Support NeoGAF

[Lunatic_Gamer]

In an interview with SkillUp on the Friends Per Second podcast, CD Projekt Red’s Game Director Sebastian Kalemba and Executive Producer Gosia Mitrega shared insight into the game’s development. One topic that naturally came up was the map size of The Witcher 4.

Here’s what Kalemba had to say about the map, in his own words:

Question: Is the overall scale of the game similar to what The Witcher 3 was? Because I think that came in at around about 60 hours for your average playtime. In terms of the size of the map, are you aiming at a game that is a similar size and shape to The Witcher 3, or are you looking for something bigger, maybe something a bit more condensed?

Sebastian Kalemba: “That’s a good question. Fun fact, I’ll share with you guys an anecdote first before I answer the question. I remember when we were thinking about how many hours you’d need to, let’s say, finish Hearts of Stone or Blood and Wine.

“When we threw the numbers, we were like, ‘Five to ten hours maybe for Hearts of Stone’ and Blood and Wine, ‘maybe ten to fifteen hours.’ And we ended up with thirty hours! So, it’s exactly like you know, this is chaos theory.”

“Of course, empirically, we have so much knowledge regarding the structure of Witcher 1, 2, 3, the structure of Cyberpunk, all the expansions. So, we use this data. But we look at the scale a little differently. We don’t want to be a servant to the numbers, you know what I mean?

“The map is definitely more or less the same when it comes to the size, the amount of quests, more or less the same. Again, the game is going to be big. But also, the ambition of the entire team is huge. So first and foremost, we want to deliver a super compelling experience.

“Again, quality over quantity. But definitely, what we can promise—yes, this game is going to be pretty big. It’s going to be big compared to everything we’ve prepared so far. But I cannot tell you if it’s going to be 90%, 85%, or 100% [the size of The Witcher 3].”

The Witcher 4 Map Size Will Be "More Or Less The Same" As The Witcher 3, CDPR Promises "Quality Over Quantity"

CD Projekt Red has revealed that The Witcher 4 will feature a map similar in size to The Witcher 3. The team aims for quality over quantity, delivering an ambitious yet focused RPG experience.

thegamepost.com

 

[64bitmodels]

as it should be!!!

 

[Zacfoldor]

That's fair.

Can we add soulsborne combat?

I like being able to single button spam my way thru a 100+ hour RPG as much as the next guy, but I would accept an upgrade.

 

[Kronark]

I just hope they flesh out the side content to be meaningful. The Cyberpunk base game had way too many waste of time Gigs / Scanner events and a serious lack of fully written out side quests. The gigs in dogtown were significantly higher quality and I really hope that's the minimum bar CDPR aims for with W4.

 

[thekillergreece]

I don't fully believe their 'Quality over Quantity' because they promised so many things about CP2077 and failed to deliver more than half the promises. So, it's a wait-and-see this time.

 

[LectureMaster]

Quality is what matters first and foremost.

I'd take a fully fledged lively Novigrad over any bloated Valhalla maps all day everyday.

 

[SJRB]

That's fine, W3's map was already pretty massive.

 

[saintjules]

Quality over quantity?

Spoiler

 

[Dacvak]

Someday I’ll play the Witcher games. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who’s played them that doesn’t like them.

I’m just intimidated by any game that’s more than 60 hours. I ain’t got that kinda time anymore.

 

[cormack12]

Thank fuck. Witcher 3 was big enough.

 

[Big Baller]

UE and open worlds. The best combination.

 

[BennyBlanco]

The Witcher 3 map is absolutely massive. Any more would be too much.

 

[DarthPutin]

I just want writing to be good. That is all.

 

[analog_future]

Absolutely love that. So sick of needlessly massive games ala Assassin's Creed.

