The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of my favourite games of all time. Steeped in rich lore, abundant with characters and dripping in magic, it’s got so much to offer I've felt almost greedy as I devour its gameplay. And maybe I am, because I’ve certainly got a rumbly in my tumbly for more. When CD Projekt Red announced that a new Witcher game was in the works back in 2022, well, I felt a similar tingle to the one Yennefer undoubtedly bestows upon Geralt.

This time round, it’s a new trilogy, passing Geralt’s carefully-handed reins over to Ciri. Taking over from 'daddy', she'll become the main protagonist. For Geralt, reportedly, he'll hold a simple supporting role. It’s a clever move, granting players both new and old an appealing place to jump in, but it's given players plenty to talk about.

When CDPR’s Cyberpunk 2077 was released to heavy criticism at launch in 2020 for its bugs and seemingly missing features, it’s unsurprising that the developers are taking their time. But what can we expect when this new trilogy-starter finally launches? It’s not clear.

Instead, here’s what I want: seven things, in fact, because I’m a ravenous monster hunter with a real hankering for more open-world tomfoolery.

Building Ciri’s story

To mark the beginning of a new Witcher trilogy, it can no longer be Geralt of Rivia’s story. Ciri, Geralt's adopted daughter and sole heir to the throne of Cintra, is taking the lead. But Ciri is not as well-travelled and well-honed in the life of a Witcher as Geralt. For The Witcher 4, then, I'd like there to be an obvious learning curve in the storyline.

What I'd also really like from Ciri, as she picks up the Witcher (Witcheress?) gauntlet, is to flesh out her character with a depth that makes me care about her in the way I did about Geralt. This feels almost inevitable, but we can't say it's a given.

In a behind-the-scenes reveal, Sebastian Kalemba, game director, revealed: “Ciri is all about becoming the Witcher, and she is very determined to follow this path.” While my wishes will get a little more elaborate as we journey through this list, this one feels like a solid starting point.

Ciri was briefly playable in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, but we know there’s more to explore. Who will she meet? Who will she romance? Adding layers to her character feels very CDPR-coded, and long may it continue. After all, there’s a lot of canon to explore, and it’ll be interesting to see what CDPR stays true to and what they change.

A new way to fight

One of the most interesting discourses I've witnessed about The Witcher 4 has been around combat. It's especially interesting because it marks the first time that CDPR has had a fully-fledged combat designer for a Witcher game. They didn’t have one until Cyberpunk 2077, and now they've hired another in Dennis Zopfi of Metal Gear Rising and Horizon Zero Dawn fame. Zopfi joins as the new Gameplay & Combat Director to aid Ciri in her quest to become a monster slayer.

Undoubtedly, Zopfi's presence will have a direct impact on the way that combat was integrated in The Witcher 3, and I'm not mad about that at all. In fact, I wouldn't mind if it were a little less clunky and even a touch more complex than the previous game. The Witcher 4 marks a perfect opportunity to expand on the groundwork of the combat mechanics, especially melee, and Zopfi steps in to make a difference. Plus, they’ve moved to Unreal Engine 5 this time round, which CDPR says: “aims to be the most immersive and ambitious open-world Witcher game to date.”

Deal me in — Gwent simply has to live on

Lord have mercy, I’m such a fan of Gwent that I can’t imagine another Witcher game without it. Both my parents were card dealers, so I’ve got a little soft spot for card games regardless, but Gwent is something different.

In fact, I'd be bold enough to say it's one of the best examples of a game within a game that I've experienced. Integrating it into The Witcher 4 feels like a must, and the developers have dropped some heavy teasers that they agree.

What I'm saying is bring it back, please, and throw in some tournaments while you’re at it. I’ve been fervently searching for a way to scratch that mini-game card itch in other titles, and Duo in Crimson Desert most certainly hasn't cut it. Dare I say it, I wouldn’t even mind if they made it harder. I’m not talking about the standalone Gwent game, though, which changed up some of the gameplay mechanics.

Monster mash

Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of monsters in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. It’s literally named after them. But if I'm getting a wishlist of features that I’d like, then I’m choosing to have even more of them. More variety, more crossover from the Netflix show, more terror. Fortunately, we’ve already been teased with one such addition, the Bauk, in the game’s cinematic reveal trailer, described by Kalemba as having "this ability to smell your fear, to be able to play with your traumas, to paralyze you." Creepy.

