A Witcher 4 Genesis: How a Witcher 3 Side Quest Shaped the Next Chapter
The development of The Witcher 4, featuring Ciri in the lead role for 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 special quest, "In the Eternal Fire's Shadow," served as a crucial onboarding experience for new members of the Witcher 4 development team.
Initially released in May 2015, The Witcher 3 already featured Ciri as a playable character. However, the December 2024 Game Awards trailer confirmed her starring role in the upcoming sequel. The "In the Eternal Fire's Shadow" side quest, added in late 2022, served a dual purpose: promoting the game's next-gen update and providing in-game justification for the armor worn by Henry Cavill in the Netflix series.
Philipp Webber, quest designer for Witcher 3 and narrative director for Witcher 4, revealed on social media that this quest acted as an initiation for new team members. He described it as "the perfect start to getting back into the vibe," perfectly aligning with the March 2022 announcement of The Witcher 4. While pre-announcement planning undoubtedly existed, this side quest provides a tangible starting point for the team's creative process.
While Webber didn't name specific individuals, it's plausible that some team members transitioned from the Cyberpunk 2077 team (released in 2020). This timeline also fuels speculation about potential similarities between Witcher 4's skill tree and that of Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty expansion. The side quest's role in integrating new talent into the Witcher universe offers a fascinating glimpse into the behind-the-scenes preparation for this highly anticipated sequel.
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