The director of The Witcher 4, Sebastian Kalemba, has clarified that a new video showcasing Ciri features the same in-game model as seen in the game's cinematic reveal trailer. This statement comes after some fans speculated that Ciri's face looked different in two brief clips from a behind-the-scenes video released by CD Projekt.
The clips in question, found at the 2:11 and 5:47 marks of the video, zoom in on Ciri's face, leading to comments from fans about her slightly different appearance. One fan even praised the depiction at 5:47 as a "perfect representation of an older Ciri," expressing satisfaction with her look.
Initial speculation arose from a supposed backlash claiming Ciri looked "ugly" in The Witcher 4's reveal trailer. However, the response to these new clips was overwhelmingly positive. Some reports suggested that CD Projekt might have altered Ciri's face in response to criticism, but Kalemba refuted these claims on social media.
Kalemba explained that the behind-the-scenes video showed raw footage of Ciri's in-game model without the final cinematic enhancements, such as facial animation, lighting, and virtual camera lenses. He emphasized that this variation is a normal part of the game development process, where a character's appearance can differ depending on the medium used to showcase it.
The Witcher 4 is the first installment in a new trilogy set after the events of The Witcher 3, with Ciri taking the lead role instead of Geralt. In an exclusive interview with IGN, executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga stated that choosing Ciri as the protagonist was a "very organic, logical choice," highlighting her layered character and the natural progression from the books.
Kalemba further noted that Ciri's younger age compared to Geralt offers players more freedom to shape her character and provides the developers with more creative space to explore her story.
Both Mitręga and Kalemba acknowledged potential backlash over Ciri's role but affirmed that she was always intended to be the main character. Kalemba emphasized that the decision was deliberate and not random, driven by Ciri's compelling narrative and the challenges she faces, which fuel the creation of an epic saga.
In a separate interview with IGN about Netflix's upcoming animated film, The Witcher: Sirens of The Deep, Geralt's voice actor Doug Cockle expressed excitement about the shift to Ciri as the protagonist, citing the potential for an interesting continuation of the saga based on events in the books.
For more on The Witcher 4, check out our exclusive content, including a trailer breakdown and an interview with CD Projekt discussing how they plan to avoid a Cyberpunk 2077-style launch disaster.
