The Witcher 4: A New Lead, A New Adventure

As the development team of The Witcher 4 continues to work on their latest installment in the popular franchise, one key member is urging fans to hold their judgments until they've had the chance to play the game. CD Projekt Red has faced some resistance over the change in lead character from Geralt to Ciri, but engineering production manager Jan Hermanowicz believes that many minds will be changed once players get their hands on the game. The Witcher 4 was first announced more than three years ago, but fans didn't get their first good look at the game until a six-minute-long cinematic story trailer was released during The Game Awards 2024 presentation last December. The trailer turned a lot of heads with its familiar dark fantasy elements and tension-filled content, but the most talked-about aspect was the reveal of Ciri as the protagonist of The Witcher 4. While a vocal majority of fans feel that Ciri is a great choice to lead the series into its next trilogy, there have been many who have expressed their displeasure at the switch. Hermanowicz thinks they're making judgment calls way too soon, and in a new interview with GamesRadar+, he stated that fans should avoid criticizing CD Projekt Red for its choices until after they see and feel how Ciri fits into the story and gameplay of The Witcher 4. After they're able to make informed decisions, he expressed confidence that players will appreciate the depth of her character, which goes far beyond what was revealed in the trailer six months ago. Hermanowicz's plea for patience is echoed by longtime Geralt actor Doug Cockle, who has addressed the Ciri controversy by calling the criticism "stupid" and stating that he's personally excited to get to play through a game with her in the lead. Cockle also shared his opinion that fans should "read the damn books" that the games are based on before making claims that Ciri doesn't make sense as a Witcher or protagonist of the coming game. CD Projekt RED studio head Adam Badowski has also been publicly stumping for fans to embrace change, stating that the development team doesn't want to copy its tricks from past games and wants to keep giving players something new to experience. A switch in protagonist is far from the only new thing players will be seeing in The Witcher 4, as Badowski hinted at a variety of other surprises in store for fans. In conclusion, while there may be some resistance to the change in lead character from Geralt to Ciri, the development team at CD Projekt Red is confident that once players get their hands on The Witcher 4, they will appreciate the depth and complexity of Ciri's character and the new direction the game is taking. With a mix of familiar elements and new surprises, The Witcher 4 is shaping up to be an exciting addition to the franchise.