The Witcher 4 Dev Explains How the Team Prepared to Work on the Long-Awaited Title

Witcher 4's Development: A Ciri-Centric Trilogy Begins

CD Projekt Red's narrative director, Philipp Webber, recently shed light on the team's preparation for The Witcher 4, revealing a unique approach to onboarding new members. Before diving into the development of Ciri's solo adventure, the team engaged in a special, preparatory quest within The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

This initiative, a side quest titled "In the Eternal Fire's Shadow," served as a crucial stepping stone for new team members. Added to The Witcher 3 in late 2022, this quest—which involved Geralt acquiring specific equipment—also promoted the game's next-gen update and provided in-game justification for the armor worn by Henry Cavill in the Netflix series. Webber confirmed its role as an initiation process, setting the tone and immersing newcomers in the Witcher universe before commencing work on The Witcher 4.

The timing aligns perfectly with The Witcher 4's March 2022 announcement. While pre-announcement planning undoubtedly existed, the side quest offers insight into how the team assembled and prepared for the project. This new entry, featuring Ciri as the protagonist, marks the beginning of a new trilogy.

Webber didn't name the initiated team members, but speculation points to some transfers from the Cyberpunk 2077 team, released in 2020. This, along with rumors of a Phantom Liberty-style skill tree in The Witcher 4, adds another layer to the development timeline and team composition. The side quest, therefore, served not only as a training exercise, but also potentially as a testing ground for new gameplay mechanics.