Ever since the release of the hugely popularThe Witcher 3: Wild Huntin 2015, fans of CD Projekt Red’s critically acclaimed series have been clamoring for another installment. There may have been spin-offs, likeGwent: The Witcher Card Game, but players have had to wait a few years for another mainline entry into theWitcherseries. It looks like they may have to wait for a few more, as even though the next installment inThe Witcherfranchise was confirmed to be in development in March of this year, not much is known about it.
During the reveal, CD Projekt Red did announce that it will bethe start of a newWitchersaga, which has led to a fair amount of fan speculation. Details remain thin on the ground, but this hasn’t stopped players from theorizing about which characters may or may not return, or where and when the story might take place. The developer has kept its cards close to its chest, but the additional reveal of the School of the Lynx medallion has fueled rumors about a step away from the School of the Wolf altogether.
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Moving On From The School Of The Wolf
The School of the Wolf has had a prominent place in theWitcherfranchise ever since the first game. As the school is associated withintegral characters like Geralt and Vesemir, it’s undoubtedly the Witcher school that players spend the most time with and know the most about. While the world of theWitchergames (and beyond) does feature a vast array of other schools, each with their own philosophy and training style, none of them come close to the School of the Wolf in terms of screen time and focus. In fact, some are barely mentioned at all and remain as little-referenced mysteries. While the school of the Wolf is a popular element in theWitcherseries because of its character associations, many players feel like it’s time to move away from it.
It seems as if CD Projekt Red agrees, if its statement about the start of a new saga is a sign of its intentions to follow a very different and completely new path. Geralt was a great protagonist, but if the new game wants to move on from him and his companions, then leaving behind the School of the Wolf as well just makes sense. The image of themedallion belonging to the School of the Lynxseems to confirm this new direction and could lead to many intriguing story possibilities. While the School of the Lynx does appear in some non-canon fan-made content set in theWitcheruniverse, it has not made an appearance in a game before and could be used in a number of interesting ways.
A New Direction
While there are many fans who would be sad to leave Geralt and the School of the Wolf behind, a new story centered on a new school might need to cut ties with them to forge its own path. There are plenty of other existing Witcher schools that could be explored in more detail, like the intriguing School of the Cat orthe old-fashioned School of the Griffin, and the nextWitchergame already has plenty of narratively-rich material to work with outside the School of the Wolf. But introducing a completely new school could mean that other schools will also be created for the next installment, removing the nextWitchertitle even more from its predecessors.
With a potential new protagonist and a new school (or schools), some are speculating that the upcomingWitchergame will beset in a time far removed from Geralt’s own.The Witcher 3and its DLC conclude Geralt’s story in a fairly satisfying way, and it would make sense to explore different areas and time periods with a new main character, so the game can set itself apart from the previous installment. A jump either backward or forwards in time would handily achieve this and would present players with something fresh as well.
Whether or not the nextWitchergame follows more closely to the trilogy, it is definitely time to leave the School of the Wolf behind and let another Witcher school enter the spotlight. Whether this is just the School of the Lynx, or perhapsa number of new Witcher schoolsremains to be seen, but a step away from the School of the Wolf would be a step in the right direction.
A newWitchergame is currently in development.
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