The Witcher 4 continues The Witcher 3’s policy of not having fetch quests. Read on to learn more about how the sequel will apply The Witcher 3’s successful formula, and expectations for the storytelling of their quests.
The Witcher 4 Will Not Have Fetch Quests
Continuing The Witcher 3 Formula
The Witcher 4 will continue The Witcher 3’s formula, as studio CD Projekt Red’s (CDPR) vision "to let people care about what they're doing" is still prevalent. In an interview with GamesRadar+ on June 27, The Witcher 4 Narrative Director Philipp Weber recalled his time as The Witcher 3’s Quest Designer and how his experience translates to the upcoming title of the series.
He said that he wanted to make every member determined to make the best game possible, and to "truly care about the art we’re making." Weber admitted that as the game’s Narrative Director, it falls on his shoulders to make sure that their vision is executed well, but he wanted to give members as much freedom as possible.
"I think as a quest designer, from my leads and directors I had on The Witcher 3, that was an amazing balance. I knew what they wanted, but at the same time I still got to be creative and feel ownership. This is something I really like to keep around," he explained.
Keeping the Storytelling in a High Bar without Fetch Quests
CDPR remained adamant about not having fetch quests for The Witcher 4, as this was also part of why The Witcher 3 was successful. Weber emphasized that a quest must be something interesting and valuable to people’s time.
He noted, "I have to feel, as a player, that if I played that quest, my time was well spent and not just spent. I was busy doing stuff, and didn't think about work or taxes. I experienced a story, or something else that was worth it. That basic rule is still there 100%."
This was in part due to the lessons the developers have learned from working on The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077. Weber said that great importance was focused on keeping the game follow the "basic rules" of storytelling, while "trusting your gut." He stated, "Sometimes we have new things – you know, new features – but the core stuff? It's the same philosophy."
CDPR has always been keen on creating controversial or heavy-themed quests that push players’ boundaries, and it looks like the sequel will retain this structure. In a previous interview with GamesRadar+ on June 13, Weber mentioned that the designers have made so many ideas for quests and highlighted their variety. Moreover, the developers confidently said that they will continue depicting hard-hitting scenarios and keeping players on their toes.
The Tech Demo is Not The Actual Game
Although CDPR has yet to reveal what kinds of quests players will experience in the game, the studio’s Unreal Engine 5 tech demo did give fans a glimpse of how the game will look. However, the developers have repeatedly said the footage shown was just a technical presentation and does not represent the final game.
During an interview with GamesRadar+ on June 30, Engineering Production Manager Jan Hermanowicz clarified that the UE5 tech demo "is a technological demo and not an actual game, or gameplay." He said that the assets shown were made by CDPR, but changes can still be made as the game is still in early development.
The studio constantly reminds fans that the tech demo isn’t indicative of the final product as they "took a lot of lessons from the Cyberpunk launch." Hermanowicz elaborated, "We're not calling this gameplay, we're not pretending that this is the actual game. It is a technological demo."
Regardless, fans still have high expectations based on CDPR’s tech demo, especially since the studio said that the game will run at 60fps on the PS5. Unfortunately, CDPR previously stated that Xbox’s entry level console, the Xbox Series S, will find it extremely difficult to reach this frame rate.
The Witcher 4 is set to be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. There have been no announcements regarding a specific release date. To stay up to date with the latest information about the game, check out our article below!
Source:
The Witcher 4 is learning lessons from CDPR's past: no fetch quests, an eye on Cyberpunk 2077's fan-favorite characters, and devs who "care about the art we're making"
"Everyone in the industry said it's not possible" – The Witcher 3 at 10: diving into the legendary RPG's creation, legacy, and secret sauce that makes CDPR's quests so special
