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Some online commentators have called The Witcher IV “woke” because Ciri, rather than Geralt, is its protagonist. That reaction is documented, but the available sources do not show how widespread it is—and the game has not been assessed as a playable release. What is confirmed is that CD PROJEKT RED is starting a new saga with Ciri, a character already central to the franchise’s books and games.
What CD PROJEKT RED has confirmed about The Witcher IV
CD PROJEKT RED revealed The Witcher IV at The Game Awards on December 13, 2024, describing it as the first game in a new Witcher saga and naming Ciri as its protagonist. The studio’s announcement calls it a single-player, open-world RPG in which Ciri sets out to become a professional monster slayer.
The reveal trailer gives a glimpse of one contract: in a remote village, a monster demands a ritual sacrifice. CD PROJEKT RED described the trailer as a short, self-contained story exploring prejudice, superstition, and the idea that monsters can take different forms. That is the trailer’s dramatic setup, not a full account of the game’s plot.
The studio says the game is powered by Unreal Engine 5, but the reveal trailer itself was pre-rendered using a custom UE5 build and an unannounced NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPU. Its images should not be mistaken for a live gameplay capture. The official materials cited here do not establish a release date or a confirmed launch-platform list.
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![The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - PlayStation 4 [video game]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51MjZ-5jWuL._SL160_.jpg)
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Why Ciri is the protagonist, according to the studio
Ciri is not a new character inserted into the series in place of Geralt. CD PROJEKT RED calls her Geralt’s adopted daughter, and its December 18, 2024 interview with Xbox Wire notes her earlier roles in the Witcher novels and The Witcher 3. Narrative director Philipp Weber described the choice as an opportunity to show Ciri developing her own code and way of handling difficult situations. That is the studio’s artistic rationale, not a guarantee that every player will welcome the change.
The same interview says the story takes place “a few years” after The Witcher 3. At the time, the studio was keeping details about how Ciri reached the status shown in the trailer under wraps. Those comments describe what the team said in December 2024; they do not add a release date or settle every question about the story.
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What “woke” means in this discussion—and what it does not establish
In the online criticism documented here, “woke” is used as a negative label for Ciri’s central role and, in one creator-posted description, her appearance. The sources do not supply a consistent definition of the word or evidence that those comments represent players generally. Claims in that creator description about the developers’ intentions are opinions, not confirmed facts about the game.
There is a meaningful difference between preferring Geralt and asserting that the game has a political agenda. GameSpot reported that Weber acknowledged some players may prefer Geralt after three games led by him, calling that concern legitimate. The same report says the studio described Ciri’s role as a natural evolution and a decision made well before the reveal. Disappointment with a protagonist change, on its own, does not prove an ideological objection.
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- In the past he has raised and overthrown monarchs, battled legendary monsters and saved the lives of many. Now Geralt embarks on his most personal quest to save his loved ones and protect the world from an ancient threat.
- The story is drawn based on player decisions. Each action will have consequences which change the story and the game world. NPCs, communities, monsters and locations all change, based on player choice.
- The Witcher 3 is standalone adventure, easily entered into by new players. Witcher fans will find subtle references to their adventures, but these elements are not necessary to enjoy the game fully.
- A breathtaking cinematic introduction demonstrating the game background - this puts players immediately in the know about the situation in the war-ravaged Northern Kingdoms and the background story of the main character.
- Unique atmosphere, memorable characters and gritty dialog - the game world has its own unique feel. It is a classic dark fantasy tale that will appeal to fans of all kinds of fantasy stories.
There is also no named statistic in the cited coverage showing what share of players use the “woke” label. Posts, video views, and search phrases are not a representative poll, so they cannot establish whether the criticism is common, marginal, or a majority view.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How Geralt’s voice actor responded
Doug Cockle, Geralt’s English voice actor, rejected the label in comments reported by GameSpot on May 20, 2025. “It’s not woke,” Cockle said. “There’s nothing woke about it. [Ciri]’s a cool character from The Witcher, and they’re gonna focus on that character, and that’s awesome.” He also argued that readers of the books would understand the choice.
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- In the past he has raised and overthrown monarchs, battled legendary monsters and saved the lives of many. Now Geralt embarks on his most personal quest to save his loved ones and protect the world from an ancient threat.
- The story is drawn based on player decisions. Each action will have consequences which change the story and the game world. NPCs, communities, monsters and locations all change, based on player choice.
- The Witcher 3 is standalone adventure, easily entered into by new players. Witcher fans will find subtle references to their adventures, but these elements are not necessary to enjoy the game fully.
- A breathtaking cinematic introduction demonstrating the game background - this puts players immediately in the know about the situation in the war-ravaged Northern Kingdoms and the background story of the main character.
- Unique atmosphere, memorable characters and gritty dialog - the game world has its own unique feel. It is a classic dark fantasy tale that will appeal to fans of all kinds of fantasy stories.
Cockle’s remarks are his view, not an official definition of “woke” or a review of the finished game. They address the character choice; they do not settle what the completed RPG will be like.
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What readers can reasonably conclude
- Confirmed: Ciri is the protagonist of a new Witcher saga, and the studio presents the game as a single-player, open-world RPG.
- Explained by the studio: Ciri’s lead role builds on her place in the books and earlier games, while giving her room to form her own code.
- Documented as a reaction: Some online commentary has called the choice “woke,” while other public comments—including Cockle’s—reject that characterization.
- Not established: The scale or representativeness of the criticism, a definitive political interpretation of the game, or a final judgment of a game that has not been assessed here as a playable release.
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