CD Projekt’s biggest hurdle with The Witcher 4 “will be convincing players that Ciri is as important as, or even more important than, Geralt.” According to David Cordero, cinematic animation lead on Cyberpunk 2077, the studio now has an entire lore department dedicated to building the world of The Witcher 4.

The Witcher universe is about to enter a brand-new chapter—and with it, a new protagonist. After the runaway success of The Witcher 3, CD Projekt has its sights set on crafting an RPG that can rival or surpass the GOTY winner of 2025. They’ve certainly grown from the Cyberpunk 2077 experience, learning to listen to players and gradually improve their product. But as they move forward with The Witcher 4, they’re confronting a much deeper challenge.

In an interview with Revenant, David Cordero—the cinematic animation director for Cyberpunk 2077—said the studio’s greatest task isn’t related to combat or gameplay mechanics. Rather, it’s about “convincing players that Ciri is as important as, or even more important than, Geralt of Rivia”, a character who has become one of the most iconic figures in video game history through the original Witcher trilogy.

Cordero admitted that “this is very difficult”, since the community has a deep emotional attachment to Geralt. “That doesn’t mean Geralt doesn’t exist in the world,” he clarified. CD Projekt has already confirmed that Geralt will appear in The Witcher 4, but has kept further details under wraps. “Getting past that emotional barrier will be the hardest part, because when it comes to gameplay and combat, we’re going to pour everything into making it better. CD Projekt is a studio that really listens to its players.”

CD Projekt Has a Dedicated Lore Department for The Witcher 4

Fans have also expressed concerns about whether Ciri will be fully trained as a Witcher by the time The Witcher 4 begins. According to Cordero, that story thread will definitely be part of the RPG, which isn’t expected to launch until sometime after 2027. “CD Projekt now has an incredibly robust lore department, staffed by the biggest Witcher fans you’ll ever meet. The story will be treated with extreme care—it’s not a secondary concern. That level of attention to detail is what we’re carrying over from Cyberpunk 2077, and we’re aiming to take the cinematic quality even further.”

Source: 3djuegos