🚨 THE WITCHER 4 EXPLODES: CIRI SLASHES INTO DARK FANTASY HELL – Zireael SWINGS, MAGIC CHAINS WHIP, VILLAGERS TURN MONSTERS… GERALT’S VOICE BACK?! 😱 🔥
Ciri – YES, THAT CIRI – leads NEW SAGA in 6-MIN TGA TRAILER that DROPS JAW: Trial of Grasses COMPLETE, cat eyes GLOWING, Kelpie horse thundering through SNOWY KOVIR… but SHOCKER twist ends in BLOOD? UE5 TECH DEMO at 60FPS RT on PS5 – worlds ALIVE!
After Cyberpunk redemption, CDPR’s 400+ DEV ARMY unleashes BIGGEST RPG YET… 2027? Or sooner? Composer from Witcher 3 RETURNS – epic score incoming!
UNLEASH the FULL REVEAL – Your Path awaits! 👇
CD Projekt Red has fans on the edge of their seats with ongoing teases for The Witcher 4, codenamed Polaris, following its blockbuster cinematic reveal at The Game Awards 2024 and subsequent tech showcases. The nearly six-minute trailer introduced Ciri – Geralt’s adopted daughter – as the protagonist of a new Witcher trilogy, stepping fully into the witcher’s role after undergoing the Trial of the Grasses. Recent developments, including a returning composer from The Witcher 3 and an Unreal Engine 5 tech demo, signal the Polish studio’s push to deliver its most immersive open-world RPG yet.
The franchise, born from Andrzej Sapkowski’s book series, exploded with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in 2015, selling over 50 million copies thanks to its branching narratives, moral dilemmas, and monster-slaying combat. Cyberpunk 2077’s rocky 2020 launch tested faith, but post-Phantom Liberty redemption has rebuilt hype. Polaris, entering full production in late 2024, marks a saga shift: no more Geralt focus, but Ciri’s fresh arc in a crumbling Continent where ancient evils and human depravity collide.
Trailer Breakdown: Ciri’s Brutal Debut in Stromford
The TGA trailer, pre-rendered in a custom Unreal Engine 5 build using in-game assets, unfolds as a self-contained tale in the northern village of Stromford. Ciri arrives on contract to slay a Bauk – a hulking, ritual-demanding monster plaguing locals for generations. Wielding her signature silver sword Zireael, a magical chain for crowd control, and potent potions enhancing reflexes, she dispatches the beast in a visceral third-person showdown.
Tension peaks with a twist: returning triumphant, Ciri finds the sacrificial girl – spared by her intervention – slain by superstitious villagers who view her as the true monster. Themes of prejudice, destiny, and “monsters in human form” echo Sapkowski’s grimdark lore, potentially drawing from his 2025 prequel novel Crossroads of Ravens. Game Director Sebastian Kalemba emphasized: “We want to explore what it means to truly become a witcher by following Ciri on her Path.”
Ciri’s design reflects her evolution: feline eyes from mutations, white hair flowing in combat, mounted on her loyal horse Kelpie. Voice work hints at Geralt’s presence – Doug Cockle confirmed involvement, though details remain vague.
Story and World: Choices, Relationships, and a Darker Continent
Polaris probes Ciri’s duality: honorable like Geralt, but rebellious, curious, and connection-hungry. Narrative Lead Philip Weber promises no filler quests, with player actions rippling – townsfolk react warily, alliances fracture. The world, Continent-sized like The Witcher 3’s, spans new regions like forested Kovir, featuring bustling port Valdrest alive with dynamic crowds inspired by Novigrad footage.
Expect Gwent returns, alchemy depth, and moral grays: save a village, ignite witch hunts? Story Director Tomasz Marchewka highlights Ciri’s emotional stakes amid rising dark forces.
UE5 Tech Demo: 60FPS Ray-Traced Glory on Console
At State of Unreal 2025, CDPR and Epic unveiled a 14-minute tech demo running at 60fps with ray tracing on base PS5 – showcasing Nanite geometry for dense foliage, synchronized horse-rider animations, and reactive environments in Kovir’s wilderness. Not gameplay, but foundational: wind-swept snow, detailed character models, hardware RT shadows. Engineering Manager Jan Hermanowicz noted blending REDengine expertise with UE5 for seamless open-world streaming.
Shift from REDengine (Witcher 3, Cyberpunk) to UE5 in 2022 enables parallel AAA development: Polaris leads, followed by Witcher 1 remake (Canis Majoris) and multiplayer spin-off Sirius.
Dev Momentum: Composer Returns, New HQ, Massive Team
Over 400 developers – tenfold Cyberpunk sequel’s scale – occupy a state-of-the-art Warsaw campus unveiled in 2025, purpose-built for Witcher immersion. Recent hire: Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s senior quest designer for hardcore depth.
Hype peaked with composer Marcin PrzybyÅ‚owicz’s return – lead on Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk – alongside P.T. Adamczyk. Director PaweÅ‚ Sasko announced it, noting the score’s iconic role in setting tone. CFO Piotr Nielubowicz confirmed no 2026 launch, eyeing 2027 earliest for the trilogy’s kickoff.
A Witcher 3 mod, Dawn Over Kovir, mirrors trailer tension as a “taste” of Polaris.
Community Frenzy and Expectations
X buzzes with trailer breakdowns; Reddit threads dissect Ciri’s chain mechanics. Praise for ditching Geralt fatigue, but some lament his backseat. Post-Cyberpunk trust rebuilt, fans eye Polaris as redemption 2.0 amid GTA 6 rivalry.
Separate from Reigns: The Witcher – a Feb. 2026 mobile/PC card game – Polaris stays single-player core.
Road to Release: 2027 and Beyond
No platforms locked, but PS5/Xbox Series/PC expected; Epic partnership rules out exclusivity. With six-year trilogy window, expect annual updates. Forward reveals? Gamescom 2026 gameplay?
If CDPR nails execution, The Witcher 4 could eclipse predecessors, proving saga reinvention. Ciri’s Path beckons.
