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

CD Projekt Red's development of The Witcher 4, featuring Ciri as the protagonist, began surprisingly with a seemingly minor addition to The Witcher 3. A special quest, "In the Eternal Fire's Shadow," served as a crucial onboarding experience for new team members joining the Witcher 4 project.

Initially released in May 2015, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt established Ciri as a key character, albeit not the sole protagonist. However, the December 2024 Game Awards trailer confirmed Ciri's starring role in The Witcher 4, launching a new trilogy focused on her adventures.

The "In the Eternal Fire's Shadow" side quest, introduced in late 2022, served a dual purpose. It promoted The Witcher 3's next-gen update and provided in-game justification for the armor worn by Henry Cavill in the Netflix series. Philipp Webber, former quest designer for The Witcher 3 and now narrative director for The Witcher 4, revealed on social media that this quest acted as an initiation for new team members, immersing them in the Witcher universe before commencing work on the fourth installment.

A Smooth Transition into The Witcher 4

Webber described the side quest as "the perfect start to getting back into the vibe," perfectly aligning with the Witcher 4's development timeline. Announced in March 2022, the game's development likely commenced before the official announcement. The side quest, released approximately nine months later, provided a practical training ground for new recruits, many potentially transferred from the Cyberpunk 2077 team (released in 2020).

While Webber didn't name the initiated team members, the timing suggests a connection to the Cyberpunk 2077 team. This timeline also fuels speculation about potential similarities between The Witcher 4's skill tree and that of Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty expansion.

The seemingly insignificant side quest thus played a pivotal role in shaping the development and overall tone of The Witcher 4, highlighting the intricate planning and strategic onboarding processes employed by CD Projekt Red.