Doug Cockle, the iconic voice behind Geralt of Rivia in *The Witcher* series, has publicly responded to backlash surrounding *The Witcher 4*, which will shift focus to Ciri as the main protagonist. Addressing criticism that the move is an example of "woke" storytelling, Cockle dismissed such claims as baseless and encouraged detractors to deepen their understanding of the franchise's source material.
"That's just stupid," Cockle stated plainly during a recent interview with Fall Damage. His tone was firm as he rejected the idea that featuring Ciri at the forefront signals any kind of politically motivated change. "It's not woke. There's nothing woke about it. She’s a cool character from The Witcher, and they're going to focus on that character—and that's awesome."
Geralt Steps Back, Ciri Steps Forward
Cockle, who has voiced Geralt since the inception of CD Projekt’s game series, confirmed he will return for *The Witcher 4*. However, this time around, Geralt won’t be the central figure. Instead, the spotlight will shine on Ciri—his adoptive daughter and a fan-favorite character known for her depth and complexity.
The announcement last year that Ciri would lead the next installment—and presumably the entire new trilogy—was met with resistance from a vocal minority online, many of whom claimed the decision was driven by modern trends rather than narrative merit. Cockle, however, sees it differently.
"We can't just have Geralt for every single game for The Witcher ad nauseam, out through eternity," he explained. "We've seen the end of Geralt's journey. Blood and Wine was supposed to wrap up that journey. I celebrate Ciri. I celebrate her being the protagonist. So all you people who think it's woke... [blows raspberry]."
Rooted in Sapkowski’s Vision
Far from being a forced creative pivot, Cockle emphasized that Ciri’s ascension is deeply rooted in Andrzej Sapkowski’s original novels—the foundation of the *Witcher* universe. He urged critics to explore the literary origins of the series before passing judgment.
"If you read the books, then you understand why CD Projekt went down this avenue," Cockle said. "There's a whole rich world of stuff to explore with Ciri that they didn't do when they put her into [The Witcher 3], because the story was about Geralt. But she hints at it."
He concluded with a pointed suggestion: "If you think it's woke, read the damn books—they're good, first of all. And secondly, you won't think it's so woke anymore."
A New Chapter, A Familiar World
While CD Projekt’s games are set after the events of Sapkowski’s final novel, the author himself has distanced his work from the extended video game storyline. Yet, even in the books, Ciri emerges as a pivotal figure—one capable of carrying the torch when Geralt steps back.
IGN recently spoke with CD Projekt’s franchise and lore designers, Cian Maher and Marcin Batylda, who clarified how the established timeline supports this transition. Without revealing potential spoilers, it’s clear that both the novels and the upcoming games recognize Ciri’s importance—not only as a character but as a natural successor to Geralt’s legacy.
