The Witcher 4may still be in the early stages of development, as CD Projekt Red adapts to a completely new environment in Unreal Engine 5, but its Narrative Director could already be teasing where players might expect the next game to take place. When Project Polaris (as it was known in production) was unveiled earlier this year, it was accompanied by a lot of renewed excitement forThe Witcherfranchise. Its future was no longer in just the Netflix show –Witcherfans were now getting a fully-fledgedsequel that would tell a newWitchersaga, unburdened by the narrative constraints and framing that Geralt as a protagonist demanded.
ThoughThe Witcher 4is at least three years awayfrom launch, its announcement has nonetheless garnered a hefty dose of speculation. A Witcher amulet buried in the snow in the shape of a never-before-seen Witcher school is the type of hook that can kickstart an inexhaustible list of theories in the fandom. Though one can certainly debate what the School of the Lynx might be – if it’s a long-lost school or the successor to the School of the Wolf – one thing is certain: it’s a brand-new tale featuring a brand-new protagonist.
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In a recent interview with GamesRadar+, its narrative director Philipp Weber was asked where he’d like the nextWitchergame to take place. Though Weber was quick to deflect the question, stating that anything he’d say would be very leading with regard to the sequel, he did elect to give a very diplomatic answer instead. He’s always wanted to return to Temeria and Vizima, and see how they’re doingafter the events ofThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, adding that the opportunity to work on those places again inThe Witcher Remakemade him very happy.
Though at first glance, this reveals little aboutThe Witcher 4’s setting, it’s a statement that hides its truth not in what it says, but precisely in what it omits. The implication that Weber is excited to revisit Temeria and Vizima inThe Witcher Remaketells the audience that the nextWitchergame will have a completely different setting. Whether that’s Kovir and the Dragon Mountains, or a different corner of the Northern Kingdoms remains to be seen, but CD Projekt Red is very selective about the information it wants to reveal toThe Witcherfans, implying that it’s information worth keeping a secret.
It’s unknownif Ciri will play a role inThe Witcher 4, and the game might have a difficult time replacing her with an equally compelling character, but this is the perfect opportunity for CD Projekt Red to allow players to make their own Witcher – and most of the speculation seems to be headed in that direction based off of the facts. A completely new saga, a completely new school, and now apparently a completely new setting are the perfect ingredients for CD Projekt Red to take the franchise in a bold, new direction.
The Witcher 4is expected to release in 2025.
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