Following CD Projekt Red's announcement that it had begun development on the fourth installment of "The Witcher" series, codenamed "Polaris," the debut trailer at The Game Awards 2024 officially confirmed that Ciri will take the lead as the new protagonist. Geralt, the star of the original trilogy, is also set to appear in the upcoming game. 
While details about "The Witcher 4" remain scarce, the initial trailer suggests that this version of Ciri has likely undergone the Trial of the Grasses and become a full-fledged witcher.
Although CD Projekt Red has yet to reveal more, Game Director Sebastian Kalemba and Narrative Director Philipp Weber recently sat down with Eurogamer.net to shed some light on a few key details about the highly anticipated sequel.
Why Does Ciri Look Older? How Much Time Has Passed Since The Witcher 3?
One of the biggest topics of discussion among fans is the new protagonist, Ciri. In the debut trailer, her appearance is noticeably different from how she looked in "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt," which was released a decade ago. This isn't an instance of "political correctness," as some players have suggested, but rather a reflection of her aging and maturing over time.
When Eurogamer.net asked just how many years have passed since the events of "The Witcher 3" to account for Ciri's older look, Game Director Sebastian Kalemba responded, "We can't give a specific time, but it's safe to say that 'several years' have passed."
"Yes, it's basically been several years," Philipp Weber added in agreement.
Is There a Canon Ending for The Witcher 3?
"The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" features three main endings:
1. Ciri survives and becomes a witcher.
2. Ciri survives and becomes the Empress.
3. Ciri confronts the White Frost, and her fate is unknown.
Given the trailer for the new game, does this mean the development team has established one of these as the official canon ending? And how will the other outcomes be handled? Philipp Weber addressed the question:
"We're not quite ready to explain exactly how we'll handle it; we'll save that for a later reveal. But what I can say now is that we intend to honor the decisions every player made in the previous game, while also respecting Andrzej Sapkowski's original novels."
"How we will specifically present this content is part of the story we're telling in 'Polaris,' so we'll have more to say on that in the future."
Is Author Andrzej Sapkowski Involved? And Does He Approve of Ciri as a Witcher?
The development team mentioned that the new game will adhere to the original novels, citing the prequel "Season of Storms" as an example. This prompted Eurogamer.net to ask if author Andrzej Sapkowski would be involved in the new game's development.
"He's not really involved in the development," said Sebastian Kalemba. "I mean, he's not serving as a consultant or in any other capacity on the game's production, but we have a close relationship with him and meet from time to time to discuss things related to the project. Overall, he has a great deal of trust in us to build 'The Witcher' universe, and I think we've reached a very good understanding on that front."
As CDPR has previously stated, clues about Ciri becoming a witcher, as well as Geralt's story, can be found in the original novels. But does Sapkowski himself approve of this narrative direction for the games? Weber followed up:
"I can give a very clear answer to that—it's actually the same answer Andrzej Sapkowski often gives: the answer is in the books," Weber explained. "Sapkowski not only frequently calls Ciri a witcher, but even Geralt refers to her as a 'witcher' in the source material. So I think that basically settles Sapkowski's view on whether Ciri is a witcher."
Addressing Player Concerns About Ciri's Lead Role and New Look
Since the release of the first trailer, "The Witcher 4" has drawn some criticism, primarily centered on Ciri. Many players have expressed dissatisfaction with her more mature appearance, while others have voiced negative opinions about her taking over as the protagonist and becoming a witcher. Eurogamer.net asked how the team is handling this feedback.
Philipp Weber responded to the sentiment: "I think there are some very reasonable concerns in that feedback, and I see these reactions as coming from a place of passion for the game. These are questions we ask ourselves as well."
"However, we have to emphasize again that everything we've done so far is true to the source material, whether it's Andrzej Sapkowski's novels or the foundation of the first three 'Witcher' games. We want to build upon that," he continued. "So we're not just making things up to entertain ourselves... not at all. We are genuinely serious about making this game right."
"Similarly, I understand that some players might still want Geralt to be the protagonist. To be honest, I could even see myself making games about Geralt for the rest of my life and dying happy."
"But for me, and for everyone at CDPR, Ciri's potential is just so exciting—her personality, her identity, they all open up so many possibilities for gameplay. So, for the players who are still worried, our answer is to wait until we're ready to prove our dedication with the final game. After all, actions speak louder than words."
via： Eurogamer.net