Doug Cockle, the iconic voice behind Geralt of Rivia, has recently addressed the growing controversy surrounding Ciri taking over as the main protagonist in The Witcher 4. This next installment in CD Projekt Red's acclaimed dark fantasy RPG series marks a significant shift, introducing a new monster hunter to carry the mantle. After her memorable supporting role in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Ciri will step into the spotlight as the central character.

While many fans are thrilled at the prospect of playing as Ciri in The Witcher 4, the decision has sparked debate among some segments of the fanbase. Mirroring controversies seen in games like Assassin's Creed Shadows and Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, certain social media users have labeled the move as "going woke," arguing that a female protagonist contradicts the series' established lore. CD Projekt Red developers have countered these claims, and now Geralt's own voice actor has joined the defense.

During a recent video published by Fall Damage where he reacted to fan memes, Doug Cockle encountered one addressing the backlash against Ciri's new role. Without hesitation, he voiced his support, labeling the 'woke' complaints as "stupid" and expressing genuine enthusiasm for following a fresh, 'cool' character in the next chapter of The Witcher saga. He pointed out that Geralt can't remain the series' protagonist indefinitely and highlighted how the original Witcher books provide a wealth of unexplored material perfect for Ciri's starring role.

Cockle further argued that critics of Ciri's protagonism likely haven't read Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher novels, which contain deep lore that CD Projekt Red can now fully utilize. He noted that previous games focused primarily on Geralt, leaving much of Ciri's potential untapped—a gap The Witcher 4 is poised to fill.

While Geralt will take a backseat in The Witcher 4, Doug Cockle has confirmed his return in some capacity, though details remain scarce. As Cockle himself acknowledged, Geralt's story arc effectively concluded with The Witcher 3's Blood and Wine DLC in 2016. The Witcher 4 represents a natural evolution, shifting focus to Ciri—and who better to endorse this transition than the voice of Geralt himself?