Summary
In 2015, CD Projekt Red releasedThe Witcher 3: Wild Huntwhich quickly became one of the best video games of its console generation. It became the developer’s best-selling game and served as a great example of what a fantasy video game could be. Of course, many became curious about what CDPR would do with Geralt of Rivia after the events ofThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
In 2020, it was revealed that some kind ofWitcherproject would be put into developmentafter CD Projekt Red wrapped up work onCyberpunk 2077. Since then, fans have received a few development details and one teaser, but its exact contents remain uncertain. Developers have been adamant it’s not “The Witcher 4,” though, and it seems to be moving beyond Geralt’s story. After the events ofThe Witcher 3, it’s clear that Geralt of Rivia has earned a rightful retirement.
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A Fitting Conclusion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3was a game that felt very much like the end of a story. The principal plot revolved around Geralt trying to find his adoptive daughter, Ciri, as various forces attempt to gain control of her. This includes her biological father and The Wild Hunt, with the titular protagonist just trying to do what is right for her. The endings, however, don’t really leave all that much room for a sequel and the developer has said thatThe Witcher 3was the end of the storyif not the franchise.
The Witcher 3has several different endingsbased on the player’s actions with four key endings revolving around Geralt. Depending on the actions taken throughout the game, the protagonist can retire with one of his sorceress love interests or remain on the road as a monster hunter. If Ciri does not survive the events of the game, he is ambushed by monsters and his fate is left ambiguous, but players are led to leave this bad ending sees him give up mid-fight. Some of the endings feel like a happy ending for Geralt with a definitive conclusion while others are less so but all leave the door open for a potential sequel. That door, however, seemed to have been closed with the DLC.
How the Blood and Wind DLC Further Closes the Door on Geralt
A year after the release ofThe Witcher 3, CD Projekt Red released theBlood and WineDLC which served as a kind of epilogue story to the main game. In it, Geralt accepts a contract to kill a vampire in a region known as Toussaint, and part of his payment for it is his own estate. The story ultimately ends in the death of the vampire in question, with player actions intheBlood and WineDLC resulting in different endingsfor the region itself. However, regardless of what happens, it does give Geralt a somewhat conclusive ending.
Thefinal moments of theBlood and WineDLCshow Geralt relaxing on his new estate talking to his vampire friend Regis about how it’s time for a rest after being a part of several great events over the years. The character agrees and smiles directly at the camera before the credits roll, indicating that the story is over and that it’s time for the character to enjoy a life of peace. As if to drive the point further home, Geralt will be joined by either Yennifer or Triss if the player romances them, or is visited by Dandelion or Ciri. All of these narrative bits go out of their way to give the character a happy ending, and it might be for the best that the developer allows the character to have a bit of peace. Geralt has earned it, after all.
As of this writing, virtually nothing is known aboutThe Witcher 4or the direction it will take. Full development on the new game will likely begin in earnest once work onCyberpunk 2077: Phantom LibertyDLC wraps up, though gamers may not hear much for a while. But, for the time being,The Witcher 3: Wild Huntreally seems to show that it is time for Geralt to have a break.
