A Witcher 4 Genesis: How a Witcher 3 Side Quest Shaped the Next Chapter

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 Witcher 4's reveal, a special quest, "In the Eternal Fire's Shadow," was introduced. This wasn't just a random addition; it served as a crucial onboarding experience for new team members joining the Witcher 4 development.

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" quest, released in late 2022, served a dual purpose: promoting the game's next-gen update and providing in-game justification for the armor worn by Henry Cavill in the Netflix series.

Philipp Webber, quest designer for Witcher 3 and 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," aligning perfectly with the March 2022 announcement of 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 Witcher 4's potential skill tree, possibly mirroring the structure of Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty expansion. The "In the Eternal Fire's Shadow" quest, therefore, wasn't just a game update; it was a vital stepping stone in the creation of the next Witcher saga.