Fans of the Witcher franchise, rejoice! Or donāt ā weāre not here to dictate emotions. CD Projekt RED (or CDPR for short, because who has time for full names?) has officially unveiled Ā«The Witcher 4: PromisesĀ» at The Game Awards 2024. In a move that shocked absolutely no one, they revealed a cinematic teaser, approximately 0.00001% of the actual game, featuring everyoneās favorite teleporting mess, Ciri. Sorry, Geralt stans ā your silver ā haired daddy is out, and the moody runaway is in. Cue the collective groans of die ā hard Witcher bros who Ā«totally played the first game before Netflix made it coolĀ». š
Ā«The Witcher 4: PromisesĀ» or Ā«400 Developers and a Lynx MedallionĀ»
Now, letās talk about that trailer. Picture this: epic music, dramatic snowstorms, and Ciri looking like sheās about to drop the hottest mixtape of 2024 while rocking a shiny new Lynx School medallion. Is it gameplay footage? Of course not. But CDPR, known for its commitment to Ā«overpromise and underdeliverĀ» (remember Cyberpunk 2077?), assures us this is the start of something huge. With 400 people working on this project, fans can rest easy knowing that at least half of them are probably in meetings debating the color of Ciriās boots. š„“
The Trailer: A Masterclass in Trolling
š¢ Witcher Fans in Shambles: CDPRās Trailer Sparks Chaos š³ļø
Letās address the obvious: Ā«The Witcher 4: PromisesĀ» is appropriately named because promises are all fans are getting right now. No release date, no confirmed platforms, and certainly no guarantees. But donāt worry, CDPR has already figured out how to profit from this masterpiece of nonexistence. Thatās right, folks ā the official Lynx School medallion from the trailer is available for pre ā order. For a small fee (or a kidney), you can own a piece of Witcher history that might not be relevant until 2028. Whatās next, CDPR? Selling NFTs of Geraltās bathtub scene?
The announcement has sent shockwaves through various social groups. Hardcore gamers are preparing their Ā«Overhyped and OverpricedĀ» Reddit threads, while casual fans are still googling, Ā«Is Ciri Geraltās daughter?Ā» Meanwhile, Netflix executives are wondering if they can milk this for another spinoff, preferably one where Henry Cavill doesnāt quit halfway through. And letās not forget the cosplayers, already scrambling to recreate Ciriās new look with varying degrees of success (and fabric budgets). š
CDPRās Strategy: Profit Now, Deliver Later
In a stunning display of capitalism at its finest, CDPR has shifted its focus from making games to selling hopes and dreams. With work on Ā«The Witcher 4Ā» officially starting just weeks ago, itās safe to say the game is still in its embryonic stage. But why let a little thing like Ā«not having a productĀ» stop you from raking in the cash? The medallion pre ā orders are just the beginning. Rumor has it that a collectorās edition will include a life ā size cardboard cutout of Ciri and a Ā«Promise KeeperĀ» diary to jot down all the release date delays.
Of course, CDPR swears theyāve learned from the disastrous launch of Cyberpunk 2077. But given their track record, fans are understandably skeptical. As one Twitter user put it, Ā«CDPR promising not to promise much is the biggest promise theyāve ever made.Ā» Meanwhile, the gaming community is divided between those cautiously optimistic about Ciriās new chapter and those still bitter about Keanu Reevesā misleading role in Cyberpunk. š»
Whatās Next for Witcher Fans?
So, what can fans expect in the coming years? More trailers, vague updates, and maybe even a beta test (if weāre lucky). Until then, Witcher enthusiasts will have to make do with replays of the original trilogy and heated debates over whether Triss or Yennefer is the superior waifu. Meanwhile, CDPRās PR team will be busy spinning Ā«technical challengesĀ» into Ā«creative opportunitiesĀ» as the gameās development drags on.
In the end, Ā«The Witcher 4: PromisesĀ» is shaping up to be a quintessential CDPR project: hyped beyond belief, cloaked in mystery, and destined to either redefine gaming or become the subject of countless memes. One thingās for sure ā the Witcher community will have plenty to talk about, complain about, and preorder for years to come. As for the rest of us? Weāll just sit back, watch the chaos unfold, and maybe, just maybe, buy that Lynx medallion. After all, who doesnāt love a good promise? š
Pixel P. Snarkbyte, widely regarded as the āShakespeare of Sh*tposts,ā is a video game expert with a unique knack for turning pixels into punchlines.
Born in the small town of Respawn, Pennsylvania, Pixel grew up mashing buttons on an ancient NES controller, firmly believing that āblowing into the cartridgeā was a sacred ritual passed down through generations.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte: proving that life, much like a buggy open-world game, is better with a little lag-induced chaos.