The developers of the role-playing game The Witcher 4 have caused a stir with a “Behind the Scenes” video. Especially the changed model of Ciri received a lot of praise – but the creators are completely unaware of this.
What’s going on? When players were first able to get a glimpse of the upcoming role-playing game The Witcher 4 in December 2024 the excitement was huge. The reveal trailer has already been viewed almost 10 million times on YouTube.
In the fourth installment of the series, the protagonist is no longer Geralt, but his adopted daughter Ciri, who appears more grown-up and marked by life. Aside from some lore concerns, to which the developers quickly responded, fans were able to accept this change well.
However, some players complained that Ciri was not attractive enough, especially in comparison to her old model. Some felt Ciri looked too old, while others claimed her facial structure was too masculine. You can make up your own mind in the trailer:
It’s all just a matter of light
This is new: On February 26, 2025, a 10-minute “Behind the Scenes” video was released on the official YouTube account for The Witcher, where the developers provide insights into the production of the trailer.
The video received a lot of praise from fans. Some highlight one detail in particular: the supposedly changed appearance of Ciri. Countless videos and posts discuss the “new” face of the witcher.
In a video with nearly 30,000 views, a YouTuber claims that Ciri has been significantly redone. The new version looks “absolutely stunning” (via YouTube). A post titled “New face version of Ciri for The Witcher” has garnered over 6,500 upvotes on Reddit. One user comments: Now she looks like Ciri.
Some even believed that the developers had given in to the “pressure” from gamers and made Ciri more attractive.
The praise seems to have come as a surprise to the developers, as they say they haven’t changed anything.
This is the official statement: Sebastian Kalemba, the Game Director of The Witcher 4, clarified. On February 27, 2025, he stated on X:
The “Behind the Scenes” video shows the same in-game model of Ciri that was also seen in the original trailer. We have not edited it. What you’re seeing is raw footage – without facial animations, lighting, or virtual camera lenses.
Kalemba further explains that the new footage shows the model without the “cinematic touches” that were used in the final trailer. The discrepancies are a natural part of development – at this point, the appearance of characters can vary depending on the medium. This should not be the case for in-game cinematics anymore.
It’s probably thanks to these cinematic effects that the trailer almost feels like a short film. The creators paid attention to every detail. You can read more about it here on MeinMMO: “There are always consequences” – The sacrificed woman in the new Witcher trailer means so much more than you think
