Summary
- The Ciri model in The Witcher 4 reveal trailer is the same as the one seen in the recent behind-the-scenes video.
- A CDPR official dismissed speculation that the developer changed Ciri’s model due to some negative reactions to the first The Witcher 4 trailer.
The Witcher 4 reveal trailer uses the same Ciri model as the one seen in its accompanying behind-the-scenes video, a senior CD Projekt Red official said. This comment was offered alongside a potential explanation as to why some fans seem convinced that the developer changed Ciri’s face in between its first two The Witcher 4 promo videos.
Nearly three years after it was first confirmed to be in development, The Witcher 4 was treated to a cinematic reveal trailer at The Game Awards 2024 back in December. The six-minute video confirmed Ciri as the protagonist of the upcoming RPG. Some online communities weren’t happy with this older version of Ciri, arguing that CDPR changed her model too much compared to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
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In late February 2025, CDPR shared another video going behind the scenes of The Witcher 4 reveal trailer. As far as YouTube comments go, the response to this promo was more universally positive, with some fans pointing out that its Ciri model looks closer to The Witcher 3‘s rendition of the character. While this development prompted speculation that CDPR changed the model in response to the initial criticism, game director Sebastian Kalemba promptly shut down that theory.
The Witcher 4 BTS Video Shows the Same Ciri Model, But Without Post-Processing
Taking to Twitter on February 27, Kalemba stated that the behind-the-scenes video shows the same Ciri model used in the TGA 2024 reveal trailer. However, the close-ups of Ciri seen around the 2:11 and 5:47 marks depict her without any post-processing effects like lighting, facial animation, and virtual camera lenses. He attributed any perceived differences to these “cinematic touches,” dismissing speculation that the developer altered her face in response to fan concerns about The Witcher 4‘s rendition of Ciri.
Ciri’s The Witcher 4 Model Will Likely Look Different in the Final Game
“This variation is a natural part of the game development process,” Kalemba said, while adding that characters’ appearances inherently vary based on medium. CDPR’s track record supports this, as the cinematic reveal trailers for the first three The Witcher titles each depicted a slightly different-looking Geralt compared to his in-game models. Ciri could hence also look different in the final game compared to her appearance in the first The Witcher 4 trailer.
This variation is a natural part of the game development process.
The much-anticipated RPG entered full-scale development in November 2024, following around two and a half years of pre-production work. The game hence isn’t expected to hit the market before 2027. CDPR recast the role of Ciri for The Witcher 4, with Ciara Berkeley replacing Jo Wyatt.
