Witcher 4 Trailer Reveals the Canon Ending of Witcher 3

Fans of the Witcher universe are rejoicing as the long-awaited trailer for Witcher 4 has finally been released. This short yet incredibly atmospheric video has already sparked a wave of emotions among fans, fueling excitement for the next chapter of the legendary franchise. While the trailer doesn’t reveal all its secrets, it offers a glimpse into the future of this captivating story, leaving room for speculation and anticipation. All of this makes us wonder, when is witcher 4 coming out, and eagerly await more updates.

What Did We See in the Witcher 4 First Trailer?

The trailer begins by showing a young girl being prepared for a sacrificial ritual. A voiceover narrates how the girl grew from a mischievous little imp into a graceful, intelligent, and kind young woman, emphasizing that trials shape a person. Notably, the voiceover strongly resembles Vesemir's voice, under whose watch Ciri essentially grew up, suggesting that the narration is about her. Simultaneously, we see Ciri using witcher signs, igniting a fire with Igni, and employing a special bowl for potions and elixirs. Additionally, we are shown Ciri sharpening her sword, clearly indicating that she is preparing for battle.

As in previous installments, the game will feature East Slavic folklore, showcasing traditional clothing, the lifestyle of people from that era, the houses they lived in, and, of course, their customs, gods, and the monsters they believed in.

In subsequent scenes, we see the girl from the beginning of the trailer, now fully dressed in a white outfit and blue wreath. She is allowed to say goodbye to her loved ones, as it is her final opportunity—she has been chosen by the gods as their offering. Though frightened, she approaches her father with determination to fulfill her duty.

During this time, our main character, Ciri, is standing in the crowd, observing the events. When the young girl ventures deep into the forest, Ciri follows her. Seeing this, a townsman grabs her shoulder, calls her a witcher, and asks who paid her for this task. He also remarks that this violates their traditions upheld for many years and that the girl was chosen by the gods themselves. In these scenes, when Ciri is shown in close-up, it is evident that she has matured significantly and endured much. Her cat-like eyes confirm that she has undergone witcher mutations. Additionally, her medallion, identical to the one from the teaser, is prominently visible and belongs to the new School of the Lynx.

After a brief dialogue, Ciri heads into the forest, following the girl's tracks, arriving at a crevice emitting thick fog. This scene deserves special praise for its high quality and atmospheric execution. After a short conversation with the girl, Ciri sends her home to her father. From the roar of the monster in the cave and the trembling medallion on her chest, it becomes immediately clear that a battle is about to begin.

Entering the cave, Ciri starts hearing voices in her head, trying to convince her that she does not want to fight and that she is chosen by the gods. It becomes apparent that the monster possesses telepathic abilities and is adept at exploiting people's weaknesses—their traditions and fear of the gods. Meanwhile, the monster attempts to attack Ciri while she is distracted by the voices.

Failing its telepathic manipulations, the monster retreats into the fog, revealing its massive silhouette. At this moment, Ciri drinks a witcher potion, and we see her eyes change to a black-azure hue, which looks incredibly stunning and epic. Next, the trailer showcases the battle itself, featuring elements of swordsmanship and Ciri's use of the Quen sign.

During the fight, the monster manages to catch Ciri off guard and pins her against the wall, saying, "Fate cannot be changed." This statement could have two meanings: first, it may refer to the girl from the beginning of the trailer, destined to be sacrificed. Alternatively, it could pertain to Ciri herself and her fate.

What happens next is particularly intriguing. Ciri infuses water from a spring with energy emanating from her hand, simultaneously drawing water or absorbing energy from it. She then charges her hand with power and strikes the monster, throwing it back. The strike resembled the familiar Aard sign but was enhanced with lightning. It is highly likely that the game will introduce additional signs or even their combinations, making a sign-focused playstyle more powerful and engaging.