Ciri is learning what it’s like to be a Witcher, and with that, there’s going to be trials and tribulations. What better way to cut your teeth than literally fighting against the worst of the worst? Along with new monsters, though, it’d be cool to see the return of old monsters like the Leshen and some cheeky Rock Trolls, demonstrating that while it’s no longer Geralt, the threat is still the same. Seeing how Ciri deals with this in combat, transformed by Zopfi, will be really cool to see.

A better brew

I’ve already explained my adoration for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, but one aspect of the game that I didn’t really love was the alchemy system. It felt a touch unimaginative at points, and I honestly feel like it could’ve done more. Considering the complexity of the rest of the gameplay, I wouldn’t mind if they made the alchemy a bit less simple, too. Maybe even, like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, where it’s a little less explained and a lot more creative, seeing what you can make up without guidance.

If there's a possibility for a deeper system, closer akin to The Witcher 1, that would be ideal. If I'm prepping my oils and potions for combat, preparing for my next fight, then I want it to feel like I'm really doing something meaningful. After all, it's the difference between survival and death. Plus, that rings true to merely living life as a Witcher without the threat of monsters, so it'd be fun if the alchemy carried a similar weight in the main gameplay.

Cause and effect

You spend a lot of time making a difference to the world around you in Witcher games, but the nonplayer characters (NPCs) don’t tend to treat you very differently when you leave a particular mission. In The Witcher 4, I quite fancy the idea of your reputation preceding you. I want NPCs in the wider world to have a reaction to the way I've chosen to live my life throughout the entire game, because it'll weigh heavily on the decisions I ultimately make. What you’ve done and what paths you’ve chosen will ultimately affect how your game goes, and that's the kind of deep interactivity that I crave from a role-playing game (RPG).

Especially with Ciri taking over as the protagonist, it feels like a great opportunity to weave a more dynamic reputation system into the game to see how people react to this Witcheress. The cinematic trailer showed just a glimpse of how Ciri’s involvement potentially changes the course of life in a butterfly effect. If it could impact the quests you get given, too, that would add another nifty layer.

A bigger map?

As far as reports around The Witcher 4 map go, it's supposedly going to be a similar size to that of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. That’s fair enough considering it was epically expansive and plenty big enough. But I said I was feeling greedy, so I'd totally take a bigger map.

While I quite like the idea of a map growing in size, though, I wouldn’t want it if it just had swathes of areas with nothing in. It's a quality over quantity situation. And, the other rumor floating around is that CDPR is going to focus on making an equally-sized map of a better quality, perhaps with regions and biomes that differentiate where you are when you travel around. None of this is confirmed, but I love the idea of it. If I’m not getting a bigger map, I’ll certainly take a richer one.

• Lead story designer, Artur Ganszyniec, says the development team didn't know the Wild Hunt were elves while making The Witcher
• He says The Witcher remake will need to change this detail to fit in with what we learn in The Witcher 3
• The designer also revealed that the game's twist ending wasn't planned by the story team, calling it a "mistake"

The Witcher's lead story designer Artur Ganszyniec has revealed new behind-the-scenes details about the development of the 2007 game ahead of its remake.

Ganszyniec has been playing through the role-playing game (RPG) while delivering his commentary on YouTube, and in the developer's latest video, spoke about what The Witcher remake will need to change to align with events that take place in the following games (via GamesRadar).

The designer touched on the Wild Hunt, the mythological group of hunters that appeared in the first game, and again in The Witcher 3i. He said the team at CD Projekt Red didn't know that they were elves at the time of the first game's development.

"In the first The Witcher, the Wild Hunt is more like the Wild Hunt from the legends," Ganszyniec said.

"We didn't know yet they are elves in armor. We really thought of them as wraiths, and omens of death, and tools of destiny. This part will probably need to be changed a bit in the remake."

The Wild Hunt is referred to as "an omen of war and tragedy" in the game, which fits their mythological roots as spectral huntsmen; however, Ganszyniec points out that in The Witcher 3, it's revealed they're elves trying to stop a magical infection known as the White Frost.

"Here the King of the Hunt is the personification of death," he remarked when showing the scene where Geralt meets the Hunt's leader, "and that will take some retrofitting in the remake, I think."

In the same playthrough, Ganszyniec also revealed that the game's twist ending wasn't something the team originally planned, and thinks it was a "mistake".

At the end of the game, Geralt goes to collect payment from King Foltest and ends up running into a mysterious assassin. After a sword fight, it's revealed that the assassin is a witcher.

