CD Projekt Red (CDPR) has unveiled The Witcher 4, promising the most immersive and ambitious installment yet in the acclaimed video game series. Executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga confirms Ciri's ascension as the next Witcher, a destiny hinted at from the franchise's inception. This article delves into Ciri's evolution and Geralt's well-deserved retirement.

The Most Immersive Witcher Game to Date

Ciri: A Complex Legacy

CDPR aims to redefine open-world RPGs with The Witcher 4. Director Sebastian Kalemba emphasizes the team's commitment to exceeding expectations, drawing on lessons learned from Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The Game Awards trailer showcased Ciri, Geralt's adopted daughter, inheriting his mantle. Story director Tomasz Marchewka reveals Ciri's central role was planned from the outset, highlighting her complexity and untold potential.

While fans adore Ciri's overpowered abilities in previous games, The Witcher 4 introduces a subtle shift. Mitręga hints at significant events between games impacting Ciri's skillset, while Kalemba assures players of clear in-game explanations. Despite this adjustment, Mitręga emphasizes that Ciri retains Geralt's essence: speed, agility, and the unmistakable mark of Geralt's tutelage.

Geralt's Well-Earned Rest

With Ciri's rise, Geralt's era as the primary Witcher concludes. His advanced age—revealed to be around 61 in The Witcher 3, and potentially in his seventies or nearing eighty in The Witcher 4—justifies a peaceful retirement. Information from Andrzej Sapkowski's novel, Rozdroże kruków, confirms Geralt's birth year, clarifying his age throughout the series.

Witcher lore suggests a lifespan of up to 100 years, but the realities of their dangerous profession often shorten their lives. The revelation of Geralt's age has surprised some fans, dispelling previous assumptions about his age.