 

[Ceadeus]

I'll be a bit controversial here but, the thing I'm hoping the most is, that the main character stop fucking around and "dancing" when fighting. Why Geralt has this combat style where he does so many 360 spin like he is choreographing fancy fights?! You expect the sword to hit the enemy real soon after pressing the button. In the Witcher 3, you press the button and he sudenlydoes a 360 before slashing, it's worst than input lag lmao

 

[Atrus]

Witcher 3 map size is good enough. The world is huge but also dense enough to offer a lot of content and differing visuals.

 

[Infested Goblin]

Im only worried that there will be less funny and wholesome quest that made gritty world of witcher 3 less miserable. Geralt was great in those comedic little quests in w3. Ciri doesnt have that geralts "disarming takes "during hilarious quests.. Overall i think w4 will be much more serious overall

 

[Rush2112]

Don’t care about map size, they made ciri ugly not buying the game.

 

[Pandawan]

CDPR Promises “Quality Over Quantity”

Finally! A developer with common sense! I'm so tired of these games with bloated but not enough detailed huge worlds..

 

[Dr.Morris79]

Ciri's new face takes up 20% of that.

 

[yansolo]

That's fair.

Can we add soulsborne combat?

I like being able to single button spam my way thru a 100+ hour RPG as much as the next guy, but I would accept an upgrade.

an upgrade yes, enough with the soulsborne stuff though doesnt need to be in every game, for me anyway

 

[LordBlodgett]

I just hope they flesh out the side content to be meaningful. The Cyberpunk base game had way too many waste of time Gigs / Scanner events and a serious lack of fully written out side quests. The gigs in dogtown were significantly higher quality and I really hope that's the minimum bar CDPR aims for with W4.

I agree with Cyberpunk having too many filler quests. Honestly I feel like CDPR made the Cyberpunk world a little too large for the first game in a new series. I am hopeful though because most of Witcher 3's side quests range from good to great. There are few that I would consider "filler".

 

[skit_data]

Sounds perfect. The Witcher 3 had a few spots that felt strangely empty compared to the rest of the world, but the overall "density" of stuff was just right.

I started downloading The Witcher 3 just now, planning on going for that platinum. A proper Death March playthrough should be doable with some patience and getting back into the combat but I'm not looking forward to those Gwent related trophies.

 

[Puscifer]

Hot take: I wish they went back to sandboxes like the first two, kept it in check and the world felt very reactive

 

[mèx]

That's perfect. Even smaller would be better tbh. Massive open world games were a mistake, you need to strike the right balance.

Night City was the perfect size for example. I barely had to use fast travelling there.

 

[Nowa]

No more a million of "?" this time around hopefully. Exploration has to be more organic.

 

[DaciaJC]

I'll be a bit controversial here but, the thing I'm hoping the most is, that the main character stop fucking around and "dancing" when fighting. Why Geralt has this combat style where he does so many 360 spin like he is choreographing fancy fights?! You expect the sword to hit the enemy real soon after pressing the button. In the Witcher 3, you press the button and he sudenlydoes a 360 before slashing, it's worst than input lag lmao

It's meant to convey the swordfighting techniques used by witchers as described in the books.

 

[GloveSlap]

No more a million of "?" this time around hopefully. Exploration has to be more organic.

I was going to say the same. That was easily the worst part of the game. It's time to try something different.

Uncovering the map is so much more interesting.

 

[Ceadeus]

It's meant to convey the swordfighting techniques used by witchers as described in the books.

Yes I'm sure about it. It's been criticized enough which means there's definitely something off about it. I'm not the first bringing this up..

 

[FunkMiller]

Good. An uplift in interactivity and explorable environment is much more important than how long it takes you to walk anywhere. Dense smaller worlds are always better than huge barren ones.

 

[EDMIX]

Good. An uplift in interactivity and explorable environment is much more important than how long it takes you to walk anywhere. Dense smaller worlds are always better than huge barren ones.

I don't disagree, but this fucking company says a lot of shit...

How much of it will be true?

I take anything this company states with a grain of salt as they love making these fake PR statements that people just up and believe. Their actions show they rarely even do what is being stated, we'd have to wait for the final game to see if this is even true vs just believing it right off of the bat. So I don't disagree quality is important, merely that this company would say this even if their game was doing the opposite.

