Where do we go from here (or Witcher 4: Revenge of the Swallow)

[Tiphereth]

I see no reason not to continue the series but I understand the feeling of letting stories "end."

Well the reason is when they work on a The Witcher game, they don’t work on a new game. And I’m always more glad with new projects than just sequels. ^^

I just love The Witcher, but I really want to see what CD Projekt RED can do on other licences (Cyberpunk), and maybe even on their own new ones. ^^

 

[lordhovis]

Not sure there's much you can do in regards to the Wild Hunt, since they are so thoroughly one dimensional. But who knows, a quick revelation of some sort might improve things.

I think if they were really, really set on making the White Frost a big thing from the start and wanted to beef up the Hunt then they should have used the dimension jumping quest to really show the damage the Frost is doing to the world of the Aen Elle. We get a note about how a province has been consumed and that the frost is advancing ever further. Show us that happening, let us see the horror and the despair of the displaced in the face of the inevitable. At least give us more than 5 minutes on an ice covered world and 3 dry notes.

And as you say it wouldn't take all that much to flesh out a lot of the late games narrative issues. Some frank heart to heart conversations here and there to patch up those short and sterile dialogues that the game resorted to at the last would go a long way. At the least they could add some proper "this may be the end" style goodbyes before the final fight to add in some emotion to the affair. A simple "goodluck" from Triss really doesn't cut it.

 

[Cirivia]

I've said it in previous threads about Ciri, they should do her backstory! Certain events in her life are referenced in The Witcher 3 multiple times.

 

[glesson]

I don't think they should have Ciri as the main protagonist in a future game. Her story differs a lot from the tone of the witcher's universe. I would love her coming back as a main character in a game, but having another game centered around her would be a step back. I hope when Witcher 4 comes they focus on the the first or second war.

 

[Maerd]

At this point I think the champion should retire while he's a champion. No more witcher games until technology improves so much that it will be due. I just cannot imagine the sequel to this game. All good stories should have an end. It would be a shame to make a soap opera out of the witcher games.

 

[Frosty1979]

Well I really hope Witcher 4 would let us make a new Witcher we can totally customize. I mean I really love Geralt and he is my favourite "hero" of all games I played with premade characters, but to totally immerse in a rpg a fresh made character is still better. It also gives more freedom to the writers how to develop their story, if they are not restricted by a premade personality.

Another cool thing would be that we could meet our favourite characters like Geralt, Triss, Ciri, etc. as npcs then. Ideally I would hope Geralt to be something like a mentor for a new WItcher (Vesemir like) and Ciri maybe even a romance option for any newly made male or female Witcher.

 

[saricc]

I've said it in previous threads about Ciri, they should do her backstory! Certain events in her life are referenced in The Witcher 3 multiple times.

It wouldn't be much of a RPG because most of her backstory is the books. If you make the inbetween books and games argument she wouldn't even be on the same world as the Witcher.

I'm kinda of the opinion that you can't make a good prequel RPG either... If it's going to be anything it has to be set after the the third game, and as I've said, I'd prefer to play as witcher Ciri.

 

[uScared]

I would like for it not to happen. Witcher 3 was brilliant, but from this point onwards whatever they would do would just end up feeling like "been there, done that". Geralts tale is concluded, and whatever tale Sapkowski might envision for Ciri (if at all) I'm not sure it would require or fit the the format of a game as well as the tale of Geralt. I'd love to read a book about it tho!

But at the end of the day: Lets quit while we all have fond memories of this game and while the series is at its peak. And lets look forward to the new tales Cyberpunk 2077 will bring about, I'm sure it will be more than awesome and will end up its entirely own trilogy with beloved characters and interesting locations and stories.

 

[DuranA]

We can throw a token bit there that Ciri is a "Runaway Princess" as a dialogue option after she realizes her father is a psychopath who wants her to be just like him.

Phillipa and Emhyr can be the villains.

That's just fucking lazy and an insult to Emhyr who let her go in the books, who lets her go in the game even. You want to take the piss on these characters go ahead and write a lazy fanfiction story.

The only ending that makes sense in Ciri Empress, Nilfgaardian victory ending. Making sense for the sake of a sequel that is.

 

[CTPhipps]

I would like for it not to happen. Witcher 3 was brilliant, but from this point onwards whatever they would do would just end up feeling like "been there, done that". Geralts tale is concluded, and whatever tale Sapkowski might envision for Ciri (if at all) I'm not sure it would require or fit the the format of a game as well as the tale of Geralt. I'd love to read a book about it tho!