According to Ganszyniec, that's where the story team wanted the game to end, "like with an open question and open future." However, while finishing the game, it was decided to include an animated outro that set the stage for The Witcher 2.

"While we were finishing the game, someone decided—like the board decided, or [CD Projekt co-founder Michał Kiciński] decided that we needed an animated outro of the game," he explained.

"And the script for this ... it was created not really involving the story team. So it was sort of, we weren't really paying attention. And that was a mistake I think."

Ganszyniec continued: "It became evident that the next game will have to follow up on this and tell a story about witchers who are killing kings for some reason. And that's why the second Witcher is very political and there's not really much room for exploring who Geralt is, his family, his history, and stuff like this."

CD Projekt Red has confirmed that The Witcher remake is in development at Fool's Theory. The studio is currently all hands on deck making The Witcher 4, which will be the first game in a new trilogy of Witcher games that it wants to release within a six-year time frame.

There have also been rumors that CDPR is working on a third expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which is reportedly releasing this year.

• The Witcher lead story designer Artur Ganszyniec has played through the game on YouTube
• He shared anecdotes about its development, revealing that he mostly wrote the epilogue chapter
• He was also frustrated by "stupid" parts of its design

The Witcher lead story designer Artur Ganszyniec has shared a playthrough of the game on his YouTube channel ahead of the upcoming remake.

Having reached the game's epilogue, Ganszyniec shared some anecdotes about its production. He revealed that the chapter was largely made by him and project lead Jacek Brzeziński during nights towards the end of the game's production.

This last-minute timeframe, he added, resulted in a few rough edges in the finished product. "Most of the epilogue, I was the one implementing it," he said. "I've got only myself to blame for everything that's happening here."

Becoming frustrated with an apparent bug that prevented him from lighting one of the campfires needed to meditate in the game, he blasted his past self: "That is extremely stupid design. Artur, you should be ashamed."

While not quite as well-known as The Witcher 3, the original 2007 The Witcher game is still considered a classic by many despite its rough edges. Back in 2022, series publisher CD Projekt confirmed that a full remake is in the works by the team at Fool's Theory. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, the game's development is being carefully supervised by staff at CD Projekt Red.

Presumably, some of the issues identified by Ganszyniec will be addressed in this version when it finally releases.

I’ve been replaying The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt this month as my Christmas game, and it’s proving just as excellent, if not better, this time around after nearly a decade of not even booting it up.

Those more-than-200 hours I originally put into the game on PS4 years ago have almost paled into insignificance, and this has been as fresh as any return to a favorite game can ever be.

It’s been a joy to wander about Skellige’s landscapes, soaking up the atmosphere, weather, and music; heartwrenching to play quests such as the one with the Bloody Baron all over again; and grimly enjoyable to get stuck into the misery of the ongoing war and the politics surrounding it.

However, this playthrough - my 10-year-anniversary, Witcher-concert-inspired playthrough - has been elevated enormously by investing in one simple ability that I ignored the first time around: Delusion, one of the first abilities in the Axii sign skill line.

It’s such a game-changing and tangibly effective ability that I’m already hoping - maybe even assuming - that Ciri has it in The Witcher 4, important as it is to my Geralt in his latest adventure. Let me explain.

Changing your mind

I’d almost certainly missed this ability on my first playthrough those 10 years ago, because I was so focused on building a damage-heavy tanky Geralt, I consistently overlooked the signs on the whole. Throw in the fact that Delusion isn’t really that useful in combat, and I probably binned it for another skill that gave me more attack power.

What is definitely evident is that using a fully-powered Delusion from quite early in the game changes so many outcomes, conversations, and series of events - I have a reliable memory and know for a fact that I didn’t have all these conversations or events in my first playthrough.

What’s more baffling about me not using it before is that it can be a set-and-forget skill - and given the way The Witcher 3’s UI is, I much prefer to try and aim for that on the whole rather than swapping in and out constantly. Ain’t nobody got time for that. You could even (probably) get away with having it active with only one point on it for at least a while if you need the other points elsewhere.

It’s a tremendously useful ability in this same vein, too. It can help you avoid a whole heap of unnecessary bloodshed, combat, and, well, death, that life on The Continent and in Skellige can do without, frankly. It very much fits into a Geralt who is more of a lover than a fighter, and can really help you avoid drawing the sword all that often. Also, I’m older and less hotheaded now than I was 10 years ago, and I like to think my Geralt is too.

