The Witcher 4 was finally announced at the Game Awards gala. This significant reveal has boosted expectations but also sparked some controversies, mainly revolving around the new protagonist, Ciri. Let’s wrap up everything about the upcoming game, including the release date, plot, and characters.
UPDATE: June 4, 2025
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The Witcher 4: Release date and platforms
CD Projekt RED hasn’t revealed the Witcher 4 release date yet. Hence, we can only guess when Ciri will set out on a witcher trail. Cyberpunk 2077 was announced in 2012 and premiered in 2020. I doubt we will have to wait until 2032 for the new Witcher game. However, it certainly won’t hit the shelves anytime soon. Considering the time required for development and marketing, 2026 seems to be the fastest possible date.
Since most negative backlash regarding Cyberpunk 2077 stemmed from releasing it on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, CD Projekt RED will probably learn from this mistake. Hence, The Witcher 4 likely will be available only on platforms that are fully capable of running it smoothly. PC, PlayStation 5/PS 5 PRO, and Xbox Series X are the most likely to host The Witcher 4. Xbox Series S may be omitted because this console is considered the bottleneck of the most recent console generation.
The Witcher 4: Gameplay
Like its predecessors, The Witcher 4 will be an action role-playing game with an open world to explore. The series will also remain faithful to its single-player roots. Even though some solo games, for instance, GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2, offer multiplayer modes, I doubt the upcoming Witcher will include similar components or game modes.
The Witcher 4 is CD Projekt Red’s first game using Unreal Engine 5, so the game will certainly look astonishing. However, the first trailer suggests that the gameplay won’t undergo a revolution. We may expect dynamic combat using witcher swords, signs, and potions, which enhance the character’s abilities and senses. Ciri will also have unique skills, like Blink, presented in The Witcher 3.
The first glimpse of gameplay was revealed at the State of Unreal event on June 3, 2025, when this tech demo dropped.
Ciri, the new protagonist
The most prominent change is that Geralt, the protagonist of the previous three games, steps back to leave the spotlight for Ciri. Some players complain that the game won’t allow them to create the protagonist from scratch. It’s hardly a surprise, as all games in the franchise have had a predefined protagonist. However, there will be a notable shift. According to the developers, The Witcher 4 will let players design different character builds. As a result, players should have a chance to create their unique versions of Ciri. Many players have missed such freedom from the Geralt trilogy. Hence, this change should be warmly welcomed.
There were also criticisms about Ciri’s genre, age, and looks. I don’t believe they deserve any discussion. However, I wonder how the new game’s story will cope with the ending of Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. I’m aware that according to many fans, the finale, where Ciri becomes a witcher, is the best possible outcome.
I was happy that my Ciri was the empress of Nilfgaard. I believe this ending has the most prominent impact on the game’s world, which makes events of the whole Geralt trilogy more significant. Therefore, I hope the upcoming title will manage to respect all major choices instead of simply declaring some of them canon.
The Witcher 4: Story
The Witcher 4 is set after the events of The Wild Hunt. In the dark fantasy world of witchers, black-and-white situations are incredibly rare. Therefore, moral dilemmas have become one of the series’ trademarks. Even though we don’t know any details about the story, it’s safe to assume that the new adventure will be lined with difficult choices carrying grave and often unpredictable consequences.
We may also expect to meet some familiar faces, including Dandelion (Jaskier), Yennefer, and Triss. It remains unclear whether players’ choices from previous entries will carry over to The Witcher 4. However, it’s possible that the presence of some characters may be determined by players’ actions from the Geralt trilogy.
According to the first information revealed by CD Projekt RED, Ciri’s adventure will take her to the mountainous region of Kovir. Instead of Geralt’s Roach, the new protagonist will mount her loyal horse Kelpie, named after shape-shifting spirits from Scottish legends.
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