The Witcher 4 – Everything We Know About The New Game In The Witcher Series

The wait is over: CD Projekt RED has officially revealed The Witcher IV! From a stunning cinematic trailer to exciting gameplay teases, fans have plenty to speculate about as we look forward to the next chapter in this beloved franchise.

2024 12 16 11 07 news
Here is everything you need to know. | © CD Project Red

The world of The Witcher is vast, immersive, and rich with lore. With the announcement of The Witcher IV, the amount of speculation surrounding the game is equally massive. While we still have to wait for an official release date, the reveal trailer from The Game Awards 2024 gave us a lot to unpack.

In The Witcher IV, the focus shifts from Geralt of Rivia to a new saga with Ciri as the protagonist. This marks a bold new direction for the series, promising fresh gameplay mechanics, deeper storytelling, and an ever-expanding open world. If you're as excited as we are, you've come to the right place – here's everything we know about the upcoming game so far.

Confirmed: Geralt Will Appear In The Witcher 4

While The Witcher 4 will focus on Ciri, Geralt is not completely gone. Voice actor Doug Cockle, who has played the White Wolf since the first game, recently confirmed his involvement in the upcoming title.

Cockle, who just recorded lines for Sirens of the Deep, Netflix's animated Witcher movie, said in an interview, "I can confirm that Geralt will appear in The Witcher 4." He remains deeply attached to the role, calling it a "second skin."

Last summer, he hinted at Geralt's return – only to be rebuked by CD Projekt Red, which has kept the character's role a mystery. Whether Cockle's latest reveal was intentional or a slip-up remains unclear, but it certainly adds fuel to the speculation.

A Closer Look At The Witcher IV Gameplay And Trailer

The Witcher IV was revealed with a cinematic trailer during The Game Awards 2024, followed by an in-depth breakdown from game director Sebastian Kalemba. In his analysis, Kalemba provided a detailed look at the world, characters, and gameplay mechanics that will shape the RPG.

The Witcher IV centers on Ciri, now an experienced witch herself. The trailer introduces us to a northern village steeped in a dark ritual: the offering of human sacrifices to appease a monstrous creature known as the Bauk. Ciri intervenes, saving the intended sacrifice, Mioni, and ultimately confronting Bauk in a tense battle.

Combat in The Witcher IV brings exciting new mechanics to the series. Ciri uses enchanted chains that can absorb elements from her surroundings to unleash powerful spells. The environment plays a critical role in combat, with elemental interactions enhancing both strategic depth and immersion.

Making choices remains a cornerstone of the Witcher experience. In the trailer, the villagers' obsession with their rituals leads to tragic consequences for Mioni, but Kalemba confirmed that players will have the power to shape those outcomes through their choices. This ensures that every choice you make has meaningful consequences for the story and the world around you.

Why Does Ciri Have A New Voice Actor In The Witcher IV?

One of the most talked about aspects of The Witcher IV's reveal is the change in Ciri's voice actor. Fans immediately noticed that Ciri sounded different from her previous appearance in The Witcher 3. CD Projekt RED later confirmed that Ciara Berkeley has replaced Jo Wyatt as the voice of Ciri for this new chapter.

"Ciara Berkeley was cast as Ciri for The Witcher IV Cinematic Reveal Trailer," a studio spokesperson told TheGamer in an interview. "In this trailer, we believe she truly brought Ciri to life in a way that is both faithful to the character and exciting for fans of the series."

While some fans were initially hesitant about the change, many have since praised Berkeley's portrayal as fitting with the character's growth. Jo Wyatt's iconic performance as the younger Ciri in The Witcher 3 remains beloved, but Berkeley's voice is meant to reflect Ciri's evolution into a powerful, independent figure shaped by years of walking the path.

Geralt fans can rest assured that Doug Cockle will reprise his role as the legendary Witcher, though his involvement in the story remains a mystery.

Johanna Goebel

Johanna is studying Online-Journalism in Cologne and has been travelling the gaming world since she was a toddler. Her heart beats for open-worlds, action or fantasy RPGs and third-person shooters with great storylines and (un)charming characters.

...