CD Projekt RED recently confirmed that The Witcher 4 is coming, and that former protagonist Geralt of Rivia has hung up his swords in favor of his adoptive daughter Ciri. Although The Witcher 4 will likely focus on telling a new story and introducing new characters, it might just include a few familiar faces as well.
Because The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt featured multiple fates for certain characters depending on the player’s choices, CD Projekt RED may either choose not to include them, make some of the third game’s choices and endings “canon,” or allow players to import save data into The Witcher 4. Here is a brief refresher on the possible fates of these iconic characters at the end of the third game:
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Cirilla “Ciri”
Initially, the player’s choice in The Witcher 3 could see Ciri following in her father’s footsteps as a witcher or becoming Empress of Nilfgaard. It seems that The Witcher 4 is definitively establishing Ciri’s witcher status as canon, as she takes over as the new protagonist and is seen wielding a witcher’s iconic steel and silver swords in the game’s first trailer.
However, in early interviews, representatives of CD Projekt RED have indicated that they have taken all possible endings of Wild Hunt into account and want to ensure fans who chose alternate fates for Ciri do not “feel cheated.” While the Wild Hunt itself has been defeated, it is possible that Ciri will continue to deal with attention from various factions, such as the elves, due to her powerful Elder Blood.
Geralt of Rivia
After many decades of work as a witcher, Geralt decides to retire at the end of The Witcher 3, passing the mantle on to Ciri. In the base game, he moves in with either Triss Merigold or Yennefer of Vengerberg – or continues wandering the world if he romances neither. However, in the Blood and Wine DLC, Geralt is gifted Corvo Bianco, a vineyard in Toussaint, and retires there.
Blood and Wine’s ending and following supplemental material indicate that Ciri and many of the friends he made in his travels visit him often. Geralt will “make his presence known” in The Witcher 4, and it might be fun for Ciri to pay her retired father a visit or two. Hopefully, Geralt still has his beloved horse Roach with him – or possibly a descendant of the original Roach.
The Rulers: Emhyr, Radovid, And More
Geralt’s actions throughout The Witcher 2: Assassin of Kings and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt can have far-reaching implications regarding who rules what country, and which kings and emperors stay in power or are deposed. Depending on player choices, The Witcher 3 ends with one of the following situations:
- Emhyr var Emreis of Nilfgaard either continues as a victorious, ambitious ruler, gaining power in the Northern Kingdoms as well as Nilfgaard, or loses the war against the Kingdoms and is executed by his people.
- King Radovid of Redania can be assassinated or remain alive as a cruel monarch persecuting magic users. If he lives, it is not safe for mages in Novigrad, and Triss Merigold is heavily involved in smuggling mages out of the city.
- If Radovid is killed, depending on the player’s choices, either Sigismund Dijkstra gains power over all four Kingdoms or Vernon Roche and his Blue Stripes liberate Temeria, while Emhyr controls the remaining three. (Roche or Dijkstra can potentially die if the other’s path is chosen.)
- Skellige can be ruled by Cerys an Craite, Hjalmar an Craite, or Svanrige Bran, depending on who Geralt backed. Cerys leads Skellige towards peace, while the other two focus on conquest and raiding.
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Yennefer of Vengerberg and Triss Merigold
Depending on the player’s choices, Geralt can end up in a romantic relationship with one of two sorceresses: Yennefer of Vengerberg or Triss Merigold. Both sorceresses continue their lives, whether or not they end up with Geralt – Triss becomes an advisor to the king of Kovir, while Yennefer decides to retire and enjoy her life. The ending of Blood and Wine shows a romanced Triss or Yenn spending time with Geralt at Corvo Bianco, with either pair finally having time to relax together. As sorceresses have greatly extended lives compared to standard humans, either or both could definitely appear in The Witcher 4.
Other Characters
Over the course of the first three games, Geralt and Ciri made many friends – and many enemies. While The Witcher 4 will likely introduce primarily new characters and storylines, some of these characters could potentially appear or be referenced in The Witcher 4, including:
- Dandelion continues his life as a bard and tavern owner. Most endings of the original game indicate that he continues his friendship with Geralt and the two sometimes visit one another. Note, though, that as a human with no magic powers or witcher mutations, Dandelion could be getting up in age – or even have passed on – by the time of The Witcher 4. Should he be alive, however, he will certainly be up to his usual bardic antics.
- Geralt’s Wolf school brothers Eskel and Lambert continue working as witchers should they survive the final battle. Lambert may be implied to start a relationship with Keira Metz, another sorceress. Viper School member Letho of Gulet also continues as a witcher if he lives through Wild Hunt.
- Baron Phillip Strenger, aka the Bloody Baron, a major figure in the first arc of Wild Hunt, either dies or travels to the faraway Blue Mountains, so his appearance in The Witcher 4 is less likely.
- Sorceress Phillippa Eilhart can survive Wild Hunt still desiring power, and may be a wanted fugitive following her involvement in the potential assassination of Radovid. At the end of Wild Hunt, she expressed interest in becoming an advisor to Emhyr, meaning that she may remain an active political figure and potential antagonistic force.
- Other friends of Geralt and Ciri’s who survive The Witcher 3 and could potentially appear in The Witcher 4 include the dwarves Zoltan Chivay and Yarpen Zigrin, the shapeshifter Dudu, the medic Shani, the vampire Regis, and Duchess Anna Henrietta of Toussaint – and potentially her sister Sylvia Anna, depending on player choices.