But at the end of the day: Lets quit while we all have fond memories of this game and while the series is at its peak. And lets look forward to the new tales Cyberpunk 2077 will bring about, I'm sure it will be more than awesome and will end up its entirely own trilogy with beloved characters and interesting locations and stories.

I'm going to play Cyberpunk 2077 but the idea that it's somehow a "substitute" for the Witcher is weird as the games are probably going to be completely different in gameplay, interaction, and storytelling.

Also, they will in no way be games that would scratch the same itch.

"Don't ask for a Lord of the Rings movie! Why would you want it if you have Bladerunner?"

And,. honestly, I preferred the Witcher 2 in general and think CD_Red can do better with a tighter more focused story the next time.

 

[uScared]

I'm going to play Cyberpunk 2077 but the idea that it's somehow a "substitute" for the Witcher is weird as the games are probably going to be completely different in gameplay, interaction, and storytelling.

The universe is completely different obviously, but they are similiar in tone and I think CDPR would not forsake what it does best - mature quest design and storytelling (as hinted at in the cinematic trailer).

"Don't ask for a Lord of the Rings movie! Why would you want it if you have Bladerunner?"

Well, I wouldnt ask for one director to split his attention between two franchises. I would want him to devote his attention to one franchise specifically. And please don't tell me you think the Hobbit trilogy was even remotely as good as the LotR trilogy.

 

[CTPhipps]

The universe is completely different obviously, but they are similiar in tone and I think CDPR would not forsake what it does best - mature quest design and storytelling (as hinted at in the cinematic trailer).

I used to play the Tabletop version of the Cyberpunk version and the game has a very specific "feel" of mercenary behavior and nihilism. I think they're similar in some ways but very very different in others.

Well, I wouldnt ask for one director to split his attention between two franchises. I would want him to devote his attention to one franchise specifically. And please don't tell me you think the Hobbit trilogy was even remotely as good as the LotR trilogy.

I'm a writer in RL in addition to an academia with my first books coming out in a few days and month and if nothing else, the process I got involved in gave me some insight into how "professionals" due these kind of things. One thing I've observed is the best authors rarely devote their brain one hundred percent to a single subject but work on an existing work and then switch around projects. Cyberpunk is going to be a great game but when they finish it, they should do another project (going back to the Witcher) because it'll allow them time to come up with another plotline and good ideas for it instead of just immediately jumping into a sequel.

Multiple IP is the best path forward not monofocus.

 

[uScared]

Cyberpunk is going to be a great game but when they finish it, they should do another project (going back to the Witcher) because it'll allow them time to come up with another plotline and good ideas for it instead of just immediately jumping into a sequel.

Multiple IP is the best path forward not monofocus.

I think their second project should remain a side project as Cyberpunk was during the developemnt of Witcher 3. Keep it in planning phase until you are (mostly) done with the other.

And sure, I'm not against maintaining multiple IPs, but at the end of the day you have to keep in mind that CDPR doesnt have 100% control over The Witcher IP - Sapkowski does (at least as far as we know, I doubt many outsiders know the specifics between them). They may never had an agreement that reached beyond 3 Witcher games, and Sapkowski may not have any interest in giving them more access to the IP and more freedom with where to take it. And then there is the question wether Publishers want to/will get involved in there as well.

 

[CTPhipps]

I think their second project should remain a side project as Cyberpunk was during the developemnt of Witcher 3. Keep it in planning phase until you are (mostly) done with the other.

And sure, I'm not against maintaining multiple IPs, but at the end of the day you have to keep in mind that CDPR doesnt have 100% control over The Witcher IP - Sapkowski does (at least as far as we know, I doubt many outsiders know the specifics between them). They may never had an agreement that reached beyond 3 Witcher games, and Sapkowski may not have any interest in giving them more access to the IP and more freedom with where to take it. And then there is the question whether Publishers want to/will get involved in there as well.

Barring an expiring of the license, it seems that there's no likely problem to be had there. Sapkowski's opinion is the games are basically just adaptations of his work and nothing more than a large check for him.

 

[carlos2033]

Well if there is ever new game in witcher universe i wish its in some new land like Zerrikania, Kovir, Haakland, just stay out of war and politics this time dont even mention north or nilfgard, just some personal story in new land doing what witchers do best - witcher contract, and maybe shape the world around you by resolving local conflict, just no saving world this time