Witcher 4 Excludes Geralt, Actor Confirms

Legendary Witcher Geralt of Rivia will make an appearance in The Witcher 4, confirms voice actor Doug Cockle. However, the upcoming installment will shift focus from the iconic monster hunter to new protagonists.

The Witcher 4 Welcomes Back Geralt But Prioritizes New Characters

Voice Actor Confirms Reduced Role for the White Wolf

The White Wolf rides again! Despite previous suggestions that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt concluded his story, Doug Cockle has verified Geralt's return in the upcoming sequel. However, the veteran actor cautions that fans shouldn't expect their favorite Witcher to dominate the narrative once more.

Speaking with Fall Damage, Cockle hinted at significant changes for the franchise's direction. While revealing few details, he emphasized that Geralt's participation would be substantial yet secondary to the new lead characters.

"The Witcher 4 is happening. My lips are sealed about specifics, but we do know Geralt appears in the game," Cockle explained. "His involvement level remains unclear, though. This story won't revolve around him like before."

The new protagonist's identity remains CD Projekt Red's best-kept secret. "Fans and I share the same curiosity about who takes center stage," Cockle admitted, fueling speculation about fresh faces leading the franchise forward.

Clues from the original teaser trailer suggest exciting possibilities. A buried Cat School medallion in the snow hints at connections to the nearly-extinct School of the Cat. Gwent: The Witcher Card Game suggests some Cat Witchers escaped Nilfgaard's purge, roaming the world "embittered and hungry for revenge."

Many theorize about Ciri, Geralt's adoptive daughter, assuming the lead role. Literary and game evidence supports this: Ciri's victory over a dangerous foe earned her a Cat medallion in the books, while The Witcher 3 visually reinforced this connection by displaying the feline emblem during her playable segments.

While some envision a passing-of-the-torch storyline with Geralt mentoring a new generation, others speculate the veteran Witcher may appear only briefly through flashbacks or special encounters.

The Witcher 4 Development Insights

Game director Sebastian Kalemba told Lega Nerd that The Witcher 4 aims to introduce newcomers to the universe while delivering meaningful content for veteran fans. However, players will need patience before experiencing this next chapter.

Codenamed Polaris, The Witcher 4 officially entered development in 2023. CD Projekt Red's 2023 financial report revealed the studio allocated nearly half its workforce (about 330 developers) to the project following Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty's release. Current team size exceeds 400, making this the studio's most staffed project according to Cyberpunk 2077 sequel associate director Pawel Sasko.

Despite this massive investment, CEO Adam Kiciński cautioned in October 2022 that fans face at least a three-year wait. The ambitious project requires substantial technological innovation within Unreal Engine 5, contributing to the extended development timeline.