The Witcher 4 Dev Explains How the Team Prepared to Work on the Long-Awaited Title

The Witcher 4's Genesis: A Side Quest's Unexpected Role

The development of The Witcher 4, featuring Ciri as the protagonist in a new trilogy, began surprisingly with a seemingly minor addition to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Two years prior to the game's reveal, a side quest titled "In the Eternal Fire's Shadow" was introduced. This quest, while promoting the game's next-gen update and providing in-game justification for Henry Cavill's Netflix armor, served a crucial behind-the-scenes purpose.

Philipp Webber, narrative director for The Witcher 4 and quest designer for The Witcher 3, recently revealed the quest's significance. It acted as an onboarding experience for new team members, immersing them in the Witcher universe before tackling the ambitious project of The Witcher 4. Webber described it as "the perfect start to getting back into the vibe," perfectly aligning with the March 2022 announcement of The Witcher 4, approximately nine months before the side quest's release.

While pre-announcement planning undoubtedly existed, this detail illuminates the team's practical approach to integrating new talent. It's speculated that some of these new members transitioned from CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077 team, released in 2020. This onboarding strategy, coupled with speculation about a potential Phantom Liberty-esque skill tree in The Witcher 4, adds intrigue to the game's development process. The side quest, therefore, wasn't merely an add-on; it was a crucial stepping stone in the creation of Ciri's next chapter.