After this strike, Ciri takes the initiative in the fight. Picking up her sword from the ground, she manages to sever several limbs from the monster. Following this, the trailer showcases an element never seen in any previous game. Ciri wraps a chain around the monster's neck and ignites it with Igni. This feature was previously seen in the cinematic of the first Witcher game and Netflix's The Witcher series. It will be interesting to see whether CD Projekt incorporates this mechanic into Witcher 4, allowing players to imbue items with signs. In The Witcher 3, modders created a similar mod that became incredibly popular and captivating. Alternatively, this feature might remain exclusive to cutscenes and modders.

During the fight, it is noticeable that Ciri never uses the power of the Elder Blood. Perhaps she lost her abilities after defeating the Wild Hunt or during the witcher transformation ritual.

After defeating the monster, Ciri returns to the village with its head, witnessing a scene that reveals the central theme of The Witcher: "The true monsters in this world are humans." The villagers stabbed the young girl meant to be a sacrifice to the "gods" in the chest. They did not care how the girl died—ritual or a knife—as they had already decided she was chosen by the gods and must die, raising the question of whether it held any meaning at all. This partially confirmed the monster's words to Ciri during the fight.

"There are no gods in this world, only monsters," Ciri concludes, ending the The Witcher 4 trailer. This phrase hints at the game's motifs and provides a glimpse of what to expect in The Witcher 4. From just one trailer, we learn many details about what awaits us in Witcher 4. The trailer itself immerses us in the grim and brutal atmosphere characteristic of the series, sparking speculation and theories ahead of the game's release.

With Ciri as a Protagonist It’s Confirmed Which Witcher 3 Ending Was Canonical

Based on the fact that Ciri has become a witcher and the main protagonist of the new Witcher 4 story, it can officially be stated that the most canonical ending among All The Witcher 3 Story Endings is the one where Ciri becomes a witcher. This has sparked heated discussions among fans of Andrzej Sapkowski's original work regarding this ending and its implications for the Witcher 4 plot, which is not surprising.

The reason lies in both the books and the previous parts of The Witcher series. They stated that only men could become witchers, which is why there were no female witchers. In The Witcher 3, Ciri also expressed her desire to undergo witcher mutations, but Geralt and Vesemir assured her that it was impossible. For the development of Witcher 4, lore experts from the The Witcher universe were involved, ensuring minimal inaccuracies. What might initially seem implausible could turn out to be previously unexplored elements of the lore, further enriching the already vast universe of The Witcher.

Additionally, the developers mentioned in interviews that the idea of making Ciri the new witcher and the main protagonist had been considered for a very long time—specifically, nine years ago. Over those nine years, their desire and vision only strengthened, as it appeared to be a very logical choice. Ciri has resonated with them since the earliest parts, both in the books and the games, and it was only a matter of time before she took Geralt's place in this story.

What About The Witcher 4 Story

The developers at CD Projekt have revealed that The Witcher 4 will be a trilogy. This will allow the story to develop more smoothly, offering the opportunity to work on the plot in greater detail and introduce new elements to the lore of the universe. Such announcements are undoubtedly exciting for fans of The Witcher game series.

Game Director, Sebastian Kalemba and Executive Producer, Gosia Mitręga also shared in an Interview after TGA 2024 that players will have the opportunity to shape Ciri’s character. Unlike Geralt, Ciri is young, and her choices and dialogue options will be less restricted. Ciri's stories will be broader and entirely different, with player choices affecting not only the plot but also gameplay mechanics. In Project Polaris Witcher, the journey of Ciri becoming a witcher and overcoming her challenges will undoubtedly be explored in depth.

As for the question when is The Witcher 4 coming out, the developers have stated that there is no exact release date yet, but the game is expected to launch one or two years after the release of the trailer. However, considering the potential challenges in game development and the possibility of delays, as seen with Cyberpunk 2077, which was postponed about three times, a realistic estimate would be the second half of 2026 or early 2027.