The Witcher 3 Confirms Its Second Playable Character, Receives New Screens

Delays are always a pain for gamers, and The Witcher 3‘s recent bump to May 19th of next year makes the wait for CD Projekt RED’s sprawling RPG epic feel a lot longer than we’d all like it to. Still, it’s tough not to admire a team willing to take any measures necessary to complete its work properly, and there are perks we’ll experience along the way that should make waiting less painful. New screenshots among them.

The latest shots look excellent, and demonstrate detail not often found in games large enough to be considered “open world.”  The shots include panoramas, character closeups, and even well-framed stills of game-world structures and scenery. There’s plenty to give you a better idea of what The Witcher 3‘s world will be like.

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In other Witcher 3 news, CD Projekt RED revealed earlier today that there will be a second playable character in the game — Ciri, the “ashen-haired girl from ancient prophecy.”

Though switching between her and main character Geralt at will won’t be possible, there will be numerous plot instances where playing as Ciri is required to progress. The connection between Ciri and Geralt is an important one, as both are pursued by (and presumably fleeing) the Wild Hunt, a band of ghostly riders who represent misfortune and death.

CDPR’s Robert Malinowski had the following to say about Ciri as she pertains to the game’s narrative.

She’s a living weapon… and everyone wants to control her. This, plus she also has her own will and agenda, so it’s not just finding her that counts. I think that is the most important aspect of this character. Geralt knows Ciri since she was a child. She’s Geralt’s apprentice and they have a close emotional bond – he trained her so she could become a witcheress.

Ah, the plot thickens! The Witcher 3 is set to arrive on PS4, Xbox One, and PC on May 19th, so keep your eyes peeled for new info until then.