By Sagar V. Mankar 
CD Projekt Red’s highly anticipated The Witcher 4 has been making headlines since its reveal at The Game Awards 2024. While fans were thrilled by the first trailer, recent debates have centered on the game’s diversity and inclusion (DEI) efforts, particularly regarding the character Ciri’s portrayal.
A significant part of the community believes that CD Projekt Red (CDPR) has prioritized DEI initiatives, leading to an “Ugly” characterization of Ciri. However, Michal Nowakowski, the joint CEO of CDPR, has clarified the situation in a recent statement. Addressing rumors that the studio collaborated with Sweet Baby Inc., Nowakowski firmly denied the connection. He tweeted, “We are not working with Sweet Baby. Never even heard of them till recently.”
Nowakowski also dismissed claims that CDPR had lost key developers, which some suggested was a reason for the studio’s transition to Unreal Engine 5. Instead, he emphasized the team’s strength, noting that around 100 veteran developers from previous Witcher titles are actively involved in new projects, including The Witcher 4.
In November, the developer informed us that The Witcher 4 had entered “full-scale production,” but an exact timeline for the game’s release has yet to be confirmed. It has also been revealed that The Witcher 4 will be the first game in a trilogy as Geralt of Rivia’s story has concluded in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
Besides the Witcher saga, the studio currently has multiple projects in its pipeline, including a Cyberpunk sequel and a new IP codenamed ‘Hadar.’
Sources: Michal Nowakowski’s Official Twitter Statements