"Witcher 4 Director Clarifies: Ciri's Face Unchanged"

The director of *The Witcher 4*, Sebastian Kalemba, has clarified that a new video features the same in-game model of Ciri, dispelling rumors that her face had been altered. CD Projekt recently released a behind-the-scenes look at the cinematic reveal trailer for *The Witcher 4*, which included two brief clips showcasing Ciri up close at the 2:11 and 5:47 marks. Fans noticed a slight difference in Ciri's facial appearance in these clips compared to the main trailer, sparking discussions and speculation about potential changes to her character model.

Some fans expressed positive reactions to the new looks, with one commenter describing the Ciri at the 5:47 mark as the "perfect representation of a slightly older Ciri." However, there were also reports suggesting that CD Projekt might have modified Ciri's face in response to negative feedback about her appearance in the initial reveal trailer.

Addressing these speculations, Kalemba took to social media to clarify that the behind-the-scenes video indeed features the same in-game model of Ciri as seen in the original trailer. He explained that the footage shown was raw and without the cinematic enhancements like facial animation, lighting, and virtual camera lenses that were applied for the reveal video. "This variation is a natural part of the game development process," Kalemba stated, emphasizing that character appearances can vary depending on the medium used, whether it's a trailer, a 3D model, or in-game.

The humorous response from a commenter on the Witcher subreddit, "Redditor discovers the effect that lighting can have on an in-game face model, is confused," encapsulates the situation well.

*The Witcher 4* marks the beginning of a new trilogy set after the events of *The Witcher 3*, with Ciri taking the lead role instead of Geralt. In an exclusive interview with IGN, executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga explained that choosing Ciri as the protagonist was a "very organic, logical choice." She highlighted Ciri's rich, layered character and the natural progression from the books, noting that it was always about her story.

Kalemba added that Ciri's younger age compared to Geralt allows players more freedom to shape her character, providing the developers with more creative space to explore her narrative. Despite potential backlash from some fans about Ciri's role, both Mitręga and Kalemba affirmed that Ciri was always intended to be the main character. Kalemba emphasized that the decision was deliberate and not random, driven by the belief that Ciri's story deserved to be told and that it would fuel an epic saga.

In a separate interview with IGN about Netflix's upcoming animated film, *The Witcher: Sirens of The Deep*, Geralt's voice actor Doug Cockle expressed excitement about the shift to Ciri as the protagonist, praising it as a good move that aligns well with the narrative developments in the books.

For more insights into *The Witcher 4*, check out our exclusive content, including a trailer breakdown and an interview with CD Projekt discussing how they plan to avoid a *Cyberpunk 2077*-style launch disaster.