The morning after The Witcher IV was formally revealed at The Recreation Awards, GameSpot had the prospect to take a seat down with sport director Sebastian Kalemba and government producer Małgorzata Mitręga. Though the interview primarily centered on the reveal trailer, we talked about Gwent, in-game romance, facet quests, and gameplay.
The trailer formally revealed that Ciri would be the protagonist of the brand new Witcher saga. Within the video, she hunts a brand new monster based mostly on Serbian folklore known as the Bauk – a spider-like creature that burrows into the heads of its victims earlier than killing them. As a part of our interview, we additionally heard a bit concerning the inspiration for the brand new monster and extra about what to anticipate from the long-awaited sequel.
This interview has been condensed and edited for readability.
GameSpot: How do you each really feel concerning the reveal?
Sebastian Kalemba: I really feel relieved, tremendous excited and blissful. A bit drained, however that is good, to be fairly trustworthy, as a result of we simply received into manufacturing. However I am tremendous, tremendous, tremendous proud of the response we have gotten up to now, and we have been getting ready for this second all 12 months and it has been a very, actually thrilling expertise. I visualized this second for months and it lastly occurred and I am so blissful. The crew is happy and the crew actually deserves this second. Lastly we do not have to speak about this venture codenamed Polaris. We are able to name it Witcher IV. We are able to say out loud that Ciri is the primary protagonist and it’s a new saga and can happen in new areas of the world. This stuff we are able to lastly discover out and concentrate on manufacturing and begin a brand new 12 months within the second with loads of vitality.
To speak about Ciri somewhat bit, was it a tough resolution to go along with Ciri because the protagonist or was it fairly clear from the start?
SC: It was an apparent selection, and I keep in mind 9 years in the past, we already made this name. (…) So, it was not a tough selection. We determined to place Ciri within the highlight as a result of she deserves it. She ran most of her life and that is the second for her to outline herself. This provides us extra room to develop the franchise right here and there, but in addition to have the ability to inform the origin tales in order that new gamers are in a position to expertise this world from a unique perspective, however in a really enticing approach.
Małgorzata Mitrega: It is a new protagonist – a brand new journey – and it is the start of the saga, proper? So this can be a contemporary begin (that pays loads of respect) to the texture of the earlier installments.
Are you able to discuss concerning the areas the place it takes place or not less than one?
MM: We are able to check with the trailer, proper? It’s far north, in an remoted village. The trailer is displaying the expertise of what (you possibly can) count on for the sport’s facet content material. It will not be one-for-one as a result of it is custom-made to have a constant story that tells every part we need to inform the world (at this second). However loads of that comes from the sport itself, and the belongings are literally from the sport. So it is a pre-render within the {custom} construct, however it’s an engine (with belongings) from the sport.
Are you able to discuss somewhat bit about shifting the main target to Ciri, story-wise?
SC: So let’s take a look at Ciri by way of the prism of the trailer too, as a result of while you have a look at this, there aren’t any surprises. Particularly we needed to inform the story of a younger lady who’s unable to face her future, (one thing Ciri can relate to). Ciri ran for many of her life and at last discovered peace in Kaer Morhen. (…) Because of this she is the primary mage of selection. She decides to develop into a witch as a result of (she likes it). It offers us loads of room to discover some actually cool emotional motion and a few lovely plots to inform some nice tales. There are widespread denominators (between her and Geralt) like the way in which she fights and the way in which she behaves, however she’s additionally very passionate, very decided and really engaged in every part she encounters and that is what we love ( for him).
MM: She is (additionally) the youngest (and) essentially the most agile. In fact she (can do extra magic than Geralt) so she offers us (extra to work with) in the case of gameplay. And you may see a glimpse of it within the trailer. We launched a sequence, so there are completely different instruments and there might be extra of them.
SC: Małgorzata (additionally) talked about magic. Ciri isn’t an everyday human being. She is a useful resource.
