The Witcher 4’s official announcement was one of the highlights of The Game Awards, and though we didn’t really get to see any actual gameplay footage, the cinematic reveal trailer we got was a lengthy one, with plenty of tidbits to divulge regardless. In an official trailer breakdown uploaded by CD Projekt RED, game director Sebastian Kalemba has shared some of those details.
For starters, what’s showcased in the trailer is an actual quest in the game, and the young village woman that Ciri tries to save from the ritual sacrifice is named Mioni. Meanwhile, the monster that she fights is called the Bauk. Interestingly enough, though Mioni dies at the end of the trailer, Kalemba says she can actually survive in the game based on the choices players make.
Kalemba also revealed light details on the game’s combat. As glimpsed in Ciri’s fight against the Bauk in the trailer, the young Witcher can also use chains in combat, while those chains can also be enchanted with magic (like with fire in the trailer) to make them stronger. Additionally, Ciri, who is a particularly powerful Source, can also use her abilities to drain elements from the world around her and catalyze them to be used as powerful magic spells.
Ciri’s expanded combat moveset certainly seems to add to Kalemba’s promises of much more varied gameplay and greater player agency in The Witcher 4 compared to its predecessor. The director has also confirmed that the game will maintain continuity with all of The Witcher 3’s endings. Meanwhile, former series protagonist Geralt will also have a role to play.
