The director of *The Witcher 4*, Sebastian Kalemba, has addressed fan speculation regarding Ciri's appearance in a recent behind-the-scenes video. Released by CD Projekt, the video showcased a closer look at Ciri, prompting fans to notice subtle differences in her facial features compared to the cinematic reveal trailer. Clips at 2:11 and 5:47 of the video zoomed in on Ciri, sparking discussions about her slightly altered look, with some fans even praising the new appearance as a "perfect representation of a slightly older Ciri."

Initial reactions suggested that CD Projekt might have changed Ciri's face due to fan feedback on her appearance in the reveal trailer. However, Kalemba clarified via social media that the in-game model of Ciri remained unchanged. He explained that the behind-the-scenes footage was a "snapshot" taken before applying cinematic enhancements like facial animations, lighting, and virtual camera lenses.

"The behind-the-scenes video features the same in-game model of Ciri as seen in the original trailer," Kalemba stated. "We have not modified it. What you’re seeing is raw footage — without facial animation, lighting, or virtual camera lenses. While it’s still in-engine, it represents a work-in-progress snapshot taken before we applied cinematic touches for the purpose of that video. This variation is a natural part of the game development process. At this point, any character's appearance may vary depending on the medium — whether it’s in a trailer, a 3D model, or in-game."

*The Witcher 4* is the first installment in a new trilogy set after *The Witcher 3*, with Ciri taking the lead role instead of Geralt. Executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga, speaking to IGN, emphasized Ciri's selection as protagonist as a "very organic, logical choice." She highlighted Ciri's complexity and the natural progression of her story from the books to the games.

Kalemba further noted that Ciri's younger age allows players more freedom to shape her character, offering the development team more creative space to explore her narrative. Despite potential backlash, both Mitręga and Kalemba confirmed that Ciri's role as the protagonist was a deliberate and well-thought-out decision.

Kalemba elaborated on the choice, saying, "There was an intention behind this choice. It was far from roulette. It wasn't random. I remember we had discussions nine years ago, we were talking about who's next? The very, very instant answer was Ciri. There are many reasons behind that. We've already mentioned a few. But she really deserves a stage and we want players to really experience her story because she has so much to tell, so much to prove. The amount of challenges that are in front of her give us so much amazing energy and fuel to create an epic saga that we had no choice but to go with it. We all felt that this is the way. I believe this is the super right choice."

In a separate interview with IGN regarding Netflix's upcoming animated film, *The Witcher: Sirens of The Deep*, Geralt's voice actor Doug Cockle expressed excitement about *The Witcher 4*'s direction. He supported the shift to Ciri as protagonist, citing her potential to enrich the narrative based on events in the books.

For more on *The Witcher 4*, check out our exclusive trailer breakdown and an interview with CD Projekt discussing how they plan to avoid a launch disaster similar to *Cyberpunk 2077*.