Can The Witcher 4 Top a Masterpiece? A Dev Weighs in on Living Up to The Witcher 3's Legacy

The gaming world holds its breath for the next installment in CD Projekt Red's acclaimed fantasy series, often referred to as The Witcher 4. Following in the footsteps of a colossal success like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt presents a monumental challenge, a reality keenly felt by the development team itself. Narrative Director Philipp Weber has openly addressed the daunting task of creating a game that lives up to, but doesn't necessarily try to "top," its legendary predecessor.

The Unforgettable Shadow of The Witcher 3

Factually and anecdotally, The Witcher 3 stands as an all-time video game achievement. With over 60 million copies sold worldwide, it's widely lauded as one of the best RPGs ever created. Its hallmarks include deeply emotional main and side quests, an unforgettable cast of characters that resonate long after the credits roll, an enchanting musical score, and a masterclass in immersive world design.

For many, The Witcher 3 redefined what an open-world RPG could be, setting a new bar for narrative depth and player choice. While CD Projekt Red has since navigated the ambitious launch and subsequent redemption of Cyberpunk 2077, the studio is under no illusion about the significant pressure on its shoulders to ensure The Witcher 4 maintains the incredibly high standards set by Geralt of Rivia's final adventure.

Philipp Weber on the "How Do We Top It?" Dilemma

Speaking to GamesRadar, CD Projekt Red’s narrative director, Philipp Weber, addressed the core dilemma head-on. Weber, who began his journey with CDPR as a Junior Quest Designer on The Witcher 3 before becoming a fully-fledged Quest Designer for the base game and its critically acclaimed Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine DLCs, intimately understands the legacy.

He candidly admitted that the internal conversation mirrors fan discussions: "‘ Witcher 3 was one of the best games ever made, ‘how are they going to top it?’" To which he responded, "I’m like ‘yeah, how are we going to do that?’"

However, Weber swiftly clarified that his perspective on success isn't purely "mathematical," meaning he doesn't solely focus on review scores or copies sold. "I don’t see video games as mathematical," he stated, highlighting a more nuanced approach to development that prioritizes the artistic and philosophical essence of The Witcher series.

A Philosophy of Evolution, Not Replication

Weber elaborated on CD Projekt Red's strategy for approaching The Witcher 4. The goal isn't to simply create a "bigger and better" version of The Witcher 3, but rather to evolve the core philosophy that made it so beloved. "I think the way we want to do justice to the legacy of The Witcher 3 is to take the philosophy we had during The Witcher 3 – how to make a game, how to really care about these things, how to tell stories – and keep that philosophy," he explained.

This means upholding the studio's commitment to rich narrative, impactful choices, and meticulously crafted quests that avoid the pitfalls of generic "fetch quests." Lessons learned from past projects, including the post-launch recovery of Cyberpunk 2077, are also being integrated, such as adopting a "console-first" development approach and prioritizing transparency. The team aims to bring back the finely tuned balance of player choice and visible consequences that made The Witcher 3's narrative so compelling.

At the same time, the new game is intended to feel like a true sequel. "There are new questions we want to answer, because this is supposed to feel like a true sequel, not just redoing what we did before," Weber emphasized. This indicates a commitment to innovation and fresh experiences within the established Witcher universe. "And I think it’s really trying to have that healthy mix of really moving forward and also trying out some new things, but doing justice to what was there, not trying to beat it," he concluded.

What to Expect from the Next Witcher Saga

CD Projekt Red's deliberate and thoughtful approach for The Witcher 4 suggests a game that will honor its heritage while forging its own path. While official details are still scarce, we know the game will be built on Unreal Engine 5, promising cutting-edge visuals and open-world capabilities. Hints suggest a new protagonist, likely Ciri, opening up fresh narrative possibilities and evolving the very definition of a "Witcher."

The overarching goal, according to Weber, is to create an experience that deeply resonates with fans. "Some people will really love The Witcher 4, and hopefully those should be the people that love The Witcher 3, because the philosophy we had – how we make games, how we make quests, what The Witcher means to us – it’s the same one," he affirmed. This sentiment aims to reassure players that despite the pressure and the need for innovation, the soul of The Witcher will remain intact.

The legacy of The Witcher 3 is indeed forever etched into history, and the entire team at CD Projekt Red is acutely aware of the weight of expectation. However, their stated philosophy of careful evolution, combined with their proven track record of crafting immersive RPGs, gives fans reason to believe that The Witcher 4 will be another fine piece of art that lives long in the memory when it eventually launches.

FAQ Section

Q1: Is The Witcher 4 trying to be "better" than The Witcher 3?

According to Narrative Director Philipp Weber, the goal isn't to mathematically "top" The Witcher 3. Instead, CD Projekt Red aims to "do justice to the legacy" by maintaining the core philosophy of storytelling and quest design, while also introducing new elements and answering new questions to make it feel like a true sequel.

Q2: What is CD Projekt Red's philosophy for making The Witcher 4?

CD Projekt Red's philosophy for The Witcher 4 is to retain the core development principles from The Witcher 3 – focusing on deep storytelling, meaningful choices, and compelling quests – while simultaneously innovating and exploring new ideas. They emphasize caring deeply about the game and delivering a high-quality experience rather than just chasing sales numbers.

Q3: Who is Philipp Weber and what was his role in The Witcher 3?

Philipp Weber is the Narrative Director for The Witcher 4. He previously worked as a Junior Quest Designer and then a full Quest Designer on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and its DLCs (Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine), giving him deep insight into the series' development.

Q4: What engine is The Witcher 4 being developed on?

The Witcher 4 is being developed using Unreal Engine 5. This marks a shift from CD Projekt Red's proprietary REDengine, which was used for The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077.

Q5: Will The Witcher 4 have a new protagonist?

While not explicitly confirmed, early indications and rumors strongly suggest that The Witcher 4 will feature a new protagonist, with Ciri being the most likely candidate. The game is expected to move beyond Geralt of Rivia's story.