It’s helped me get loads of extra experience points quicker and earlier on in the game too, with each use in conversation - even if it’s unsuccessful - giving you 40 points of EXP when it’s fully upgraded. So it has practical implications for progress, as well as narratively, and even the vibes and attitude of your Geralt as a problem solver.

Powers of persuasion

I know this isn’t a groundbreaking thing at all - in fact, it’s quite a simple thing in-game that’s also a core Witcher skill; Ciri simply has to have this in The Witcher 4, and, you know what, she certainly will. Surely.

I absolutely want to see Ciri wave her hand poetically at angry peasants or arrogant and stubborn nobles who won’t see reason, or at riled-up folks who, simply by a weird gesture of the hand, will hand over a sack of coin. I imagine it’ll at least be deployed in those ways for Ciri in The Witcher 4 - similar to The Witcher 3 - but I do hope there might be more practical application in combat. A more powerful and effective means to cause enemies to attack their own, perhaps.

However, in the build-up to The Witcher 4, it’s another little thing I’m very pleased to have discovered all these years later in one of the best games ever made, and that’s added another mile an hour or two to my hype train.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz is building a huge role-playing game (RPG) with a team of around 155 people at his new studio Rebel Wolves. He says stepping back from a more than 500 person strong team at CD Projekt Red has helped foster “more connection, more passion, more fire.”

“I think that medium sized teams and smaller teams are actually better for making games because you have greater freedom,” he told me. “I wanted to do something new, unique and push the boundaries of the RPG genre to create our own area in this genre which is closer to the paper RPG.”

What does this mean in practice? Something that’s “more open,” he explained, where you “have more freedom, and you can do whatever you want to.”

Play your way

It’s certainly an ambitious goal, but with one of the best RPGs ever made already under his belt few developers seem better placed to achieve this vision. Titled The Blood of Dawnwalker, it’s set in a fresh fantasy world that blends elements of history and vampire fiction.

“It's not a vampire game,” Tomaszkiewicz insisted. “There are vampires in this setting, but this is not a vampire game. We have a much richer world and much richer lore than one with only vampires - we have a lot of different creatures and an ecosystem of the night that makes it really interesting.”

“In the game, we start with the vampires because our protagonist is a guy who works in the silver mines, and has silver inside his body,” he continued. “The antagonist wanted to change him into a vampire, but the transformation couldn't be completed because of the silver. When it's day he's a normal human. At night, when the sun is down, you have some vampire powers.”

As one of the titular Dawnwalkers, the dichotomy between the heroes’ humanity and vampirism is fundamental to the fantasy of the game. As a human you can learn unique skills like magic and experience the story “in a totally different way,” while venturing out in the night lets you harness powerful vampire abilities and experience a different version of events.

Like The Witcher, The Blood of Dawnwalker focuses on a named protagonist - in this case a man named Coen. “In our experience it's easier to create the emotions and shape the story around a predefined character instead of a character that you create,” the director began. “Our specialization is to take the stories of the predefined characters, and this is what we want to do.”

Although he is a character with his own personality, you can still shape Coen through your choices. As an example, Tomaszkiewicz warns that players who kill a lot and harvest humans for blood will have to contend with a very different protagonist than those that don’t.

On top of this, players will also have a seemingly unprecedented level of freedom when it comes to how they approach the main story thanks to what the developers call a “narrative sandbox” approach. “It works like this: when you exit the prologue, you know where the main antagonist is, and you know that you need to save your family,” said Tomaszkiewicz.

“You can do whatever you want to do; all the quests around are optional. It's up to you how you will shape your story. Whether you want to develop yourself and try to attack the castle alone, or want to find allies and do some quests, or if you want to meet some other creatures of the night and search for some powerful spells or items to help you in this mission, it's up to you.”

Swords and stakes

Much of the marketing for The Blood of Dawnwalker so far has focused on its swordplay and combat - and you may have already spotted some resemblance to The Witcher 3 here. Both games feature animations captured by the Polish stunt performer Maciej Kwiatkowski, though there are some key differences this time around.

The flashy fights of The Witcher 3 were filled with moves based on Japanese techniques while The Blood of Dawnwalker is meant to have more grounded, authentically medieval combat.

“Maybe it looks similar, but it feels totally different,” he added, explaining that there will be more than five distinct ways of playing. This ranges from the most challenging approach, which involves playing with full directional attacks, to more lenient options with automatic directional blocking that comes at the cost of spending extra stamina on each blocked hit.

