With an explosive new trailer forThe Witcher 4, CD Projekt Red’s biggest series is back on the scene, with Ciri, Geralt’s adoptive daughter and new witcher, as the protagonist. Whether speculations on the timeline or where it takes place,The Witcher 4has conjured endless conversation in the few days since its announcement.
There’s a lot to take from only a few minutes of Ciri in action, with some things familiar toWitcherfans and others seemingly brand new. Not unlike the Continent’s magic, the very air is buzzing with the freshness of the upcomingWitchersaga and what that really means for gameplay.
The New Witcher Series Could Revive Itself with Combat Changes
AsTW4is the start of a newWitchersaga for CDPR, andCiri has several abilities Geralt doesn’t, the devs are bound to switch things up. At the same time, the studio needs to strike a balance, asTW3’s combat was one of its strongest and most immersive aspects, so it shouldn’t do away with everything. In theWitcher 4trailer, there are several things that point to the new and the old.
The Witcher 4 Showcases Familiar Elements from the Third Game
For starters, the basic witcher build is there: two swords, witcher signs, and potions. Given the success of the existing combat system, and steady improvements onThe Witcher’s alchemyacross games, it makes sense that these would return. However, it implies one thing about Ciri herself, which has generated a lot of discussion online already.
InThe Witchernovels, Ciri can neither cast signs nor drink potions, the latter being because she didn’t undergo theTrial of the Grasses, the dangerous ritual that turns boys into monster-killing mutants. Although it’s currently unclear precisely how CDPR has allowed Ciri, as a grown woman, to receive these mutations, she can nonetheless partake in one of the most exciting witcher abilities. This also opens the door for changes to the possible mutation tree.
There is also the matter ofCiri’s Elder Blood.The Witcher 3established what these powers look like, as Ciri can travel space and time without obstacle, blinking short distances and effortlessly teleporting between worlds. Unfortunately, this is not visible in the trailer, but the characteristic bright green is inThe Witcher 4logo and, of course, Ciri’s eyes. Considering a core facet of her story inTW3is that she is desired for her powers, and they introduce a fun and powerful new ability when she becomes playable, CDPR would be unlikely to remove this entirely without a good story reason to do so (such as inTW3when the Wild Hunt could track her when she used them).
CDPR Possibly Introduces Complex Changes to Witcher Abilities
One notable absence fromTW4trailer is a crossbow,Geralt’s primary ranged weaponin the previous games, slung across his back beside his swords. However, wrapped around Ciri’s left arm is a chain, which she deploys toward the end of the trailer’s fight. In a thrilling sequence, she not only uses it to restrain the giant monster but eventually imbues it with fire. This could be a witcher sign enhancement or, somewhat shockingly, spellwork.
Spellcasting would be lore-friendly while introducing the biggest combat change of the franchise.Witcherplayers have never moved beyondwitcher signs, which in-game sorceresses will even say is “rudimentary.” Yet Yennefer canonically taught Ciri the basics of magic, and the trailer shows hints of this. When Ciri is restrained by the creature, she channels running water into her hand, which rears into an impressive lightning-infused punch.
It looks likethe newest CDPR behemothis going to tackle major changes for the sake of a new saga, keeping things fundamentally fresh from the beloved (and now retired) Geralt of Rivia. But it still needs to include what made CDPR successful in the first place, satisfying long-time players who, perhaps, are not quite ready to move on. If nothing else,The Witcher 4has incredible ambition, and the outcome seems to be arriving sooner than gamers thought.
The Witcher 4
WHERE TO PLAY
The Witcher IV is a single-player, open-world RPG from CD PROJEKT RED. At the start of a new saga, players take on the role of Ciri, a professional monster slayer, and embark on a journey through a brutal dark-fantasy world. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, it aims to be the most immersive and ambitious open-world Witcher game to date.
