When you think of The Witcher 3, what comes to mind? A drunken Geralt crashing a witcher frat party? The haunting sorrow of the Bloody Baron questline? Or maybe the hundred hours you swore you’d stop playing but didn’t? Whatever your flavor, there’s one thing all fans agree on: CD Projekt Red nailed the narrative.
Now, with The Witcher 4 brewing in the cauldron, CDPR’s narrative director Philipp Weber is giving us a rare peek behind the dev curtain. Spoiler: it’s messy, chaotic, and exactly what made Witcher 3 so damn good.
🎧 “Do It Fast, Do It Dirty”: The Studio’s Battle Cry
Weber recently opened up about CDPR’s approach during the Witcher 3 era:
“Do it immediately, do it fast, do it dirty.”
Not exactly what you’d expect from a studio that delivered one of the most critically acclaimed RPGs of all time. But hey, sometimes perfection is born in a hurricane of Google Docs and all-nighters. Weber described the early process as a “Frankenstein’s monster” of narrative pieces that gradually evolved into something cohesive—and brilliant.
That breakneck, rough-and-ready method is making a return for The Witcher 4. Think of it like a punk rock band going back to garage recordings: raw, real, and dangerously close to genius.
🤖 No Fetch Quests, Period.
Weber isn’t just waxing nostalgic. He’s dead set on carrying over the philosophies that made Witcher 3 feel so alive. Chief among them? No fetch quests.
“We don’t do fetch quests,” Weber insisted. “Every quest should feel like a story worth telling.”
That means every side mission, every optional detour, is treated with the same care as the main storyline. Expect quests that grow into full-blown epics or gut-punch moral dilemmas. No more “bring me 10 wolf pelts” nonsense. Geralt (or whoever the next lead is) deserves better.
💔 Darkness Meets Heart
If you thought The Witcher 3 was just a parade of doom and gloom, think again. Sure, it dealt with plague, war, and familial trauma, but it also gave us moments of heart and humor. That balance is intentional.
Weber emphasized that Witcher 4 will continue this tightrope walk—weaving hope, humanity, and levity into its grimdark world. Expect storytelling that doesn’t just hurt, but heals too.
“It’s not about being dark for darkness’ sake,” Weber said. “We want players to feel something real.”
🛠️ Innovation Without Reinvention (or Regression)
While CDPR wants to keep that old school scrappy magic, they know they can’t just copy-paste Witcher 3. Witcher 4 is being built with an eye toward evolution, not just nostalgia. Weber confirmed the team is looking to keep what works while experimenting with new storytelling formats, systems, and even tone.
“The worst thing we could do is repeat ourselves,” he admitted.
That’s good news for anyone worried the next installment might just be a shinier retread. CDPR is chasing something fresher—but still recognizably Witcher.
⏱ Production Status: All In
As of late 2024, The Witcher 4 officially entered full production. That means the brainstorming phase is over, and it’s heads-down, crunch-time mode (hopefully without the notorious burnout).
And yes, Weber confirmed they’re pouring that same “chaotic brilliance” into the sequel—because the team believes that’s where the best ideas live.
🌈 Final Thoughts: The Witcher Rides Again
So what does this all mean for you, brave gamer? Here’s the TL;DR:
- Expect quests that matter. No filler, all killer.
- Narrative themes will stay deep, human, and occasionally funny.
- The devs are working fast, messy, and from the heart.
- The Witcher 4 won’t be a lazy sequel. It’s a full-blown evolution.
In short, CDPR is doubling down on the narrative principles that made The Witcher 3 a GOAT contender—while adding new tricks to keep the formula fresh.
Weber and crew are basically saying: trust the chaos. It worked before, and if they can harness it again, we might be in for another legendary ride.
