The Witcher 4 narrative lead admits he also wanted Geralt as protagonist, not Ciri

The narrative lead behind The Witcher 4 has revealed that he initially shared the disappointment of fans who wanted Geralt to remain the series' protagonist, rather than see Ciri take the lead. Philipp Weber, who previously worked as a quest designer on The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, acknowledged that he too struggled with the idea of handing the reins to a new character, before coming around to the decision.

Weber’s comments came in response to a fan on Twitter who expressed a strong preference for Geralt over Ciri. In his reply, Weber said he understood the sentiment because he “felt like that at the start” of development. He went on to describe it as CD Projekt Red’s “job to prove with W4 that Ciri will be a worthy main character for the game,” adding that the team takes that task “very seriously.”

The reaction from some fans has been a recurring point of discussion since The Witcher 4 was first revealed. A vocal portion of the fanbase has made clear its displeasure at Ciri replacing Geralt as the lead, a debate that has played out online. Weber’s admission suggests that even within the studio, the change was not immediately embraced by everyone.

Weber was keen to reassure fans that Geralt will not be absent from the series. He stated that Geralt “will always have an important role” in The Witcher universe, and the upcoming expansion for The Witcher 3, titled Songs of the Past, is a clear example of that. The DLC, which Weber described as “a story long in the making,” will see Geralt embark on a new adventure in the region of Letten. He credited the work of Fool’s Theory, the studio collaborating on the expansion, and noted that the content is made with “love for the Witcher.”

The Witcher 4 itself is not expected until 2028, according to a recent clarification from the developer. In the meantime, fans have other content to look forward to. A remastered version of The Witcher 3 is due for release next month, and it will be offered free of charge to all existing owners of the game. That remaster, which CD Projekt Red has developed in partnership with one of the RPG’s most beloved modders, is intended to serve as a warm-up for the Songs of the Past expansion, which is scheduled to launch next year.

The engineering production manager for The Witcher 4, Jan Hermanowicz, previously advised fans to reserve their judgment about Ciri as protagonist until they have actually played the game. Speaking to GamesRadar+ last year, he said, “When the game will be out, you’ll be able to see for yourself and fully embrace her character, her story.”

Weber’s recent comments add a personal dimension to the ongoing discussion. By admitting that he once felt the same way as the sceptical fans, he may help bridge the gap between the developer and the audience. The narrative lead’s shift in perspective suggests that the team’s confidence in Ciri as the protagonist has grown over time, and that the studio is now committed to making her a worthy successor to Geralt.

The Witcher 4 is being developed and published by CD Projekt Red, using Unreal Engine 5. It is an action RPG set in an open world, continuing the franchise that began with the novels by Andrzej Sapkowski. While the game’s release is still some years away, the developer is clearly investing significant effort into ensuring that Ciri’s role as the lead is accepted by the fanbase.

For now, the message from Weber is clear: the studio understands the attachment to Geralt, but believes that Ciri will prove herself when players finally get their hands on the game. Until then, the existing Witcher content, including the upcoming remaster and expansion, should keep fans occupied.