Summary
The Witcher 4reveal trailer uses the same Ciri model as the one seen in its accompanying behind-the-scenes video, a senior CD Projekt Red official said. This comment was offered alongside a potential explanation as to why some fans seem convinced that the developer changed Ciri’s face in between its first twoThe Witcher 4promo videos.
Nearly three years after it was first confirmed to be in development,The Witcher 4was treated to a cinematic reveal trailerat The Game Awards 2024 back in December. The six-minute video confirmed Ciri as the protagonist of the upcoming RPG. Some online communities weren’t happy with this older version of Ciri, arguing that CDPR changed her model too much compared toThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
In late February 2025, CDPR shared anothervideo going behind the scenes ofThe Witcher 4reveal trailer. As far as YouTube comments go, the response to this promo was more universally positive, with some fans pointing out that its Ciri model looks closer toThe Witcher 3’s rendition of the character. While this development prompted speculation that CDPR changed the model in response to the initial criticism, game director Sebastian Kalemba promptly shut down that theory.
The Witcher 4 BTS Video Shows the Same Ciri Model, But Without Post-Processing
Taking to Twitter on February 27, Kalemba stated that the behind-the-scenes video shows the same Ciri model used in the TGA 2024 reveal trailer. However, the close-ups of Ciri seen around the 2:11 and 5:47 marks depict her without any post-processing effects like lighting, facial animation, and virtual camera lenses. He attributed any perceived differences to these “cinematic touches,” dismissing speculation that the developer altered her face in response to fanconcerns aboutThe Witcher 4’s rendition of Ciri.
Ciri’s The Witcher 4 Model Will Likely Look Different in the Final Game
“This variation is a natural part of the game development process,” Kalemba said, while adding that characters' appearances inherently vary based on medium. CDPR’s track record supports this, as the cinematic reveal trailers for the first threeThe Witchertitles each depicted a slightly different-looking Geralt compared to his in-game models. Ciri could hence also look different in the final game compared to her appearance in the firstThe Witcher 4trailer.
This variation is a natural part of the game development process.
The much-anticipated RPG entered full-scale development in November 2024, following around two and a half years of pre-production work. The game hence isn’t expected to hit the market before 2027.CDPR recast the role of Ciri forThe Witcher 4, with Ciara Berkeley replacing Jo Wyatt.
