Witcher 4 Star Defends Ciri's Lead Role

Doug Cockle, the iconic voice behind Geralt, has responded to critiques about The Witcher 4 centering on Ciri—urging self-proclaimed fans of the series to "actually read the books."

"The backlash makes no sense," Cockle remarked regarding the uproar over CD Projekt's upcoming Witcher RPG, which introduces Ciri as the lead protagonist for the first time.

"This isn’t about being woke," Cockle clarified in a Fall Damage interview. "There’s no agenda here. Ciri is a compelling character from The Witcher universe, and giving her the spotlight is exciting."

Cockle has voiced Geralt across CD Projekt’s Witcher series and will reprise the role in The Witcher 4—though not as the central character.

Despite Geralt retaining some presence in the next installment, last year’s confirmation of Ciri headlining the upcoming game (and likely the entire new trilogy) drew misguided accusations of the series "going woke" from a vocal minority.

"We can’t keep recycling Geralt indefinitely," Cockle explained, advocating for his character’s deserved break. "His journey concluded perfectly with Blood and Wine—it’s time to explore new narratives."

"I fully support Ciri stepping into the protagonist role. To those calling this woke? [Derisive noise]."

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Cockle emphasized that Ciri’s prominence in The Witcher 4 ties directly to Andrzej Sapkowski’s original novel series.

"Book readers understand CD Projekt’s direction," he noted. "Ciri’s arc offers untapped potential—elements briefly teased in Witcher 3 when Geralt’s story took precedence."

"If you’re crying 'woke,' read the books—they’re excellent. You’ll quickly realize this isn’t about pandering."

While CD Projekt’s games unfold after Sapkowski’s novels, the author has historically separated his definitive ending from the games’ continuation of Geralt’s saga.

Without spoiling potential Witcher 4 storylines, Sapkowski—like CD Projekt—clearly envisioned Ciri as a pivotal figure ready to carry the narrative when Geralt steps back.

IGN previously explored Geralt’s return in The Witcher 4 with CD Projekt’s lore experts Cian Maher and Marcin Batylda, who detailed how the established timeline remains consistent.