The magic system now also seems much more involved, with abilities that are designed to “change the flow” of each encounter rather than “just another fireball” or something that simply inflicts a quick burst of damage. He highlights a “powerful” ability that lets you link opponents together so that your sword strikes affect all of them at once - though this comes at the cost of making the primary affected enemy much stronger than before when it ends.

It all sounds like a wonderful evolution of what players loved in The Witcher 3, and such a strong vision could see The Blood of Dawnwalker become one of the biggest releases of 2026.

• The Witcher in Concert is returning in Fall 2026 following its international run in North America and Europe this year
• The concert will return to Europe for a second tour and expand to Asia
• Ticket pre-sale begins on November 19 for those signed up to the newsletter, regular sale begins on November 21

CD Projekt Red has announced that The Witcher in Concert will return to Europe in 2026 by popular demand.

The first round of the tour kicked off earlier this year to celebrate the 10th anniversary of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and now, on the heels of the current sold-out tour across Europe, CD Projekt Red has confirmed it will continue the celebrations into next year. We attended the show in London recently, and called it, among other things, "a joyful way to appreciate one of the best video games ever made."

Following its international run in North America and Europe, the next Witcher in Concert will begin in October 2026 and span 25 cities, with venues scheduled to expand to Asia and return for a second tour across Europe.

"The Witcher in Concert’s second European leg promises to bring the same magic and immersion that captivated audiences in 2025," CD Projekt Red said.

Performed under the supervision of The Witcher 3 co-composer Marcin Przybyłowicz, the concert comprises a 14-member ensemble orchestra, including co-composer Percival Schuttenbach, and covers the iconic tracks from the popular role-playing game.

Ticket pre-sale begins tomorrow, on November 19, for those signed up to The Witcher in Concert newsletter, followed by a regular sale on November 21. The full list of venues and dates can be found on the website and below.

The Witcher in Concert 2026

• Dublin, Ireland — Vicar Street | 21 and 22 October 2026
• Manchester, England — O2 Apollo | 24 October 2026
• York, England — Barbican | 25 October 2026
• Glasgow, Scotland — Royal Concert Hall | 26 October 2026
• Liverpool, England — Philharmonic Hall | 27 October 2026
• Wolverhampton, England — Civic Hall | 28 October 2026
• London, England — Eventim Apollo | 29 October 2026
• Bristol, England — Beacon | 30 October 2026
• Stockholm, Sweden — Annexet | 2 November 2026
• Berlin, Germany — Tempodrom | 4 November 2026
• Gdańsk, Poland — Ergo Arena | 5 November 2026
• Kraków, Poland — Tauron Arena | 6 November 2026
• Budapest, Hungary — MVM Dome | 7 November 2026
• Prague, Czechia — O2 Universum | 8 November 2026
• Nuremberg, Germany — Kia Arena | 9 November 2026
• Bratislava, Slovakia — Incheba Arena | 10 November 2026
• Vienna, Austria — Stadthalle | 11 November 2026
• Paris, France — Le Grand Rex | 13 November 2026
• Gent, Belgium — Capitole | 14 November 2026
• Eindhoven, Netherlands — Muziekgebouw | 15 November 2026
• Dusseldorf, Germany — Mitsubishi Electric Halle | 16 November 2026
• Lyon, France — Radiant-Bellevue | 18 November 2026
• Frankfurt, Germany — Jahrhunderthalle | 19 November 2026
• Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg — Rockhal | 20 November 2026
• Zurich, Switzerland — The Hall | 21 November 2026
• Milan, Italy — Teatro Arcimboli | 22 November 2026
• Rotterdam, Netherlands — De Doelen | 28 November 2026
• Groningen, Netherlands — Martiniplaza | 29 November 2026

The Witcher In Concert’s superb music, relaxed approach to storytelling, and stunning simplicity have made it one of my favorite gaming events that I’ve been to this year - and probably in a good few years, generally. Its effortlessly chill vibes and wonderfully executed audio brought The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt back to life for us fans - and, frankly, showed the much more bombastic yet more underwhelming PlayStation in Concert how it's done.

Instead of going big on complex visuals, combining the music on stage with the action on screen - something that, after seeing the Assassin’s Creed Symphony and then the PlayStation concert, I was a full convert of - The Witcher in Concert’s more relaxed take has proved to me that keeping it simple can still be brilliant too.

