Developer CD Projekt Red recently revealed "The Witcher IV" with a surprising cinematic trailer at The Game Awards 2024 that showed how Ciri was chosen to become the main protagonist.
Game director Sebastian Kalemba and executive producer Malgorzata Mitrega talked about the game during an interview following the reveal of "The Witcher IV."
The reveal footage showed the fully fledged Witcher can be seen taking down a new monster based on Serbian folklore called the Bauk.
The Witcher IV's Ciri as Main Protagonist
Kalemba said he was relieved, excited, and happy following the reveal of "The Witcher IV," referencing the reaction that they have received so far. They can now finally say out loud that Ciri is in the lead role, taking over Geralt of Rivia.
He also talked about the decision to make Ciri the new protagonist, saying that it was an obvious choice for the franchise. Kalemba said that they had already made the call nearly a decade ago, noting that Ciri deserves the spotlight, according to Game Spot.
Kalemba argued that the female Witcher had been running for most of her life and that she finally had a chance to define herself. The new take gave the studio more room to expand "The Witcher" franchise.
It also gives CD Projekt Red an opportunity to tell the origin stories so that new players can experience the series' world from a different perspective but still in an appealing way.
Mitrega added that "The Witcher IV" has a new protagonist and features a new adventure that marks the beginning of a new saga.
Addressing the Controversy
Narrative director Phillipp Weber also addressed the controversy surrounding the decision to make Ciri the new protagonist of "The Witcher" franchise.
He noted that they were aware that it could be controversial for some people as Geralt has been the main character for the three previous titles, Tech Radar said.
Weber said that he enjoyed playing as Geralt, noting that they know a lot of people prefer controlling him. However, he said that the decision to make Ciri the protagonist has the potential to deliver "a lot of interesting things" for the franchise.
There has been widespread criticism about the reveal that Ciri is the new protagonist in "The Witcher IV." Many people slammed the studio's decision, and some even made sexist remarks about the character's new design.
Weber said that they are aware of the many valid worries and responses following the reveal of "The Witcher IV." However, he thinks that many of the questions that people have about the situation come out of passion.
He revealed that the development team for the game is "beholden to the lore" and the "canon of the books" that were created by Andrzej Sapkowski. Weber added that they really wanted to respect them, according to Dexerto.
