The trailer forThe Witcher 4dropped in 2024, and confirmed a number of previously unknown facts about it. Ciri was confirmed as the protagonist, and that she was living as a witcher, including having gone through the Trial of the Grasses. One source of controversy was her appearance, as some gamers complained thatCiri looked different fromThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The complaints were revealed to have no bearing when the Official Behind the Scenes Cinematic Reveal trailer was released.
Changing the appearance of characters from game to game is fairly common and is done for a number of reasons. Character designs can change because of a shift in the game’s art style, or because of technical advancements.The Witcher 4will likely only be released on next-gen consoles, which means a big jump in tech fromThe Witcher 3, and some changes are to be expected. Despite this, Ciri is still recognizable. Because of this, Geralt’s appearance is likely to also remain unchanged inThe Witcher 4.
Ciri’s Appearance Will Be Unchanged in The Witcher 4
The behind-the-scenes trailer showed the process behind creating thereveal trailer forThe Witcher 4. The process included a mixture of animation, motion-capture, and heavy use of lighting and digital art to bring Ciri to life. In the process, the combination of lighting and angles altered Ciri’s appearance, creating the depiction that audiences saw in the trailer. In reality, Ciri’s in-game model looks remarkably like Ciri inThe Witcher 3, and her general appearance remains unchanged.
The controversy over Ciri’s appearance proved to be meaningless. Keeping Ciri’s appearance the same as it was inThe Witcher 3is not as important as Geralt’s, as he’s the face of the series, but it’s still good that Ciri is recognizable.The Witcher 4is set to take place soon afterThe Witcher 3and, withCiri having gone through the Trial of the Grasses, any time skip is unlikely to have a major effect on her.
Geralt Will Likely Be Recognizable in The Witcher 4
Ciri is currently the only past character who has been shown forThe Witcher 4. CD Projekt Red has confirmed that Geralt will appear inThe Witcher 4, but in a reduced capacity. It’s unclear how he will have changed from the events ofThe Witcher 3, but it’s unlikely that players won’t be able to recognize him. Ciri’s unchanged appearance fromThe Witcher 3toThe Witcher 4is a big hint thatGeralt will also look how he did inThe Witcher 3. There is little reason to change Geralt’s in-game model, as he’ll be appearing as an NPC and, like Ciri, will likely keep his appearance.
Another reason Geralt’s appearance is unlikely to change in any meaningful way is because, as a witcher, he doesn’t physically age like humans. AsThe Witcher 4is set shortly after the events ofThe Witcher 3, it’s very unlikely that Geralt will have aged. Geralt is an iconic character and his appearance is a large reason why. His white hair and witcher school make him known as the White Wolf, so changing those parts of him would change fundamental parts of his character. As the face ofThe Witchergames, Geralt has to be recognizable to the game’s fans, even with the changes thatnext-gen tech may bring toThe Witcher 4.
The Witcher 4
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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.
