The director of The Witcher 4 has addressed recent speculation regarding Ciri's appearance after a new behind-the-scenes video was released by CD Projekt. This video, showcasing the development process of the game's cinematic reveal trailer, included two brief clips at the 2:11 and 5:47 marks that offered close-up views of Ciri's face. Some fans noticed slight variations in her facial features, prompting discussions on whether her look had been altered due to earlier criticism.
The initial reveal of Ciri in The Witcher 4 had drawn mixed reactions, with some fans describing her as "ugly." However, the response to the new clips was overwhelmingly positive, with one fan calling the 5:47 mark shot a "perfect representation of an older Ciri." This led to speculation that CD Projekt might have adjusted her appearance in response to the feedback.
Sebastian Kalemba, The Witcher 4's game director, took to social media to clarify the situation. He stated that the behind-the-scenes video features the same in-game model of Ciri as seen in the original trailer, with no modifications made. "What you're seeing is raw footage — without facial animation, lighting, or virtual camera lenses," Kalemba explained. He emphasized that the differences in appearance were due to the footage being a "work-in-progress snapshot" taken before cinematic enhancements were applied.
Kalemba further noted that variations in a character's appearance are a normal part of the game development process, as appearances can differ across various media, such as trailers, 3D models, or in-game visuals. This clarification was humorously echoed by a Reddit user, Fehndrix, who quipped, "Redditor discovers the effect that lighting can have on an in-game face model, is confused."
The Witcher 4 marks the beginning of a new trilogy set after the events of The Witcher 3, with Ciri taking the lead role instead of Geralt. Executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga, in an exclusive interview with IGN, described Ciri as the "very organic, logical choice" for the protagonist. She highlighted Ciri's rich and layered character, developed throughout the books, as a key reason for this decision.
Kalemba added that Ciri's younger age compared to Geralt allows for greater player freedom in shaping her character, providing more creative space for the developers. Despite potential backlash from some fans about Ciri's role, both Mitręga and Kalemba stressed that Ciri was always intended to be the main character. Kalemba emphasized that the choice was far from random, citing discussions dating back nine years that instantly settled on Ciri as the next protagonist due to her compelling story and challenges.
In a separate interview with IGN about Netflix's upcoming animated film, The Witcher: Sirens of The Deep, Geralt's voice actor Doug Cockle expressed his support for CD Projekt's decision to focus on Ciri. He believes shifting the saga's focus to her will be a compelling move, especially considering the narrative developments in the books.
For more in-depth coverage, don't miss our trailer breakdown and exclusive interview with CD Projekt, where they discuss how The Witcher 4 aims to avoid a Cyberpunk 2077-style launch disaster.
