The Witcher’s Geralt of Rivia is returning for The Witcher 4, according to voice actor Doug Cockle. However, while the iconic Witcher will be part of the game, the focus will shift to new characters.

Geralt of Rivia Returns in The Witcher 4, But Not as Protagonist‘It’s Not About Him This Time’, Voice Actor Said

In a recent interview with Fall Damage, Cockle hinted at a shift in the series’ direction. While he couldn’t provide specifics, he emphasized that Geralt’s role will be supportive rather than pivotal to the narrative.

"Witcher 4 has been announced. I can’t say anything about it. What we know is that Geralt will be part of the game," Cockle said. "We just don’t know how much. And the game won’t focus on Geralt, so it’s not about him this time."

One intriguing possibility emerges from a seemingly inconsequential detail in the Witcher 4 teaser posted two years ago in an Unreal Engine 5 presentation. A Cat medallion, symbol of the once-feared School of the Cat, was spotted buried in the snow. Though the order was decimated by Nilfgaardian forces years before The Witcher 3, Gwent: The Witcher Card Game’s seasonal tree hints at survivors: "As for those who were not present during the attack? They continue to roam the world’s ends—embittered, hungry for vengeance, with nothing left to lose…"

While some envision Ciri stepping into the spotlight with Geralt assuming a mentor-like role, akin to Vessemir, others believe his involvement might be more circumscribed, perhaps limited to flashbacks or cameo appearances.

The Witcher 4’s Development

The Witcher 4, codenamed Polaris, officially entered development in 2023. According to CD Projekt Red’s 2023 earnings report, nearly half of the studio’s development team—approximately 330 developers—was dedicated to the project by October that year, following the release of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. This number has since grown to over 400, making The Witcher 4 the studio’s largest project in terms of manpower, according to Pawel Sasko, associate game director for Cyberpunk 2077’s upcoming sequel.

Despite this significant investment, fans should brace themselves for an extended wait. In October 2022, CEO Adam Kiciński indicated that the game’s release would be at least three years away due to the ambitious scope of the project, which includes developing new technology within Unreal Engine 5.

For our predictions as to when the game will release, check out the article below!