"Witcher 4 Director Clarifies: Ciri's Face Unchanged"

The director of The Witcher 4, Sebastian Kalemba, has clarified that a new video featuring Ciri uses the same in-game model as seen in the game's cinematic reveal trailer. This statement comes after fans speculated about changes to Ciri's appearance following the release of a behind-the-scenes video by CD Projekt. The video showcased Ciri at the 2:11 and 5:47 marks, prompting discussions about her facial features appearing different from those in the main trailer.

Some fans expressed positive reactions to these new looks, with one commenter describing the Ciri at the 5:47 mark as a "perfect representation of a slightly older Ciri." However, there were also concerns and rumors about CD Projekt potentially altering Ciri's face in response to earlier criticisms labeling her as "ugly" in the reveal trailer.

Addressing these rumors on social media, Kalemba emphasized that no modifications had been made to Ciri's model. He explained that the behind-the-scenes footage was raw and captured before the application of cinematic enhancements such as facial animations, lighting, and virtual camera effects. "The behind-the-scenes video features the same in-game model of Ciri as seen in the original trailer," Kalemba stated, adding that the variations seen are a normal aspect of the game development process.

The Witcher 4 marks the beginning of a new trilogy set after the events of The Witcher 3, with Ciri taking the lead role instead of Geralt. Executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga told IGN that choosing Ciri as the protagonist was a natural and logical decision, given her central role in the books and the conclusion of Geralt's story in the previous game. Kalemba added that Ciri's younger age allows for more player-defined character development, offering new storytelling opportunities.

Despite potential backlash from some fans about Ciri's role, both Mitręga and Kalemba affirmed that Ciri was always intended to be the main character. Kalemba highlighted the discussions that took place nearly a decade ago, where Ciri was immediately seen as the next protagonist due to her compelling story and the challenges she faces.

In a related interview, Geralt's voice actor Doug Cockle expressed enthusiasm for the shift to Ciri, citing the potential for exciting narrative developments rooted in the books. For more insights into The Witcher 4, IGN offers exclusive content, including a trailer breakdown and discussions on how the game aims to avoid the launch issues faced by Cyberpunk 2077.