Summary
The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunthas earned its place in the list of most impressive and immersive fantasy RPGs.The Witcher 3’s success was based not only on its characters' depth and stellar storytelling, but on the meticulous world building and reactivity that was crafted into it. CD Projekt Red’s incredibly detailed and realized experience wowed gamers and critics in 2015, creating a precedent and standard that other games since have been held up to, while naturally setting high expectations for the upcoming fourth entry in the series.
Details were previously scarce aboutThe Witcher 4, with the studio only stating that the next entry would mark the “beginning of a new saga,” moving on from the star of the prior games, Geralt of Rivia. Recently, a new trailer debutedat The Game Awards 2024 revealing thatCiri will be the protagonist ofThe Witcher 4. However, it was hinted that Geralt would yet appear again, as his voice could be heard briefly in it, which seems to suggest fans haven’t quite seen the last of Geralt. And if he is still present in some manner in the next game, one ofThe Wild Hunt’s most standout elements, Gwent, should also be to a similar degree. Fortunately, the developers recently mentioned loving Gwent and teased that fans won’t be disappointed.
CDPR is working on other projects in conjunction withThe Witcher 4, including a remake of the first game and amultiplayer Witcher title.
Similar to Geralt, The Witcher 4 Should Keep Gwent in Play, Even If in a More Minor Way
Geralt and Gwent Are Inseparable Parts of The Witcher’s World
AlthoughThe Wild Huntcapped off his memorable tale, and CDPR said that his time in the spotlight is over, many are still hoping to see more of Geralt down the line.TheWitcher 4’s latest trailerappeared to tease that this will be the case, although it remains unclear exactly to what extent Geralt might play a role. Still, he has been the face ofThe Witcherand is by far the franchise’s most recognized aspect, which could mean he won’t be absent altogether in the next game.
Meanwhile,The Wild Hunt’s in-universe CCG mini-game, Gwent, became a sensation in its own right, and is now heavily associated withThe Witchertoo. Gwent later received an expanded standalone title as well as being the focus of a spin-off,Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales. Given both their popularity, it’s understandable that fans are looking forward to either Geralt orGwent making a return inThe Witcher 4. And based on the latest trailer along with a bit of other information, the developer could certainly accommodate it.
The Witcher 4 Has Room For New Directions While Still Including Gwent and Geralt
A senior studio official has promised thatThe Witcher 4will be “better, bigger, greater"thanThe Wild Hunt, which is quite a statement given what has come before. CD Projekt Red has shown that it has the ambition and talent to one-up itself, though, and this bodes well for the inclusion of Geralt and the potential return of Gwent, even if neither will be the main focus of the fourth entry.The Witcher 4’s apparent scale seems to present good possibilities for it to introduce all-new aspects while continuing the rich tapestry already established by keeping some major touchstones present.
WithCiri taking up the mantle,The Witcher 4can still reference Geralt, perhaps in flashbacks or brief cameos. Either way, it would help with the transition to the new chapter while retaining greater connectivity. Similarly, CDPR could recreate the success of Gwent with another exemplary game that players can engage with in the world. Perhaps a new craze has supplanted Gwent, but a collection of characters still prefer it, thus providing opportunities for players to partake in Gwent again, albeit in a more limited capacity.
Even if Gwent or Geralt won’t be as prominent in the fourth game, both seemingly still being set to crop up in the latest adventure is a massive plus, as they will not necessarily distract or be taking away from anything. By having limited appearances from and passing references to Ciri’s mentor,The Witcher 4could create a good sense of continuity while not overshadowing Ciri’s lead. Additionally, bringing back Gwent in some form shouldn’t dissuade CD Projekt Red from adding a new mini-game of some kind, as such a big RPG could easily be home to multiple fun distractions. Just as Ciri and Geralt can co-exist without the latter distracting from the former’s journey, Gwent and a new mini-game could both be featured. Ultimately, with Gwent being iconic just like Geralt, CD Projekt Red is making the right call by seemingly bringing it back.
