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

The director of *The Witcher 4*, Sebastian Kalemba, has clarified that a recently released behind-the-scenes video features the same in-game model of Ciri as seen in the original cinematic reveal trailer. This statement comes after some fans speculated that Ciri's appearance had been altered due to perceived differences in her facial features in two brief clips from the new video, at the 2:11 and 5:47 marks.

These clips, which show close-ups of Ciri's face as the camera rotates around her, sparked a flurry of comments on social media. Many fans expressed positive reactions, with one user describing the 5:47 mark shot as the "perfect representation of a slightly older Ciri," adding, "I'm well happy! She looks fantastic!"

Initial speculation suggested that CD Projekt might have changed Ciri’s appearance in response to criticism that she looked "ugly" in the reveal trailer. However, Kalemba debunked these rumors on social media, explaining that the new footage is raw and represents a work-in-progress snapshot without the final cinematic touches, such as facial animations, lighting, and virtual camera lenses.

"The behind-the-scenes video features the same in-game model of Ciri as seen in the original trailer," Kalemba stated. "We have not modified it. What you’re seeing is raw footage — without facial animation, lighting, or virtual camera lenses. While it’s still in-engine, it represents a work-in-progress snapshot taken before we applied cinematic touches for the purpose of that video."

He further explained that variations in appearance are a natural part of the game development process, and any character's look may vary depending on the medium, whether it's a trailer, a 3D model, or in-game.

*The Witcher 4* is the first installment in a new trilogy set after the events of *The Witcher 3*, with Ciri taking center stage as the main character instead of Geralt. In an exclusive interview with IGN, executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga emphasized that Ciri was the "very organic, logical choice" for the protagonist, citing her layered character and the natural progression from the books.

Kalemba added that Ciri's younger age compared to Geralt allows players more freedom to define her character, giving developers more space to explore her story. Both Mitręga and Kalemba acknowledged potential backlash from some quarters regarding Ciri's role but insisted that she was always intended to be the main character.

Kalemba emphasized that the decision to focus on Ciri was deliberate and not a random choice. "It was far from roulette. It wasn't random," he said, pointing out that discussions about Ciri taking the lead began nine years ago. He believes that Ciri's story offers numerous challenges and opportunities, making her the perfect choice to lead the new 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 his excitement about the shift to Ciri as the protagonist, citing the books as a compelling reason for this narrative move.

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