028 has proven bumpy in the financial sector. During a recent earnings call, CEO MichaÅ‚ Nowakowski revealed that while the game would not arrive before 2027, the current target is set for 2028. The announcement of this broad window led to a sharp reaction on the stock market. According to a report by Investing.com, CD Projekt shares tumbled by 7% following the CEO’s comments, as investors appeared spooked by the lack of a firm commitment or a specific launch date for the highly anticipated title. Read more about the market reaction here.
A Focus on Ciri Does Not Mean Geralt is a Side Character
For those who only played The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015), Ciri was a powerful but sporadic presence. While she was central to the plot and playable in select fixed sequences, she was never available for free-roam exploration in the same way Geralt was. The Witcher 4 aims to change that entirely, offering players a fully realized journey through the eyes of the Child of the Elder Blood.
Weber, who previously served as a quest designer on The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, is acutely aware of the weight of this narrative responsibility. In his exchange on X (formerly Twitter), he acknowledged the legacy of Geralt and the need to handle his character with care.
The confirmation that Geralt will have an "important role" leaves much to the imagination. It remains unclear whether Geralt will serve as a mentor figure, a quest-giver, or a central pillar of the main narrative. However, given the events of The Witcher 3—particularly the ending where Geralt retires to Corvo Bianco in Toussaint—it is likely he will act as an advisor rather than a front-line combatant.
Internal development had also been a point of contention for story and narrative design. Much of the backlash centered on who would lead a Witcher story. There was mild internal turmoil and backlash over Ciri’s scripted turns in The Witcher 3 because nobody expected the arrangement to become permanent.
With the reveal that Ciri is confirmed as the game’s sole protagonist, fan reactions have been undeniably mixed. Voice actor Doug Cockle has previously hinted that Geralt of Rivia might take a backseat in the story’s narration this time, potentially making a bigger return in the upcoming Witcher trilogy, i.e., The Witcher 5 and *6*.
For now, fans will have to wait a few more years to see exactly how the torch is passed. But according to CDPR, Geralt isn't disappearing into the fog—he's just waiting in the keep.
Ready to catch up on the saga?
Grab your copy of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt to experience the story that started it all. Buy The Witcher 3 on Amazon here.