The Witcher 4 Dev Explains How the Team Prepared to Work on the Long-Awaited Title

The Witcher 4's Development: A Genesis in a Witcher 3 Side Quest

CD Projekt Red's approach to developing The Witcher 4 involved a unique onboarding process for new team members. A special quest, "In the Eternal Fire's Shadow," added to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in late 2022, served as an initiation for these individuals before they began work on the upcoming Ciri-centric title.

This side quest, while promoting the game's next-gen update and providing in-game justification for Henry Cavill's Netflix armor, also subtly prepared the team for The Witcher 4's development. Narrative director Philipp Webber confirmed this on social media, highlighting its role in re-establishing the series' feel and tone for newcomers. This aligns with the March 2022 announcement of The Witcher 4, initiating a new trilogy focused on Ciri.

The timing suggests that while preliminary planning existed prior to the announcement, the side quest provided a practical, hands-on introduction for new developers, potentially including those transitioning from the Cyberpunk 2077 team. This onboarding method might also hint at similarities between The Witcher 4's potential skill tree and that of Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty expansion. While Webber didn't name specific individuals, the quest's role in the development process remains a fascinating insight into the game's creation.