Quality over quantity?

Spoiler

I don't fully believe their 'Quality over Quantity' because they promised so many things about CP2077 and failed to deliver more than half the promises. So, it's a wait-and-see this time.

^ This 100%

I'll believe it when I see it.

They love playing to the crowd with these statements and I don't get why gamers still fall for it lol This company has lost so much trust, that simply saying some shit can't be seen as a deep statement by them anymore.

 

[Madflavor]

Yes I'm sure about it. It's been criticized enough which means there's definitely something off about it. I'm not the first bringing this up..

I love it for the same reason I love Jedi's fighting style. It's not practical, but it looks cool.

 

[Raven117]

Thats completely fine. Just make great quests.

 

[SF Kosmo]

That's fair.

Can we add soulsborne combat?

I like being able to single button spam my way thru a 100+ hour RPG as much as the next guy, but I would accept an upgrade.

I don't think Soulsborne combat is the answer, but some rebalancing for sure.

The biggest downgrade from 2 to 3 in my opinion is the upgrade/progression system. I want to be able to customize my character and play style in more meaningful ways rather than trivial stat boosts.

 

[simpatico]

UE and open worlds. The best combination.

I'd say between the UE change and Ciri's Witcher eyes, the trailer kick-off has more grumbling around it than it needed to. I hope it's just a mirage.

 

[BoxFresh123]

Same size map but 100% more ?'s and we have a deal.

 

[EDMIX]

I don't think Soulsborne combat is the answer, but some rebalancing for sure.

The biggest downgrade from 2 to 3 in my opinion is the upgrade/progression system. I want to be able to customize my character and play style in more meaningful ways rather than trivial stat boosts.

This.

I felt like from Witcher 1 to 2 to 3, it was just a downgrade, after downgrade and 4 will just be an action game by the time they are done or something lol

 

[Itchy Tickles]

I thought The Witcher 3 had probably the best side quests in a game. They actually felt meaningful and important with good rewards. Even the monster contracts had some depressing dark cool stories behind them.
Obviously we don't know about the story etc, but the trailer felt like a small but effective side quest.

Only thing I hope for is that if fast travel is the same, I don't wait until the near end game to realise I could've used it while on a boat and not have to swim for miles cuz the harpies fucks broke my boat. I felt so empty when I realised you could.

 

[cash_longfellow]

“More or less the same” is the biggest cop out statement anyone can ever say. Like…it could be more, or less…or the same. Literally doesn’t say shit

 

[dezzy8]

Someday I’ll play the Witcher games. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who’s played them that doesn’t like them.

I’m just intimidated by any game that’s more than 60 hours. I ain’t got that kinda time anymore.

Play an hour a day you dont have to power through it. It took me like 4 months to beat witcher 3 and I enjoyed every bit of it.

 

[Mister Wolf]

The gotta focus heavily on improving the melee combat.

 

[V1LÆM]

Not a problem with that. The game has like 5 maps. I think it’d be cool if they could make one huge big map that is connected.

Leaving white orchard blew my mind. I thought Veblen/novigrad was the main map but then we got another 3 areas to play in. Skellige and Toussaint were so much fun.

The gotta focus heavily on improving the melee combat.

Cyberpunk sword and fist combat was much better but they need to translate it into 3rd person. I’m not worried. I didn’t think combat in 3 was bad.

 

[V1LÆM]

Someday I’ll play the Witcher games. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who’s played them that doesn’t like them.

I’m just intimidated by any game that’s more than 60 hours. I ain’t got that kinda time anymore.

You can rush through the main story in like 30-40 hours I think but then you’d be missing out on like 75% of the game. Side quests are a load of fun and Blood and Wine expansion is amazing.

In all my playthroughs I spend roughly 50 on the main story. Another 50 for base game side quests. Hearts of Stone content is roughly 15-20 hours. Blood and Wine is about 40-60.

So it’s easily a 160 hour game. But that’s just me.