Geralt of Rivia's return in The Witcher 4 has been confirmed by voice actor Doug Cockle. However, this isn't a continuation of his central story. Instead, the focus shifts to new protagonists.

Geralt's Role in The Witcher 4: A Supporting Character

A New Era for the Witcher Saga

"Witcher 4 has been announced. I can’t say anything about it. What we know is that Geralt will be part of the game," Cockle stated. "We just don’t know how much. And the game won’t focus on Geralt, so it’s not about him this time."

The mystery surrounding the new protagonist adds to the intrigue. Cockle himself admitted, "We don’t know who it’s about. I’m excited to find out. I want to know," fueling speculation about a fresh face leading the charge.

Clues and Speculation: A Cat School Witcher? Ciri?

A Cat School medallion, featured in an Unreal Engine 5 teaser two years prior, hints at a potential protagonist. While the School of the Cat was decimated, Gwent: The Witcher Card Game suggests survivors exist, fueling the possibility.

Another strong contender is Ciri, Geralt's adopted daughter. The Witcher books and subtle hints in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (the Cat medallion replacing the Wolf medallion during Ciri's gameplay segments) support this theory. Her potential role could range from a leading protagonist to a more limited appearance, perhaps in flashbacks.

The Witcher 4's Development: A Massive Undertaking

Game director Sebastian Kalemba, in an interview with Lega Nerd, highlighted the game's goal: to attract new players while satisfying long-time fans. However, the wait will be considerable.

The Witcher 4 (codenamed Polaris) officially began development in 2023. CD Projekt Red's 2023 earnings report reveals a significant portion of their development team (over 400 developers) is dedicated to the project, making it their largest undertaking to date.

Despite the substantial investment, CEO Adam Kiciński indicated a release date at least three years out, given the ambitious scope and the development of new technology within Unreal Engine 5. For release date predictions, refer to the linked article.