A Witcher 4 Genesis: How a Witcher 3 Side Quest Shaped the New Game

The development of The Witcher 4, featuring Ciri in the lead role for a new trilogy, began surprisingly with a seemingly minor addition to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Two years prior to the game's reveal, a special quest, "In the Eternal Fire's Shadow," served as a crucial onboarding experience for new members of the Witcher 4 development team.

Initially released in May 2015, The Witcher 3 already featured Ciri as a playable character in certain segments. However, the December 2024 Game Awards trailer confirmed her starring role in the upcoming sequel. The "In the Eternal Fire's Shadow" side quest, added in late 2022, served a dual purpose: promoting the game's next-gen update and providing in-universe justification for the armor worn by Henry Cavill in the Netflix series.

Philipp Webber, former quest designer for The Witcher 3 and now narrative director for Witcher 4, revealed on social media that this quest acted as an initiation for new team members. He described it as "the perfect start to getting back into the vibe," perfectly aligning with the March 2022 announcement of The Witcher 4. While pre-announcement planning undoubtedly existed, Webber's statement illuminates the practical steps taken to integrate new talent.

While Webber didn't name specific individuals, it's plausible that some team members transitioned from the Cyberpunk 2077 team, given its 2020 release. This timeline also fuels speculation about potential similarities between The Witcher 4's skill tree and that of Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty expansion. The side quest, therefore, served not only as a narrative bridge but also as a practical training ground for the next chapter in the Witcher saga.