Geralt of Rivia's return in The Witcher 4 has been confirmed by voice actor Doug Cockle, but his role will be significantly different this time around. While the iconic Witcher will feature, the narrative focus shifts to new protagonists.
Geralt's Supporting Role in The Witcher 4
A New Chapter, A New Lead
Doug Cockle, in an interview with Fall Damage, confirmed Geralt's presence but clarified that he won't be the central figure. The game will not primarily focus on the seasoned monster hunter. Cockle stated, "Witcher 4 has been announced...Geralt will be part of the game," but added, "the game won’t focus on Geralt, so it’s not about him this time." The identity of the new protagonist remains undisclosed.
Speculation about the new protagonist is rife. A Cat School medallion, visible in a previous Unreal Engine 5 teaser, hints at a potential connection to the School of the Cat, despite its decimation prior to The Witcher 3. Gwent card game lore suggests surviving members, fueled by vengeance.
Another strong contender is Ciri, Geralt's adopted daughter. Her possession of a Cat medallion in the books, and the game's subtle substitution of the Wolf medallion for a Cat medallion when playing as Ciri in The Witcher 3, lends credence to this theory. Whether Ciri takes the lead with Geralt in a mentor role (similar to Vessemir) or his involvement is limited to flashbacks or cameos remains to be seen.
The Witcher 4's Development and Release
Game director Sebastian Kalemba, in an interview with Lega Nerd, highlighted the game's goal: to attract new players while satisfying existing fans. The Witcher 4, codenamed Polaris, entered development in 2023, with a substantial team of over 400 developers. However, due to the project's ambitious scope and the development of new Unreal Engine 5 technologies, a release date several years out is anticipated, as indicated by CEO Adam Kiciński in October 2022.
