Witcher 4 Boots Geralt from Lead Role According to VA

Geralt of Rivia, the iconic Witcher, will return in The Witcher 4, according to voice actor Doug Cockle. However, this time, the spotlight shifts away from the grizzled monster hunter. While Geralt will feature, he won't be the protagonist.

A New Protagonist Takes Center Stage

Cockle confirmed Geralt's presence in the upcoming game but clarified his role will be supporting, not central to the narrative. The identity of the new lead character remains a closely guarded secret, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the reveal. Cockle himself expressed excitement about discovering who the new protagonist will be.

Intriguing clues from a two-year-old Unreal Engine 5 teaser hint at potential candidates. A Cat School medallion, buried in the snow, suggests a survivor of the decimated order might take the lead. The game Gwent: The Witcher Card Game further fuels this speculation, referencing vengeful Cat School survivors.

Another strong contender is Ciri, Geralt's adopted daughter. The books show Ciri possessing a Cat medallion, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt subtly reinforces this connection by replacing Geralt's Wolf medallion with a Cat medallion when players control Ciri. Whether Ciri takes center stage with Geralt as a mentor, or Geralt's involvement is limited to flashbacks or cameos, remains to be seen.

The Witcher 4: Development and Release

Game director Sebastian Kalemba highlighted the game's aim: to attract new players while satisfying longtime fans. Codenamed Polaris, The Witcher 4 entered full development in 2023, employing over 400 developers—CD Projekt Red's largest project to date. However, given the ambitious scope and development of new Unreal Engine 5 technology, a release date is still several years away, with initial estimates suggesting at least a three-year wait.