The 2024 Game Awards started with an exciting reveal that has thrilled the gaming community: The Witcher 4 has made its first public appearance. While there is no gameplay footage or release date yet, a cinematic trailer has been unveiled, promising a new chapter in the beloved RPG series. Here’s everything we know so far about this highly anticipated sequel.

A new protagonist

The trailer introduces Ciri, the adopted daughter of Geralt of Rivia, stepping out of the shadow of her mentor to take center stage. This marks a significant shift from the previous games, where players controlled Geralt. CD Projekt Red has confirmed that Ciri will be the protagonist in The Witcher 4, embarking on her own journey to become a professional monster slayer. This choice has been lauded by fans who have followed Ciri’s arc through the books and games, seeing her transition from a young girl to a formidable fighter.

The trailer, which clocks in at nearly six minutes, was pre-rendered using a custom build of Unreal Engine 5 on an unannounced NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPU. It’s important to note that this trailer isn’t necessarily indicative of the final gameplay but serves as a narrative and visual appetizer.

We see Ciri arrive in a remote, somber village, where the residents are preparing for a grim ritual sacrifice to appease a monster that has plagued them for generations. The cinematic captures the essence of a Witcher tale, highlighting Ciri’s skills with new tools like a chain, alongside advanced magic. The narrative teases the complexities of human nature, as Ciri’s heroic intentions clash with the villagers’ deep-seated superstitions and prejudices. This moment encapsulates a core theme of The Witcher series: the human condition often being as monstrous as the creatures the Witchers hunt.

CD Projekt Red’s use of Unreal Engine 5 in this trailer showcases what could be an evolution in visual storytelling for the series. The environments are lush, dark, and detailed, with character models displaying improved realism compared to previous entries. Lighting effects, particularly during the night scenes, are used to great effect to enhance the mood and tension of the narrative.

Since its reveal, the trailer has generated significant buzz on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), where fans have expressed both excitement and cautious optimism. Discussions range from Ciri’s new role to the implications for the broader Witcher lore. Critics and gamers alike are keen to see how CD Projekt Red will handle the narrative shift from Geralt to Ciri, especially given the high bar set by The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and the lessons learned from the rocky launch of Cyberpunk 2077.

While details on platforms and release dates remain under wraps, the development team has entered what they call “full-scale production.” Given the studio’s history, this suggests a thorough and perhaps lengthy development cycle to ensure quality and stability. Fans are already speculating on how Ciri’s story will unfold, what new mechanics might be introduced, and how the open-world RPG elements will evolve.

The Witcher 4‘s cinematic trailer has not only set the stage for Ciri’s saga but has also reaffirmed CD Projekt Red’s commitment to storytelling and game development. As we wait for more concrete details, one thing is clear: the Witcher saga is far from over, and with Ciri at the helm, it’s entering a thrilling new era. Stay tuned for more updates as they emerge, and let’s prepare for another deep dive into the dark, magical world of The Witcher.