After months of fan debate, The Witcher 4 developers have drawn a clear line in the sand: Ciri is the main character, and they’re not interested in arguing about it anymore.
In a recent interview with GamesRadar+, CD Projekt RED’s engineering production manager Jan Hermanowicz made it clear that the next chapter of The Witcher will center on Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon, not Geralt of Rivia. For those still complaining, Hermanowicz’s message is simple: wait for the game, then judge.
“This is how it’s gonna be… and you will see in the game how it will play out,” said Hermanowicz.
Geralt’s Story is Over in The Witcher
Geralt’s (the grumpy monster hunter with white hair) story has already ended in The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine. So it’s time for Ciri—the girl he raised like a daughter, who can jump between worlds to take the lead.
Still unsure? Even Doug Cockle, the voice of Geralt himself, says it’s time to move on. In interviews, he’s mentioned that Geralt’s journey came to a natural conclusion, and he is excited to see where Ciri’s path leads. The developers aren’t making this up to be “woke” or to upset longtime fans. If you’ve read Andrzej Sapkowski’s Witcher novels, you’ll know the shift to Ciri has been coming for a long time. Hermanowicz summed it up:
“For me, personally, Reading the books, it’s very clear that the story slowly transitions from being Geralt’s story to really being Ciri’s story, sometimes narrated through the eyes of Geralt.”
So, it’s a natural evolution of the saga. The Witcher 3 even hinted at it, with Ciri as a major role and having multiple possible endings based on your choices. Some fans expected The Witcher 4 to feature her as the main character back in 2016.
Devs are Clearly Tired of Justifying Ciri
Since the very first trailer dropped at The Game Awards, reactions have been split. Some fans accepted the idea of a powerful, dimension-hopping Ciri-led game. Others clung to the classic concept that Geralt should still be the franchise’s face. But at this point, CD Projekt RED has had enough of the debate. Ciri is the protagonist. That’s the plan. And if you’re not on board, the developers ask you to at least wait until the full game releases before forming final opinions.
“When the game will be out, you’ll be able to see for yourself and fully embrace her character, her story.”
Ciri isn’t a side character stepping up; she’s already been trained by witchers, connected to the Elder Blood, and can teleport between worlds and timelines. That opens up wild new gameplay and story opportunities—something the devs (and many fans) seem eager to explore. With years of storytelling still available (both from the books and beyond), The Witcher 4 can show us what Ciri was doing during those mysterious gaps in the last game, or where her powers will lead her next. That’s exciting and new.
As of now, The Witcher 4 still doesn’t have a confirmed release date. And if CD Projekt RED’s past release schedules (and delays) are anything to go by, we shouldn’t expect concrete dates anytime soon. But when it launches, Ciri will be the center of the story. Some fans will need time to adjust to the idea of a post-Geralt world. That’s understandable. But the writing has been on the wall for a while, and CD Projekt RED is no longer trying to win over every critic—they’re just making the game they believe in.