This makes him a particular and tremendous highly effective being. What does it imply? It means you possibly can management or not less than really feel the magic on this planet. So within the trailer, she’s simply utilizing (water as a supply) to create a robust spell.
I have never learn the books shortly, however when she educated at Kaer Morhen, she by no means handed wizard college and by no means underwent the Trial of Grasses.
MM: sure. We won’t clarify what occurred (but), however for many who performed the earlier sport, know that she wasn’t mutated again then, (however she has lastly handed the Trial of Grasse (at this level within the story). This provides us it additionally offers loads of alternative for her to develop into a real Witcher and nonetheless learn the way she needs to do it on her personal phrases. And the participant will be capable to develop together with her and assist her make these selections.
I think about balancing the sport might be an attention-grabbing problem contemplating how highly effective she is canonically.
SC: Yeah, that was one of many issues that we resolved early on in pre-production. Sure, she was the OP in Wild Hunt and there was a objective behind it, however right here (we need to offer you) a possibility to construct it your approach, with the instruments we’ll offer you and the tales you will be in in a position to expertise.
Are you able to discuss somewhat bit concerning the monster that appeared? I do know it is a new monster for the Witcher, however I feel it is based mostly on Serbian folklore.
MM: Sure, it’s based mostly on Serbian folklore. It is greater than somewhat (impressed really).
SC: We pay loads of consideration to every part, however (particularly) monsters. That is on the heart of (the world of a monster slayer), proper? And Ciri is a monster slayer. Bauk is a really particular being. It’s a lethal monster that’s complicated and clever. He senses your worry and is ready to play along with your thoughts. He makes you dizzy (and) misplaced. Then he assaults at a time when (you’re confused). You may expertise it whereas watching (the opening confrontation in) the trailer.
MM: We needed to point out that Bauk is a really complicated monster and you may expertise extra such creatures in the course of the sport. We need to introduce new monsters, for positive, however after all, there might be a wide range of them. (Monsters are one of many) most vital parts of the Witcher world, proper? However they’re at all times related to the area, to the situation, to the individuals round them, to the surroundings, (and) to the historical past.
Gwent?
SC: I will be trustworthy with you, I used to be impressed by the quantity of people that mentioned, “Gwent 2.0”. (There was) a lot optimistic (about) Gwent. And what I can say is that it’s a part of this world.
MM: We like it and it is vital. And likewise we love our neighborhood.
SC: It is crucial and we hear you guys. We hear you and don’t fret, okay?
In the case of romance, what can followers count on? Will there be any in The Witcher IV?
SC: Completely. It is a part of how we make video games. It’s a part of human nature. It’s a very regular factor. With out that I feel we would not be capable to inform the complete story.
MM: It is a crucial a part of life.
SC: However as at all times, we need to pay loads of consideration to it and make it tremendous compelling and really significant. So it is not simply making a romance for the sake of constructing a romance. This isn’t the CDPR approach.
CD Projekt Crimson is understood for his or her facet quests. Have you ever guys considered how you propose to push the sidequests even additional?
MM: Sure. We’re at all times pushing additional in each sport. We’ll study from earlier video games and likewise see what is occurring out there. You may count on us. With our ambition, will probably be nothing much less. However yeah, we’re trying ahead (to additional discover selections and penalties). To shock the participant and present them that you just actually haven’t any management over (something). You suppose you’re doing one thing after which it’s the reverse. We additionally need to push how facet content material and important content material (are linked). And likewise with Ciri herself (and the way her development is affected), proper? For positive, we’ll look there to push the boundaries additional.
SK: Sure, precisely. We need to make them significant and we need to be certain the implications are seen. So that you (really feel like) you had an influence on both an NPC or the world at giant. (These complicated selections are) why our video games have lengthy tails, proper? Due to these selections and penalties (add many) replays. You may expertise the sport somewhat otherwise right here and there.