While there’s a place for the shows that do the former, timing music and even every beat to in-game action and capture, CD Projekt Red’s recent effort makes the entire video game music concert landscape richer, and shows that utmost immersion isn’t always necessary.

A journey that's an audio delight

The show as a whole is built around telling a loose, abridged version of the story of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and the two expansions: Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. A live, small orchestra, plus the folk band Percival Schuttenbach, all using traditional instruments and performing the vocals, took audience members on a fantastic journey across the game.

From Geralt’s dream in the woods with Vesemir, to the first time he arrives in the Skellige Isles, from tracking down Ciri and gathering allies across the lands, to confronting and defeating the Wild Hunt, I was immediately transported back to my first playthrough of the game - and all the subsequent trips back to explore the game’s world, landscapes and soak up its sense of place.

Beginning with the famous Bathtime in Kaer Morhen scene and a section covering early events at the fortress that I could have happily watched and listened to for hours, the on-screen action and live audio took us on a journey that was an intense but downright beautiful sensory experience.

Hearing, seeing, and feeling the memories

The execution of the live music in tandem with the on-screen action, particularly when factoring in the traditional instruments that the Percival Schuttenbach used, was an immediate memory-jogger for me.

I was able to relive the feeling - not just memories of how it looked or sounded alone - of arriving at the Skellige Isles for the first time; listening to the wind and world (along with the music) on top of mountains with Geralt; exploring each city slowly and soaking in each tavern and street; and the magnificent joy of defeating members of the Wild Hunt in epic duels.

The fact that this was all achieved with a relatively modest group of musicians, and only a couple of vocalists, was very impressive. The whole experience sounded richer and more vibrant than the PlayStation in Concert - and that even pumped in pre-recorded choirs and supporting audio to bolster its audio profile.

If you have the chance to grab tickets for the show on its current tour, then I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s a joyful way to appreciate one of the best video games ever made, and it’s made my hype for The Witcher 4 greater than ever.

What the Witcher in Concert also did was immediately make a long-overdue new playthrough of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt a contender for my holiday game - despite what I thought my plan for that was - and I can’t wait to explore, see, listen, and feel that game all over again.

• The Witcher author Andrzej Sapkowski confirmed he hasn't contributed to the development ofThe Witcher 4
• The Polish writer said his contract with CD Projekt Red is "excellent" and hopes it stays that way
• He added that "it's so rare" for the studio to reach out for advice

The Witcher author Andrzej Sapkowski has confirmed that he isn't assisting CD Projekt Red in the development of The Witcher 4, but says his deal with the studio is "excellent".

As reported by GamesRadar, during a book event promoting his latest Witcher prequel novel, Crossroads of Ravens, Sapkowski stated that he hasn't contributed to The Witcher 4 when asked, but that his relationship with the studio is still going well.

"The contracts between me and the game people are excellent right now," Sapkowski said. "Let's hope it stays that way."

He continued, saying that he used to have a slightly closer working relationship with the Cyberpunk 2077 studio during the development of the earlier Witcher games and that it would occasionally ask him for advice on the world he created.

However, Sapkowski said, "it's so rare" now for CD Projekt Red to ask him for any questions.

Sapkowski and CD Projekt Red signed a new deal in December 2019 that further solidified their relationship, which the studio said "satisfies and fully clarifies the requirements and expectations of both parties in light of previously concluded agreements."

The new agreement came after Sapkowski demanded additional compensation from CDPR for their use of The Witcher license in October 2018, and asked for at least 6% of the profits made from The Witcher property.

With the new deal settled, CDPR can now continue creating video games based on the popular Polish fantasy series.

The Witcher 4 is currently in development and will star Ciri as the playable protagonist. There's no release date just yet, but it could arrive after 2027.

I'm usually dead against the two-part release strategy that has crept into Netflix releases like Emily in Paris season 4 and Wednesday season 2. However, The Witcher season 4 could have benefitted from it, as really, it feels like half a series.

All eight episodes are now available to stream, and while a lot is packed into them, the season 4 ending pretty much leaves us back where we started. Why? it's all vital context for what's going to happen in season 5, which will be the final season of the show.

But surely we're not going to be kept waiting another two years before season 5 addresses the questions we all want answers to, right?

While The Witcher season 5 has yet to be given an official release date, cast members Joey Batey, Laurence Fishburne and showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich told me how this is all part of a bigger 'plan' to hopefully see the conclusion a lot sooner.

