Summary
The Witcher 4, also known asThe Witcher: Polaris, is set to kickstart a new trilogy of games in the universe ofThe Witcher. While CD Projekt Red will be carrying on the storied history of the franchise and its rich lore, it’s likely thatThe Witcher 4won’t feature Geraltas its central protagonist. As one of the most iconic leading men in video games, there could be an expectation for him to return in some fashion, even if it’s not as a playable character. However, this could wind up creating some complications within the game’s story.
There are a few reasons to believe thatThe Witcher 4is going to be moving away from Geralt in some capacity. For one thing,The Witcher 3is rather conclusive in its ending. Regardless of the ending that a player achieves,The Witcher 3appears to end with Geralt giving up his life as a Witcher - something that the DLC for the game drives home even further. Additionally, it’s likely thatThe Witcher 4will feature many new charactersbecause it has been defined as a new saga by CD Projekt Red, a saga that will stand apart from the original trilogy. It would be challenging to make a distinct saga of games if the main character remained the same, especially when his story is seemingly over. Whatever new characters or settingsThe Witcher 4focuses on, however, it should steer clear of keeping Geralt out of the experience.
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If Geralt isn’t Playable, He Shouldn’t Show Up at All
Geralt of Rivia is, without a doubt, a legendary figure in the world ofThe Witcher, which made him a great choice of protagonist in the first three games. With himlikely retiring inThe Witcher 3, and a new character assuming the central role, he could take on a position as a sort of mentor figure, but this could create a “Batman problem.”
If there is a video game set in Gotham, with Batman alive and active, yet the player is controlling someone other than Batman, it could feel like there is a lot left on the table; since no one can possibly surpass Batman in terms of power and legend status in this fictional world, the player either has to feel supremely underpowered or Batman has to be nerfed in order for this new protagonist to surpass him, which would hurt the greater lore and legacy of the character. This same scenario could occur in the world ofThe Witcher.
Geralt is a complexand larger-than-life character, one who is at the center of all the existing video games, novels, and the TV show, so it would be tricky for a new protagonist to top him. If he plays a role in the story, many players will likely be wondering why they aren’t playing as him instead of this newcomer, who could not possibly match him in terms of experience, fame, or raw power. On the flip side, if this new protagonist could match Geralt when it comes to these qualities, then it could cause issues for the lore and history ofThe Witcher. Questions about where this character was during the events of the previous games, or how they gained such power, could arise.
As an iconic character inThe Witcherand beyond, Geraltwill surely be missed by fans of the series. He is still alive at the end ofThe Witcher 3, and could perhaps assume the role of a teacher or sage, but it would be better for both the character and the future of theWitcherfranchise if he simply got the chance to fade into blissful retirement.
A newWitchergame is in development.
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