The Witcher 4 is being lead by Gwent's game director

News
By published

Jason Slama has already responded to speculation surrounding crunch

CD Projekt Red announce new Witcher game with snow surrounding a cat emblem
(Image credit: CD Projekt Red)

The Witcher 4 is being headed up by the game director of Gwent.

Yesterday on March 21, shortly after CD Projekt Red announced that a brand new Witcher game was in development, developer Jason Slama posted the tweet just below. The Gwent game director confirms that he'll be taking up the same role throughout development of the new Witcher game, heading up the brand new venture at CD Projekt Red.

Additionally, Slama responded to someone reflecting on past reports of mandatory crunch at CD Projekt Red. "Never on my watch!" was the response Slama gave to the person speculating that there'd be crunch involved with the development of The Witcher 4, which it's fair to say is quite the bold statement from the former Gwent game director.

Nonetheless, we know precious little about this new Witcher game right now, and we don't even know if it'll actually be called "The Witcher 4." CDPR announced the new game as the start of a "new saga," seemingly reaffirming that longstanding protagonist Geralt wouldn't be returning for the new adventure (which the developer previously confirmed before The Witcher 3 even launched back in 2015).

Elsewhere, CDPR revealed that the new Witcher game wouldn't be using the REDengine, last seen in action on Cyberpunk 2077 in 2020, but would instead transfer to the outsourced Unreal Engine 5. Despite the engine belonging to Epic Games, CDPR stated that this wouldn't mean the upcoming game would have any kind of exclusivity for the Epic Games Store.

Here's why we think Ciri should be the star of The Witcher 4, a perfect reset for the RPG franchise. 

See more Xbox Series X News
Hirun Cryer
Hirun Cryer

Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.

Read more
The Witcher 4 screenshot showing the stunning Unreal Engine 5 fidelity
How did Ciri end up the star of The Witcher 4? CD Projekt head says, "well, there's the story of The Witcher 4 to tell that tale"
The Witcher 4 cinematic screenshot showing a closeup of Ciri, protagonist of the new adventure
There are "many very valid worries and responses" to Ciri taking the lead in The Witcher 4, but CDPR says "we're not suddenly making up stuff just because we want to"
The Witcher 4
CD Projekt Red says Ciri is "faster, more agile" in The Witcher 4, but she won't be OP like she is at the end of The Witcher 3: "Something totally happened in between"
The Witcher 4 screenshot showing a huge towering beast
The Witcher 4 director on lessons learned from the "struggles" of Cyberpunk 2077's release: "It's a continuation of the evolution, improvement, and transformation"
The Witcher 4
The Witcher 4 represents the story that CD Projekt Red wants to "tell the world," so no, the RPG wasn't influenced by the Netflix series
The Witcher 4 screenshot showing Ciri getting ready for action in a dank cave
The Witcher 4: Everything we know so far
Latest in The Witcher
The Witcher 3 lead says "not many games" were trying to match the RPG back in 2015, and that meant "there was a risk" to making it in the first place
The Witcher 4 screenshot with Ciri using sword and sorcery to fight an ancient monster
The Witcher 4 devs explain how Ciri's fighting style will differ from Geralt's: "He's nimble, but he feels like a block...she's liquid"
A screenshot from The Witcher 1, showing Geralt slashing at a hairy beast
Netflix's The Witcher casts its first game-exclusive character with a Witcher 1 deep-cut who Geralt first took care of in the 2007 RPG
The Witcher 3 Geralt
The Witcher series' new book offers a blast to Geralt's teenage past dubbed Crossroads of Ravens, and it'll be out in English this fall
The Witcher 4 screenshot showing the stunning Unreal Engine 5 fidelity
The Witcher 4 director refutes claims that Ciri's appearance has changed since the reveal trailer: "We have not modified it"
The Witcher 4
The Witcher 4 devs hint at Ciri's morality and those delicious RPG story branches: "The situation that may happen after the trailer is over is such a tough choice"
Latest in News
Vampire Survivors
Vampire Survivors devs launch official wiki "free of ads, banners, and all of the junk that gets in your way," joining Stardew Valley and Terraria in community wikis with minimal intrusions
WalkScape
"Staying MTX and advertisement free is absolutely key": Almost 20 years later, RuneScape fan turns his MMO love into an old-school RPG where fitness is the grind
Death Stranding 2 Collector's Edition Magellan Man
Hideo Kojima says Death Stranding 2's Collector's Edition 15-inch Magellan Man is part of his studio's "spirit and soul," so the crew went to China to make sure it's good enough
Cabin Crew Life Simulator
"Success beyond expectations, earning over $100,000": This weird job sim made in a year would be torture for me, but it's changed its developer's life after "bitter failure"
The Toxic Avenger
Here's your first look at Peter Dinklage as the Toxic Avenger in ultra-violent, unrated, and long-delayed superhero movie remake
Ori director says Microsoft thought the beloved Metroidvania was too hard, but he's "on the Miyazaki side" and believes "you have to overcome challenge"
More about the witcher

The Witcher 3 lead says "not many games" were trying to match the RPG back in 2015, and that meant "there was a risk" to making it in the first place
The Witcher 4 screenshot with Ciri using sword and sorcery to fight an ancient monster

The Witcher 4 devs explain how Ciri's fighting style will differ from Geralt's: "He's nimble, but he feels like a block...she's liquid"
Vampire Survivors

Vampire Survivors devs launch official wiki "free of ads, banners, and all of the junk that gets in your way," joining Stardew Valley and Terraria in community wikis with minimal intrusions
See more latest
Most Popular
Vampire Survivors
Vampire Survivors devs launch official wiki "free of ads, banners, and all of the junk that gets in your way," joining Stardew Valley and Terraria in community wikis with minimal intrusions
WalkScape
"Staying MTX and advertisement free is absolutely key": Almost 20 years later, RuneScape fan turns his MMO love into an old-school RPG where fitness is the grind
Death Stranding 2 Collector's Edition Magellan Man
Hideo Kojima says Death Stranding 2's Collector's Edition 15-inch Magellan Man is part of his studio's "spirit and soul," so the crew went to China to make sure it's good enough
The Toxic Avenger
Here's your first look at Peter Dinklage as the Toxic Avenger in ultra-violent, unrated, and long-delayed superhero movie remake
Cabin Crew Life Simulator
"Success beyond expectations, earning over $100,000": This weird job sim made in a year would be torture for me, but it's changed its developer's life after "bitter failure"
Sonic and the Flash racing over water
We'll finally learn if Sonic is faster than the Flash as Sega's famous hedgehog and pals team up with the Justice League in a new mash-up comic
Ori director says Microsoft thought the beloved Metroidvania was too hard, but he's "on the Miyazaki side" and believes "you have to overcome challenge"
The Life of Chuck
The first trailer for Mike Flanagan's Stephen King movie gives us a cryptic glimpse at the end of the world, and I'm already crying
Millie Bobby Brown in The Electric State
6 new movies and shows to watch this weekend on Netflix, Prime, Disney Plus, and more (March 14 - 16)
Jenna Ortega as Astrid Deetz in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice 2 star Jenna Ortega would love to star in another classic horror comedy franchise: Gremlins