A prominent member of The Witcher 4 development team, Jan Hermanowicz, has advised fans to hold off on forming judgments about Ciri’s revised role and appearance until they have the chance to actually play the game. Although CD Projekt Red has faced some backlash regarding the character change from Geralt, Hermanowicz believes that many opinions will shift after players experience the game.

CD Projekt Red announced the work on a new Witcher game over three years ago, but fans only caught their first glimpse during The Game Awards 2024 when a six-minute cinematic trailer was unveiled, showcasing the series’ signature dark fantasy themes. The focal point of discussion was Ciri’s emergence as the leading character, stepping into Geralt’s shoes.

Hermanowicz expressed his thoughts in a recent interview with GamesRadar+, recommending that the audience should reserve their critiques of CD Projekt Red’s decisions involving Ciri until they see how she integrates into the gameplay and storyline of The Witcher 4. He is confident that once players experience the game firsthand, they will gain a deeper appreciation for her character that extends beyond the trailer.

In support of this plea, Hermanowicz echoed sentiments from Doug Cockle, the voice of Geralt, who has criticized the negative comments from fans as misguided. Cockle underscored the importance of engaging with the source material before passing judgment, urging fans to “read the damn books.”

Both Hermanowicz and Cockle are not alone in campaigning for fans to embrace this change, with Adam Badowski, CD Projekt RED’s studio head, earlier indicating that the team aims to innovate rather than replicate past formulas, hinting at even more significant shifts beyond just altering the protagonist.