The Witcher season 5 was always 'planned' to be released closer to season 4, says cast

"Certainly that was the plan," Batey says when I ask the trio when we can expect season 5. "It's essentially season 4 parts one and two, that's how we shot it.

"We shot it in 18 months, all in one go, and Lauren wrote it in that way. She wrote all the episodes in one room during the same period. So we turned up, feeling like we were filming Lord of the Rings. Being away from everyone, you get locked into this journey. And I think that comes through in the actual show."

Fishburne adds: "What's coming in season 5 is absolutely huge."

Intrigue! While we can broadly guess what The Witcher season 5 will cover (namely bringing Geralt, Yennefer and Ciri back together), the jury is out for its release date. I'm hoping we'll see something akin to Squid Game season 3 being released six months after season 2, which means a release date for season 5 might be announced in the coming weeks.

If Netflix wants to keep up the momentum, confirming season 5 plans before Christmas would be the best way forward. Stranger Things season 5 is soon going to pull the streamer's focus, so let's hope things get moving sooner rather than later.

Warning: Spoilers for The Witcher season 4 ahead.

As it turns out, The Witcher season 4 is full of surprises. The new series of the hit Netflix show brings back people from the dead, almost kills the ones we want to last until the end and leaves us on a cliffhanger that could mean season 5 is changed for good (though no spoilers here).

Funnily enough, it's not even Liam Hemsworth as Geralt of Rivia that's causing me to bat an eyelid. Somehow, he's become a side character in his own story, and I hardly noticed that he'd taken over from Henry Cavill at all. However, that doesn't mean that there wasn't a huge surprise waiting for me.

Instead of the season's final episode being the reason why my jaw hit the floor, it was season 4 episode 5. Just when we think we've got our heads around the ever-growing Witcher lore, we're thrown the ultimate creative curveball at the halfway mark.

As the impending season 5 is officially the final season of the main series, I think episode 5 could be teeing two characters up for spinoffs in the future – and the cast agrees with me.

'That was the intention': How The Witcher season 4 episode 5 could lead to future spin-offs

The Witcher season 4 episode 5 is a smorgasbord of everything you didn't see coming. While Geralt's group (aka Hanza) tell each other stories around the fire, we learn more about Jaskier (Joey Batey) through a colorful musical number and Regis' (Laurence Fishburne) backstory through animated flashbacks.

Given the fact that The Witcher franchise already has animated films like Nightmare of the Wolf alongside other creative branches (think its books, games and comics), I don't think it's a huge stretch to assume episode 5 could be a great springboard for Jaskier and Regis spin-offs.

"I think that was the intention, wasn't it? A moment of respite," Batey tells me. "Season 4 is so relentless, so pacy. There's so much going on, and then we finally get to sit around break bread around a campfire and tell the stories, discover these characters a little bit more. And it was a joy to shoot.

"There was so much laughter on that set. People were writing raps, singing songs. We still have all these in jokes that will stay with us forever. And I think that's what that episode first of all, embedded in the cast, but also hopefully reveals in the characters as well."

As it stands, both characters are alive at the end of season 4... despite the odds. Jaskier was nearly killed twice – once by a graveyard demon just before he met Regis, and once in battle – while Regis was shot in the heart with an arrow in episode 8. As Regis reminds us, "much of what humans know isn't the truth," and both live to see another day.

We've got no idea if the same will be true in The Witcher season 5, but regardless, there's a lot of sequel potential here. Netflix isn't just going to let The Witcher, one of its most successful IPs, quietly end after season 5, so why not plant some seeds for future projects while you can? Personally, I'd pay to see them both.

Our final streaming recommendations article for October 2025 is a doozy. Sure, we didn't have to wade through as many options as expected this week. But, given the strength of what's on offer, some new movies and shows didn't make the cut. Sorry, Hazbin Hotel season 2, Robin Hood, and I Love LA...

Hopefully, though, you'll agree that this week's seven suggestions are worthy of inclusion. So, whether you're after some dinosaur-based action, high fantasy, sci-fi or melodrama, we're sure one or more of the below will scratch your streaming itch. – Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Jurassic World: Rebirth (Peacock)

The latest entry in the blockbuster dinosaur franchise is now streaming on Peacock.

Critics were split on Jurassic World Rebirth, so it's certainly proven divisive. In my equally as mixed Jurassic World Rebirth review, I called it "much better than Jurassic World: Dominion", but acknowledged it does struggle to breathe life back into the franchise.

