Romance has long been a cornerstone of CD Projekt Red’s storytelling, and The Witcher 4 will be no exception. Romance in video games serves as more than just a narrative flourish. When done well, it deepens character development, enhances immersion, and provides players with a greater sense of agency. For The Witcher 4, romance options will not exist merely as superficial diversions.
In a recent interview with GameSpot, Sebastian Kalemba, game director, and Małgorzata Mitręga, executive producer, emphasized the significance of romance in their upcoming title, confirming it as an integral part of the player experience. “It’s a part of the way we make games,” Kalemba said. “It is a part of human nature. Without that, I think we wouldn’t be able to tell the very full story.”
Mitręga echoed this sentiment, calling romance “an important part of life.” Both developers underscored their commitment to creating relationships that are compelling, meaningful, and woven naturally into the broader narrative.Gamespot shared the interview on X which covered other topics such as GWENT as well.
Elevating Storytelling Through Romance
CD Projekt Red Romances Are 'Super Compelling' and 'Very Meaningful'
CD Projekt Red
Kalemba assured fans that these relationships would align with the studio’s philosophy of crafting emotionally resonant and thoughtfully designed storylines.“We want to pay a lot of attention to it and make it super compelling and very meaningful,” Kalemba said. “It’s not just to make a romance for the sake of making a romance. That’s not the CDPR way.” This approach has been a hallmark of the Witcher franchise. The previous trilogy allowed players, such as Geralt of Rivia, to pursue romantic arcs with characters like Yennefer and Triss, with these choices carrying significant consequences for the story’s progression. With The Witcher 4 introducing Ciri as the protagonist, romance will likely serve as a tool to further explore her growth and individuality.
The few bits of story revealed in The Witcher 4’s trailer provide some insight into which is the canon ending of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
Ciri’s journey as the lead character opens up fresh opportunities for storytelling, and her approach to relationships is expected to differ from Geralt’s. While Geralt was defined by his experiences as a veteran monster slayer, Ciri’s narrative centers on her quest to define herself as the first Witcher by choice. As Mitręga explained, this perspective offers room to “help her to make choices,” both in her professional life as a monster slayer and in her personal relationships. This emphasis on choice aligns with CD Projekt Red’s broader design philosophy. The developers aim to create narratives that challenge players to make decisions with visible, impactful consequences. By intertwining romance with the main story and side quests, The Witcher 4 will ensure that these relationships feel essential rather than ancillary.
Our Take: Romance’s Role in The Witcher 4 Gameplay and Replayability
Romance Options Add A Layer Of Narrative Depth And Offer Different Experiences Each Playthrough
The inclusion of romance also enhances replayability, a key feature of CD Projekt Red’s games. By offering diverse romantic paths and intertwining them with the game’s choices-and-consequences system, players can experience different outcomes and storylines on subsequent playthroughs. “We want to make them meaningful, and we want to make sure that the consequences are visible,” Kalemba said. “So you [feel as though] you had an impact either on an NPC or the world in general.”
CD Projekt Red’s commitment to storytelling has earned the studio a reputation for delivering some of gaming’s most memorable romances. By focusing on meaningful, well-integrated relationships in The Witcher 4, the developers aim to continue this tradition while offering players a fresh perspective through Ciri’s eyes. As Kalemba noted, romance is a “very normal thing” and a natural extension of the human experience. With The Witcher 4’s focus on choice, growth, and meaningful consequences, romance options will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping the narrative and deepening the player’s journey through this new chapter of the Witcher saga.
By Katarina Cimbaljevic
CD Projekt Red
English (US) ·