The Witcher 4’s New Direction Gets Doug Cockle’s Enthusiastic Endorsement
Original Geralt voice actor shares his thoughts on Ciri becoming the new protagonist in the series.
Doug Cockle, the iconic voice behind Geralt of Rivia, has expressed strong support for CD Projekt Red’s decision to feature Ciri as the protagonist in The Witcher 4. This significant shift comes after three successful games centered around Geralt’s adventures in the fantasy world created by Andrzej Sapkowski.
The Game Awards 2024 gave fans their first glimpse of The Witcher 4 through a six-minute trailer. The footage showcased Ciri’s enhanced abilities as she confronted a fearsome creature terrorizing a village with demands for human sacrifices. While this change in lead character has sparked mixed reactions among fans, the voice of Geralt himself has weighed in on the matter.
Speaking to IGN, Cockle shared his enthusiasm for the direction of the new trilogy. “I think it’s a really good move,” he stated. “I always thought that continuing the Saga, but shifting to Ciri would be a really, really interesting move for all kinds of reasons, but mostly because of things that happen in the books, which I don’t want to give away because people, I want people to go read. I can’t wait to see what they’ve done.” While CD Projekt Red has confirmed Geralt will make an appearance in the new game, the extent of his role remains undefined.
The Witcher 4 Development Aims for New Heights in Gaming Excellence
Sebastian Kalemba, the game’s director, revealed in a December interview that the team’s aspirations for The Witcher 4 are “crazily high.” The development draws from their combined experience with The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077. Executive producer Malgorzata Mitrega has assured fans that the studio is committed to meeting expectations following the positive reception of the initial trailer. The project currently employs over 400 staff members and utilizes Unreal Engine 5.
The previous installment, The Witcher 3, continues to demonstrate remarkable staying power, achieving over 50 million units sold in the eight years since its release. The game has garnered more than 200 Game of the Year awards and maintains its reputation as one of gaming’s greatest achievements, particularly praised for its rich character development, compelling narrative, and immersive open world.