Summary
- The Witcher 4 is the start of a new saga, attracting new audiences with a more accessible experience.
- The gameplay of The Witcher 4 has the potential for innovation, offering a fresh yet familiar experience.
- Ciri’s role in The Witcher 4, along with player agency, promises a more personal and intimate story.
It has been nearly ten years since the release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which is widely considered one of the best RPGs of all time. However, The Witcher 4 is now on the way, with plenty of changes in store for fans of the franchise, as well as a bit more of an open door for potential newcomers. Effectively, The Witcher 4 is the start of a brand-new saga for the series, which gives it the upper hand over its predecessor when it comes to attracting a new audience. The Witcher 3 was certainly the most accessible Witcher game ever made upon its release, but The Witcher 4 may be even more of an entry point for the series thanks to its status.
The Witcher 4 being the first game in a new trilogy for the Witcher series means it can do a lot with the formula that has been established over the last two decades. There’s a lot of potential here for The Witcher 4‘s gameplay, in particular, to innovate on the groundwork laid by its predecessors and offer up a fresh yet familiar experience. Innovative gameplay may not be the only defining factor of The Witcher 4 though, as its new-saga status and CD Projekt Red’s refined approach to player agency may make its story more personal than any Witcher game before it.
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The Witcher 4’s Story Might Hit Harder Than Ever
Ciri’s Role and Heritage Will Likely Present Her With Unique Challenges
The Witcher 4‘s story is already at an advantage with the introduction of its new protagonist, Ciri, Geralt’s adoptive daughter. While dedicated fans have become thoroughly familiar with Geralt over the years, The Witcher 4‘s change in perspective allows for a deeper exploration of Ciri’s character and her journey than even The Witcher 3, which finally saw her character appear, could with her deuteragonist role. While Ciri was occasionally playable in The Witcher 3, her upgrade to main protagonist in The Witcher 4 should, in theory, allow players to experience the world through her eyes, delving into her personal struggles, growth, and the challenges she faces as she steps into the role of a professional monster slayer.
Alongside her new role as The Witcher 4‘s protagonist, Ciri’s complex heritage will likely play a part in her character arc as well. Ciri’s heritage is one of the most notable in the Witcher franchise, as it makes her the sole princess of Cintra, which effectively makes her the true heir to the Nilfgaardian throne. Ciri is also a descendant of Lara Dorren, an elven sorceress of the Aen Elle, which means she has Elder Blood running through her veins. Coincidentally, Elder Blood connects her to an ancient prophecy about a powerful elven sorceress, granting Ciri access to powerful magic in The Witcher 4, potentially including the ability to travel between dimensions.
While dedicated fans have become thoroughly familiar with Geralt over the years, The Witcher 4‘s change in perspective allows for a deeper exploration of Ciri’s character and her journey than even The Witcher 3, which finally saw her character appear, could with her deuteragonist role.
All of this considered, The Witcher 4‘s Ciri is primed to be a very different protagonist from Geralt, whom fans have become more than familiar with over the last few Witcher games. Her brand-new role, her profound abilities, and her unique heritage set her up to make a far more personal connection with fans than Geralt has been able to accomplish since he began increasing in familiarity.
The Witcher 4 Will Give Players More Control Over the Story
Something else that is bound to make The Witcher 4 a more personal story is its increased emphasis on player agency. The Witcher 3 gave players unprecedented control over its story, but it was ultimately held back by the character of Geralt and his predefined role in the world. Ciri being a brand-new protagonist, however, could lead to The Witcher 4 granting players more liberty to shape her character, thereby influencing the way the surrounding world responds to her. This would also presumably make Ciri a more relatable and personal protagonist, as it would mean players get to shape and form her into the character they feel she should be.
By placing Ciri at the center of its story and enhancing the power of player agency, The Witcher 4 could offer a more intimate experience than ever before. Her unique heritage, her brand-new role, and the potential this all holds for a deeper, more personal narrative, already looks to set The Witcher 4 apart from its predecessors while maintaining the series DNA that has made it so great thus far.
