‘The Witcher 4’ Returns with the Beloved Feature That Set Its RPG Apart from the Rest

The RPG world has come a long way since the early days of simple games like Akalabeth on the Apple II. One big problem that many RPGs still struggle with is the fetch quest — you know, the kind where you just run around picking up items or delivering messages without much story.

These quests are often seen as boring fillers that don’t add much to the experience.

But The Witcher 3 changed the game in 2015. Instead of relying on those dull fetch quests, the developers made sure every quest felt unique and interesting. Even if Geralt was sent to get something, there was usually a twist or a tough choice that made the quest memorable.

This approach helped The Witcher 3 stand out and got a lot of praise for its quest design.

Now, CD Projekt Red is making sure this doesn’t change with The Witcher 4. Philipp Weber, the narrative director for the new game, spoke with GamesRadar+ about how they’re carrying forward what worked so well in The Witcher 3. He said, “We also know the things that The Witcher 3 was good at. We can’t break that. The stuff we want from a Witcher game, that people want from a Witcher game, we can’t break that. We have to do that.”

Weber explained that many of the rules they wrote for quests in The Witcher 3 are still guiding The Witcher 4 team. “A lot of the rules on how to do quests that we wrote down, for, as an example, new team members on The Witcher 4. Those are the rules from The Witcher 3.” So, the “no fetch quest” rule that fans loved will definitely be coming back.

There’s no official release date for The Witcher 4 yet, but CD Projekt Red recently showed a tech demo using Unreal Engine 5. It probably won’t be out before 2027, but fans can expect the same strong focus on storytelling and good quest design.

Weber also shared what makes a quest worth playing. “A quest has to be something interesting,” he said. “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%.”

When asked if they’re learning from both The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, Weber laughed and said, “All of them.” He said the team balances sticking to storytelling rules with trusting their gut. Sometimes following all the rules makes stories feel too similar, so they don’t always stick to the traditional path.

He explained, “Is this a scene that doesn’t have a big narrative [reason] to be there, but I want to see it as a developer and that’s why I assume a player also wants to see it? Does it feel good? Does it feel powerful? This is something I really carry with me, to really keep that middle part.”

In the end, The Witcher 4 promises to bring back the quest style that made The Witcher 3 so great. Players can look forward to quests that are exciting and meaningful, not just chores. The team is focused on giving fans what they loved before, while also trying new ideas and keeping the game fresh.

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