Two months after the Cinematic trailer release for The Witcher 4, we get a behind scenes video that details how it was made.
The trailer begins with a statement emphasizing Ciri’s importance as the main character. Anyone who played The Witcher 3 knew this was the natural direction of the story but that doesn’t take away the importance of how it should be presented.
Mioni, the girl who is about to be sacrificed, and Ciri are two sides of the same coin. Mioni has accepted the fate imposed by her village while Ciri has always rejected what others chose for her.
It’s important to point out that often Witcher trailers aren’t made just to look cool and create hype, they are actually tied to an in-game story so there’s a high chance that it’s the same for this one.
The entire aesthetic of the place is what you’d expect from a Witcher game. It is based on what they call “Slavic style”. From the physical features of the characters, the color palette, clothes, and even the same trees that live in that part of Europe.
One of the best things about CD Projekt Red is that they’re very invested in creating the most accurate version of the Witcher universe using Sapkowki’s books as a true inspiration and not just a base draft.
This behind-the-scenes video gives a lot of insight into all the work it took to make the announcement trailer. Going to a physical location, renting movie gear, taking shots with different lenses with different types of natural light, and filming the action scene over two weeks. It’s amazing to see all the equipment, people, time, and logistics involved in creating a 6:02-minute trailer.
My favorite part was definitely seeing how they gave life to the Bauk. This monster is new to the Witcher series. It comes from Serbian mythology.
Having four people to operate its different limbs must require and immense amount of work. Not only physically but to visualize the creature and make it look effortless.
The trailer ends with the Narrative Director, Philipp Weber, reminding us that The Witcher is all about tough choices.
The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 are known for making the player decide between some very hard choices with outcomes that are rarely happy for anyone involved but sometimes that’s how life is.
I can already see myself considering something in The Witcher 4 for over ten minutes just to regret it two minutes later. That’s what makes The Witcher so fun, immersive, and relatable. You might do something thinking that’s the right thing, but the outcome can be heartbreaking.
When the trailer was first revealed, Geralt’s voice actor retracted about his presence in the game excusing himself by saying he was only following a rumor.
I’m almost certain that he did so to maintain the surprise but at this point, I don’t think anyone expects Geralt to be absent from the game.
Many people on YouTube and Reddit are continuously joking about the main quest being trying to find Geralt on different sides of the continent or even hoping he’s the final Gwent boss.
As happy as I am to see Ciri be the protagonist, it’s undeniable that Geralt must appear in the game, even if it’s brief.
It’s unclear how long we’ll have to wait before playing The Witcher 4, it could be two, five, or even more years. Regardless of how long it takes, I really hope we get something that is a worthy successor of The Witcher 3.
I think this behind-the-scenes video really shows how much they want it to be good and the effort they’re putting into it.
The Witcher 3 is without a doubt one of the best games to ever exist, having to top that is a monumental task but I’m certain that the passionate folks at CD Projekt Red are up for the challenge.
In a world where big studios are led by guys in suits who care more about profits than gameplay, it’s very refreshing to see the people behind The Witcher 4 working so passionately. We at VULKK.com have covered The Witcher 3 extensively, just thinking about the next game makes us incredibly excited.
