Previously teased, CD Projekt RED confirmed today that Ciri, the ashen-haired girl from an ancient prophecy, will join Geralt as a playable character in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
The developers described Ciri:
A descendant in a long-lost Elven-blood lineage, Ciri plays an important role in the Witcher lore – a powerful, living weapon capable of both healing and destroying the world she inhabits.
As Ciri is pursued by the Wild Hunt, a cavalcade of ghastly riders capable of unspeakable destruction, as well as the mighty Empire of Nilfgaard, it’s down to Geralt to explore The Witcher 3’s vast, open world to find her before anyone else does.
Calling the introduction of another playable character something that will “greatly benefit the overall experience,” Ciri’s story unlocks new narrative possibilities. However, while Ciri is a major character, “she is not a playable character in the same way as Geralt – the game is still about him, his story and how you, as the player, choose to face the choices, and encounters in front of you.”
CD Projekt RED’s Robert Malinowski talked with IGN about when you’ll play as Ciri:
Ciri is playable only during certain moments in the game – we introduce her to give gamers another perspective in the story to make it even more engaging. You won’t play as her for long periods of time, but since she’s crucial to the plot, we thought that additional insight will allow gamers to better bond with this cool character.
Fast and agile, Ciri excels at swordfighting, while also possessing unique skills that gradually unlock as you progress. There’s also “something dormant in her, a mythical power, but we’ll say more about that in the future.”
After a recent delay, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is now set to release on May 19, 2015 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
