The Witcher 4's Development: A Ciri-centric Trilogy Begins
CD Projekt Red's upcoming Witcher 4 adventure, starring Ciri, had an unusual genesis. Before the game's official announcement, the development team embarked on a unique preparatory project: a special quest for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. This served as a crucial onboarding experience for new team members, immersing them in the series' lore and style.
Ciri, previously a supporting character in The Witcher 3, will now take center stage in a new trilogy. This shift was foreshadowed in the December 2024 Game Awards trailer, generating significant excitement among fans. The game's initial release in May 2015 featured Ciri as a playable character in select segments, paving the way for her prominent role in the upcoming installment.
The pivotal quest, "In the Eternal Fire's Shadow," added to The Witcher 3 in late 2022, served multiple purposes. It promoted the game's next-gen update and provided in-game justification for the armor worn by Henry Cavill in the Netflix series. Philipp Webber, former quest designer for The Witcher 3 and now narrative director for Witcher 4, revealed on social media that this quest acted as an initiation for new team members, providing a crucial entry point into the Witcher 4 development cycle.
A Smooth Transition to Witcher 4
Webber described the quest as "the perfect start to getting back into the vibe," perfectly aligning with the Witcher 4's development timeline. Announced in March 2022, the game's development commenced approximately nine months before the "In the Eternal Fire's Shadow" quest's release. While pre-announcement planning undoubtedly occurred, the quest provides insight into the team's practical approach to integrating new talent.
While Webber didn't name specific individuals, it's plausible that some team members transitioned from the Cyberpunk 2077 team (released in 2020). This speculation is fueled by theories suggesting Witcher 4 might incorporate a skill tree similar to Cyberpunk 2077's "Phantom Liberty" expansion, a possibility supported by the timing of new team member integration.
