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Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and is published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.
Polish gaming giant CD Projekt Red has revealed the first trailer for The Witcher IV, the highly anticipated new chapter in its acclaimed fantasy series based on the books of Andrzej Sapkowski.
The six-minute film, shown at The Game Awards 2024 in Los Angeles, introduces the game’s main protagonist, Ciri, the adopted daughter of Geralt of Rivia, the main character of the previous games in the series.
The game is a sequel to the 2015 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which won dozens of major awards and has sold over 50 million copies, making it one of the best-selling games in history. CD Projekt has not yet announced a release date for the new installment of the series.
“We’ve long awaited the moment to announce this: we’re beginning a new Witcher saga, with Ciri as the central character,” Sebastian Kalemba, the game’s director, said in a statement.
The trailer shows Ciri wielding a deadly chain weapon and employing magic potions to combat a beast that has terrorised a remote village plagued by years of sacrifices.
The narrative explores superstition and prejudice, with Ciri confronting the monster and the villagers she seeks to protect. In a poignant conclusion, the heroine realises that true monsters often bear a human face.
“Through her perspective, we’ll explore what it truly means to be a witcher in a world that is both brutal and dark,” Kalemba said. While the trailer does not showcase gameplay, it “offers a glimpse into the challenges [Ciri] will face”, he added.
The trailer was developed with a customised version of Unreal Engine 5, with CD Projekt producing it in collaboration with Platige Image, the studio behind previous visual work for the franchise.
CD Projekt has not stated when players can expect the game to be released. Industry news service Eurogamer reported in November that the studio has revamped its approach to announcements, learning from the delays in the release of its Cyberpunk game.
CD Projekt Red, however, confirmed to Eurogamer that The Witcher IV has already moved into full-scale production.
In more than a year of conversations with CD Projekt, Eurogamer has picked up a few hints at what we can expect for The Witcher 4 and its reveal: https://t.co/EYeENmxlIj pic.twitter.com/3o8MgXcSKg
— Eurogamer (@eurogamer) November 29, 2024
The release of the game trailer followed the recent publication of a new book in the Sapkowski’s Witcher series, the first for 11 years.
Sapkowski has, however, not benefited directly from the success of the video games after making what he later admitted was the “stupid” decision to sell the rights to CD Projekt for a lump sum (reportedly 35,000 zloty, around €8,000) rather than for a share of the profits.
However, he has been involved in a highly successful Netflix adaptation of the books. The first season, starring Henry Cavill in the lead role, aired in 2019. Two further seasons have followed, with a fourth, now featuring Liam Hemsworth as Geralt, set for release next year.
A release date and title have been announced for the next instalment of Andrzej Sapkowski’s “The Witcher” fantasy series, 11 years since the last book was published.
The series has spawned a hugely successful video game franchise and Netflix show https://t.co/cEKqYapZFk
— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) November 22, 2024
Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.
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Alicja Ptak is senior editor at Notes from Poland and a multimedia journalist. She previously worked for Reuters.
