Is it Witcher 4 or Woke Witcher 4?

Here we are. Yet again.

We have a sequel to The Witcher 3, with Ciri as the protagonist. 

While a new series with Ciri seems straightforward, there's a concerning undercurrent unrelated to typical "woke" criticisms. The issue isn't Ciri's gender; it's the trailer's messaging.

The trailer employs a tactic similar to Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon, where Leonardo DiCaprio's "do you see any wolves in this picture?" is juxtaposed with images of men resembling the average townspeople—and, coincidentally, the core Witcher 3 player demographic. Both trailers imply that the viewer (the "average guy") is complicit in wrongdoing, positioning the creators and a vengeful Ciri as the punishers.

Noticeably, Ciri's anger isn't directed at women, children, or even the grieving old man; it's focused on you—the demographic that fueled The Witcher 3's massive success. This recalls the reception of The Last of Us Part II. While a critical success exploring complex characters in a bleak world, some studios mistakenly interpreted its popularity as solely due to its "progressive" themes. This misinterpretation, potentially amplified by funding from "progressive" groups, seems to be influencing current game development. Given the long development cycles, we're now seeing the results of these 2020-era ideas. Neil Druckmann's new game, Intergalactic, features a protagonist whose demeanor in the trailer seems designed to provoke.

Therefore, this isn't simply "Woke Witcher 4." It's a product of misguided thinking from a turbulent period. While a vengeful Ciri isn't inherently problematic, the execution is alienating. Large-scale game development is a significant investment of time and resources. Why not create a new IP instead of alienating the existing fanbase?

Building a 20-year brand around a charismatic, monster-slaying protagonist only to turn around and scold the audience is counterproductive. It's akin to Drew Barrymore discouraging women from buying her own products. A more fitting title might be "Idiot Retailer: Layoffs Imminent."