The director of *The Witcher 4* has addressed recent fan speculation regarding Ciri’s appearance in the game's latest behind-the-scenes video. Following the release of a new cinematic reveal trailer, some fans noted subtle differences in Ciri’s facial features compared to earlier footage. CD Projekt Red has since clarified that these variations are due to raw, unpolished in-game visuals rather than any changes to her character model.
In a post on social media, *The Witcher 4* game director Sebastian Kalemba confirmed that the same in-game model was used throughout the cinematic reveal and the newly released behind-the-scenes footage. The perceived difference in Ciri’s face, he explained, comes from the absence of final lighting, facial animation, and camera enhancements typically applied during cinematic production.
“The behind-the-scenes video features the same in-game model of Ciri as seen in the original trailer,” Kalemba stated. “We have not modified it. What you’re seeing is raw footage — without facial animation, lighting, or virtual camera lenses. While still in-engine, it represents a work-in-progress snapshot taken before we applied cinematic touches for the purpose of that video.”
He further emphasized that such visual variation is natural during the development process, noting that character appearances can differ across various mediums like trailers, 3D models, and actual gameplay.
Fans first noticed the discrepancy in two specific moments of the behind-the-scenes video—at the 2:11 and 5:47 marks—where Ciri’s face appears more prominently under different angles and lighting conditions. Some players praised the updated look, suggesting it better reflects an older, more mature version of the character.
This sparked rumors that CD Projekt had altered Ciri’s design following initial criticism about her appearance in the official cinematic trailer. However, the studio has denied making any adjustments to her base model, attributing the variance to standard visual effects used in cinematic presentation.
Ciri Takes Center Stage
As the protagonist of *The Witcher 4*, Ciri steps into the role long occupied by Geralt in previous entries. Executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga described this shift as a natural progression, emphasizing Ciri’s depth and narrative potential.
“It was always about her, starting from Saga when you read it in the books. She's an amazing, layered character. And of course, as a protagonist we said goodbye to Geralt previously. So this is a continuation. I guess for all of us it’s like she was meant to be. That was always her.”
Kalemba added that because Ciri is younger than Geralt, players will have greater freedom to shape her identity and journey—an opportunity not fully available with Geralt’s established personality and life experiences.
Despite awareness of potential backlash, both Mitręga and Kalemba reaffirmed that Ciri was always intended to be the central figure of *The Witcher 4*. According to Kalemba, discussions about her becoming the protagonist date back nearly nine years.
“There was an intention behind this choice. It was far from roulette. It wasn't random. I remember we had discussions nine years ago, we were talking about who's next? The very, very instant answer was Ciri. We all felt that this is the way. I believe this is the super right choice.”
Voice Actor Doug Cockle Supports the Shift
Doug Cockle, the voice actor behind Geralt, also voiced his support for the decision, calling it a logical and exciting step forward for the franchise.
“I'm really excited. I think it's a really good move… I always thought that continuing the Saga, but shifting to Ciri would be a really, really interesting move for all kinds of reasons… I think it's really exciting. I can't wait to see what they've done.”
Stay tuned for more updates on *The Witcher 4*, including an in-depth trailer breakdown and insights into how CD Projekt plans to avoid a launch similar to that of *Cyberpunk 2077*.
