The Witcher trilogy has a large fan base, but according to the developers, they're aiming to appeal to new audiences with the fourth installment. This could support the theory that a different main character will take Geralt's place.
CD Projekt still has some work to do with Phantom Liberty, the upcoming DLC for Cyberpunk 2077. However, after that, they are focusing on their new project, The Witcher 4, also called Project Polaris. Fans are excited about the first part of the new trilogy, known as The Witcher: A New Saga Begins.
The Witcher 4 'Polaris': New Insights on Geralt's Role in the Saga
In a recent interview with Lega Nerd, Game Director Sebastian Kalemb explained that due to the significant time gap until the release, it cannot be assumed that all players are already familiar with the brand. As a result, The Witcher 4 is being designed to appeal to both newcomers with no prior exposure to The Witcher and longtime fans who are eager for more adventures with Geralt.
The next chapter is set to be released in a few years and for this reason they want to welcome not just the fans who already know and love the saga but also establish a new community. Newcomers will have a good starting point, but they also want to keep the long-time fans happy.
Does this mean Geralt will indeed be part of it? Well, it's not clear to what extent Geralt will be involved. It sounds like he might be, but perhaps not in the leading role. Many in the community are guessing that Ciri might be the new main character. However, the setting and atmosphere are intended to be retained.
The release of The Witcher: A New Saga Begins is expected around 2025 or later. However, CD Projekt plans to release all three parts of the trilogy relatively close in time, so there won't be long waits or shifts between releases.The Witcher 4 will be CD Projekt's first game after finishing up with all the extra content and updates for Cyberpunk 2077. They're switching to the Unreal Engine 5 for this one, and retiring their in-house RedEngine, which they've been using since The Witcher 2 back in 2011.
Earlier, it was disclosed that over 60% of the CD Projekt development team is currently dedicated to The Witcher 4.
Anyway, we can't wait to find out more about the lore and, of course, the gameplay.