The Ciri character design issue in the new Witcher game has brought CD Projekt Red a lot of disapproval from the gaming community, with some gamers claiming a connection to the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) movement that they think has made the character’s appearance less attractive. The problem escalated when pictures were posted comparing Ciri’s looks from the previous games to the recent ones, and it soon turned into a heated discussion over whether or not the political agenda was influencing the design of large game development studios.
A Twitter user @Wokenessisevil was the one to spark this entire drama when he posted a picture comparing Ciri’s old and new appearances along with the statement “DEI makes everything worse.” The tweet was like pouring gasoline on a fire of reactions, and very soon, it went viral along with a barrage of comments and the evidently unhappy gamers’ community had already voiced its opinion about the looks.
One player did not hesitate to declare the new design as “ugly” and he added XDDDDDD which is indicative of internet sarcasm only. Another said they “preferred her before” and displayed a lot of trust issues with CD Projekt Red at the moment, which is like, ouch. That’s really tough for a company that was worshipped after The Witcher 3.
Still, there is one thing that a few of the players are supporting, and that is the claim that the new design is not a bad one. One guy like that even said “Nothing wrong with her” and followed it up by accusing the critics of being, wait for it, pedophiles for wanting to see under a minor’s skirt? That was quite a fast escalation, wasn’t it? The whole thread is just this wild mix of genuine criticism and absolute chaos.
Surprisingly, what’s more, is how much the people are bringing up the internal changes at CD Projekt Red. The original crew that was responsible for The Witcher 3 leaving the company and going to work on a project titled “The Blood of Dawnwalker” was mentioned by several commenters. And, of course, there is the recently departed director, which only amplifies the gamers’ already strong distrust.
There is also an argument regarding “she’s just older” that is being dissected physically. One answer could be, for example, a post that read “bro she’s a 60+ year old meth addict,” which is an overt exaggeration but the general idea is conveyed. People won’t agree with the aging issue being the only factor responsible for Ciri’s drastic change of appearance.
And the gaslighting thing is quite funny. Someone put it right, and said it all, “Engage obligatory gaslighting that Ciri looks the same in the trailer as she does now,” and, honestly, they were correct. The thread is populated with users engaged in a debate over whether there is even a difference or not, with some saying it is minor yet intentional changes, while others claiming it is totally different.
The mod community is, however, already in the process of preparation – “Mods will fix” one user responded, which probably is the most accurate prediction in terms of this whole fiasco. If there is one undeniable truth that the gaming history has taught us, it is that the modding community will come to the rescue with alternative solutions whenever the developers implement changes that are not very well-received by the community.
What’s more, the conversation about the PC has completely escalated to a point where it’s no longer just about Ciri’s good looks. One of the questions arising in discussions is whether CD Projekt Red has indeed reached “woke as hell,” as one user puts it, and if the DEI policies are actually behind the game development workflow changes throughout the entire computer gaming industry. To put it differently, it has turned into a philosophical debate about the right of creative expression versus corporate diversity initiatives.
But, on the other hand, a few players are trying to get the best out of the situation. One player, who said during a heated debate that Ciri does not look so bad compared to other “egregious examples” of character redesigns, is such a player. However, even that player acknowledged the annoying “give an inch, take a mile” situation we are in.
This debate has come at a very inconvenient time for CD Projekt Red, as it follows the company’s tumultuous Cyberpunk 2077 launch, and they have been striving to win back players’ trust. Still, it seems that alongside massive staff departures, and those design changes which have sparked outrage, they are facing another possible PR nightmare that is up to be revealed.
What is very interesting, however, is how the responses are really divided among the people. While many people find the new design wrong, others would surely be in agreement with those who say she is “really pretty” based on the gameplay footage. Although the negative reactions are definitely the loudest and most passionate, it is not a unanimous no-hate party going on.
The whole scenario prompts to reconsider even more the issue of character design in modern gaming industry. What is the reasonable limit to character changes through different editions? At which point does “aging” a character cross into the area of the character’s essential likeness being altered? And most importantly, who should take such decisions – the original creative team, the corporate diversity committees, or should players’ feedback be given a larger role?
A Reddit user aptly remarked that this is going to be “the hot topic on social media how woke trash ruined this game” if the creators stick to their design choices. Whether that’s an overreaction or a legitimate concern remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure – CD Projekt Red is embroiled in yet another controversy, and the gaming community is more than eager to see how it will play out.
No direct comments on these controversial matters have been made by the company yet, but given the intensity of the situation, it is probable that they will have to do it sooner or later. In the meantime, on the internet, players are still arguing, complaining, and sometimes even supporting the changes. It’s messy, it’s passionate, and it’s the exact kind of drama that is very entertaining to watch unfolding the gaming culture.
Ultimately, no matter if you see the new Ciri design as an upgrade, downgrade, or just different, this whole scenario demonstrates how strongly players feel about these characters and how the gaming community is very alert to the perceived political pressures in the game development process. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out as we get closer to the game’s actual release on PlayStation and Xbox.
