The long-awaited next installment in the Witcher saga, codenamed Polaris, was officially revealed at The Witcher 4. A new trailer from CD Projekt Red unveiled the game's title and, significantly, its protagonist: Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon, better known as Ciri. This marks a departure from the series' previous focus on Geralt of Rivia, opening a new chapter in the Witcher's narrative.

The trailer confirms that The Witcher 4 will not simply be another Geralt-centric story but a new narrative focusing on a familiar but significantly different protagonist. The trailer's depiction of Ciri's combat skills hints at gameplay that is slightly different from Geralt's, potentially emphasizing different strengths and fighting styles. This shift offers both a fresh perspective and a significant opportunity to expand the franchise's lore and storytelling possibilities beyond Geralt's well-trodden path. This is the start of a new trilogy so it suggests that The Witcher 4 is intended as a foundational title for the franchise's future with Ciri at the helm.

What The Witcher 4 Means To Fans

Ciri Is The Hero

The choice of Ciri as the protagonist signifies a calculated risk and a bold step for CD Projekt Red. While Geralt's popularity is undeniable, focusing on Ciri allows for exploring a different facet of The Witcher world, particularly her unique struggles and experiences as a powerful sorceress and trained warrior. The success of this decision will largely depend on how effectively the developers manage to create a compelling narrative that stands on its own merit while remaining faithful to the established lore and the spirit of The Witcher series.

The potential for this decision to broaden the player base is considerable, allowing players who weren't necessarily invested in Geralt's story to connect with Ciri and her journey. Moreover, a new trilogy built around Ciri provides the framework for exploring previously untouched storylines and characters. It's a great idea to freshen up a series that seems to have relied on a single protagonist for a while.

Our Take: Is Ciri A Good Choice?

She's Been Trained For This

I'm genuinely excited about this news, and I had no doubt Ciri was going to take center stage in The Witcher 4. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt concluded Geralt's story in a satisfying way, and while I'd always welcome more Geralt, focusing on Ciri feels like a natural, refreshing evolution. It's a smart move that allows the series to continue without relying on the familiar, potentially opening it up to a whole new audience. Even though this has been announced, fans will likely have to wait a lot longer for The Witcher 4.

Since there will be more games in the series, I know that Ciri is going to go through significant character development and maybe start a family of her own. The fact that Geralt was taking care of the young girl as his surrogate daughter added a lot to the story and I hope to see something similar start to build in The Witcher 4.

Source: The Game Awards

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