Summary
There comes a time in the shelf life of a good series when the narrator has to make a heartwrenching choice: to end the storyline with a final adventure from the protagonist or to pivot to a new central character to extend the tale. The latter is the mark of a true narrative masterpiece, as diverging from the main draw and retaining a large section of the fan base is no mean feat. CD Projekt Red’sThe Witcher 4finds itself on the banks of this Rubicon, with all clues indicating thatThe Witcheris ready to move on from Geralt of Rivia as its centerpiece. It isn’t clear to what degree the developer plans to leave Geralt behind, but even without the White Wolf as the protagonist,The Witcher 4is bound to be rife with tributes to him.
Switching out a protagonist that fans have gotten accustomed to is, without question, one of the most difficult storytelling tricks for a series to maneuver. Franchises likeBorderlandswhich are built from the ground up with a co-dependent synergy between their characters find it easier to change the main focus without any backlash. However, in most cases, a singular flagbearer embodies the franchise, raising the stakes of such a change. While it will be tough for CD Projekt Red to determine a successor,Geralt of Riviafans should not be too concerned, as even if he has no impact on the story, the Butcher of Blaviken will surely find a way to impactThe Witcher 4’s narrative.
Geralt Returning to The Witcher 4 In Some Capacity Seems Almost Inevitable
The Witcher 4 Should Feature Nods to Geralt’s Legend
If Geralt’s is properly involved in the story of the next game, it’s easy to envisionThe Witcher 4running into a “Batman problem” in its narrative, where players simply wish they could control Geralt. Ultimately, it makes sense to retire the character, with the White Wolf’s time as a Witcher coming to its conclusion inThe Witcher 3and the DLC further driving home the point. Still, that does not mean that the upcoming game can’t benefit from an infusion of his personality.
To achieve this, Geralt’s imprint should still be felt firmly aroundthe Continent inThe Witcher 4, despite his reduced role in the series' affairs. Entire conversations could be dedicated to his legend, and players could still meet some of his allies in cutscenes that bridge the narrative of the previous trilogy with the new. Apart from cutscenes and pieces of dialogue, CD Projekt Red would be remiss not to include items that have become synonymous with Geralt’s character in the form of collectibles inThe Witcher 4, as well as random environmental nods to the series' original hero.
For instance,Aerondight is Geralt’s most famous sword inThe Witcher 3and has even appeared as an Easter Egg inCyberpunk 2077. Fans ofThe Witchercould see this blade and similar famed pieces of the White Wolf’s persona reappear inThe Witcher 4in some capacity, perhaps even being usable weapons with descriptions that reference the original wielder. Ultimately, even if Geralt ends up having no role in the next game’s story , it feels likely that his presence will continue to be felt.
