Now that the newWitchersaga has been announced, there’s been plenty of talk about what the game should change, shouldn’t change, as well as who the title’s new protagonist might be. That last bit has been a popular topic of discussion, especially considering that Geralt has always been the franchise’s main playable protagonist. As such, it could be difficult to introduce a new primary character, and one that long-time fans can enjoy playing as.
As of now, Geralt’s replacement is yet unconfirmed. Though it’s worth mentioning that he won’t be the only character CD Projekt Red will need to “replace” in preparation forThe Witchersaga. The game will likely need to add and replace a whole slew of character roles to build on its new narrative. And Ciri just might be the most difficult to replace.
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Ciri as the Focal Point of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Before anything else, it should be said that important characters like Geralt andCiri could still appear in the nextWitchergame. “Replacement” simply refers to them “stepping down,” in a way, from their specific roles as assigned in the originalWitchergameseries.
For instance, Geralt was always themain protagonist ofThe Witcher, but he’ll most likely be moving aside to make way for a new protagonist. Similarly, Ciri will probably step down from her role as the deuteragonist to either take a backseat in the nextWitcherstory or act as its new main protagonist.
With that said, Ciri stepping down leaves a huge hole for the series’ next deuteragonist. InThe Witcher 3(and even in the latter half of the book series), Ciri was essentially Geralt’s primary motivation. He spends more than half of the game looking for his adopted daughter. Thus, players — even those who are new to the franchise — learn about how much the old Witcher cares for her and how far he’s willing to go to see her again. When he finally does, the payoff is worth it, and by the end of the narrative (at least in the Witcher ending), Geralt and Ciri’s story ties up nicely.
“Replacing” Ciri in the New Witcher Saga
The challenge for the next game, then, is to present both a compelling deuteragonistanda believable goal for the main protagonist. This is essentially what “replacing” Ciri entails, and why it’s such a difficult task. It’s important to note that the newWitchersaga doesn’t necessarily need to follow the same format asThe Witcher 3particularly Geralt and Ciri’s dynamic. However, it should arguably present a strong secondary character — one that both the player and the protagonist can connect with. After all, theWitcherbooks and the original trilogy lean heavily on the protagonist’s interpersonal relationships. These then allow the player to further the plot while also building a believable fantasy world.
Granted, it won’t be easy to “replace” the supporting characters either, most notably the likes of Yennefer, Triss, andDandelion inThe Witcher. Each of them had a distinct role to play in the originalWitchergames, adding to the narrative. Though in this particular case, choosing Ciri’s “replacement” is simply a trickier endeavor. She and the main protagonist had such a strong bond — so much so that trying to forge a new one between new characters might not be as compelling in the next game.
With all that said, it’s clearthe nextWitchersaga is a huge undertakingfor CD Projekt Red. Following the success ofThe Witcher 3, the community has high hopes for the upcoming saga. Though until the company releases more information, fans can only speculate about what the developers have planned.
A newThe Witchergame is in development.
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