Anyway, Rebirth follows a new cast as they travel to a former island research facility in search of important samples. Criticisms notwithstanding, sometimes you can't go wrong with a loud, action-packed movie featuring some big stars and even bigger dinosaurs. It's what lazy weekends were made for, right? – Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch Jurassic World: Rebirth on Peacock

The Witcher season 4 (Netflix)

Doesn't Henry Cavill look remarkably like Liam Hemsworth these days? Now Geralt of Rivia has a new face, The Witcher season 4 can finally begin to wrap up the fantasy story for good.

Before you go any further, I highly recommend reading our Witcher season 3 ending explained piece to remind yourself what happened last time around. The lore is as complex and detailed as it ever has been, and, with Geralt, Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) and Ciri (Freya Allen) still separated, it's only getting more confusing.

However, that's not necessarily a bad thing. The Battle of Montecalvo has been fleshed out into a death-defying duel for the ages, while new villain Leo Bonhart (Sharlto Copley) is more cruel and callous than anyone who has come before him.

For more on the above and Laurence Fishburne's Regis, aka the real hero of the season, read my review of The Witcher season 4. Then, check out our guide on The Witcher season 4 to get the full lowdown before you stream it. – Jasmine Valentine, entertainment reporter

• Watch The Witcher season 4 on Netflix

Hedda (Prime Video)

If you ever read a Henrik Ibsen play and wished it felt more like Emerald Fennell's Saltburn, you're in luck. Director Nia DaCosta has reimagined Hedda Gabler for the modern age, including Bridgerton-style casting, a lesbian love triangle, and a domestic world where women rule all.

It's all incredibly cool and calculated, meaning Hedda might be the most fun I've had with a Prime Video movie all year (read my Hedda review for more). Tessa Thompson might take our lead character to new heights, but it's Nina Hoss' gender-swapped Eileen Lovborg who steals the show. If you loved her in Tár, you're going to love this.

This makes five feature films for DaCosta in as many years, and that alone is incredibly impressive. I can't shake the feeling that we're collective sleeping on her talent and vision, and if her next projects are anything like this Amazon Original, I'll be the first in line. – JV

• Watch Hedda on Prime Video

Star Wars: Vision Volume 3 (Disney+)

The final Star Wars offering of 2025, the third season of this Disney+ anthology series delivers more suspense-filled, funny, and heart-wrenching stories via various gorgeous animation styles.

Like its forebears, Star Wars Visions volume 3 comprises nine episodes – they're all available to watch now, FYI – that span the breadth of Lucasfilm's iconic galaxy far, far away. Three of this season's entries are sequels to volume 1 chapters, too, so one of the best Disney+ shows' latest installment won't be entirely made up of standalone tales. Hopefully, volume 3's sequel episodes won't feel too *ahem* Forced from a story standpoint. – TP

• Watch Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 on Disney+

Ballad of a Small Player (Netflix)

Is there anything Colin Farrell can't do? Considering how charming he is as addiction-stricken gambler Lord Doyle in Ballad of a Small Player, aka one of October's final new Netflix movies, I'm voting no.

It's a movie that goes big on visuals, cinematography, and sound design, and I'd expect nothing less from director Edward Berger. If you're expecting something like his previous works in Conclave or All Quiet on the Western Front, though, think again. It's much more personal and meditative, and sees Doyle spiral as his bad decisions catch up with him. It might kill him to try and get himself out of it, which forms the crux of the perspective-shifting drama.

It's also a chance for Tilda Swinton to show off yet another accent in her arsenal as she chases around Macau after Doyle to hold him accountable for his actions. Stick it on Netflix as soon as you've read my Ballad of a Small Player review. – JV

• Watch Ballad of a Small Player on Netflix

Down Cemetery Road (Apple TV)

Slow Horses season 5 may have finished this week, but Apple TV isn't letting fans of British spy shows starve, because it's released the first two episodes of a new eight-part series adapted from another Mick Herron novel.

Storming out the gate with the same wiry humor and crime drama mysteries found in the author's Slough House books, Down Cemetery Road sees Dame Emma Thompson as a foul-mouthed private eye, who's normally tedious case load takes a turn for the thrilling when a house explodes in a quiet Oxford suburb.

Knowing Herron, I don't doubt there'll be plenty of twists and turns to unpack in the coming weeks, as espionage, kidnappings, coverups and conspiracies converge in what could be another great Apple TV Original. – Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment editor

• Watch Down Cemetery Road on Apple TV

Sorry, Baby (HBO Max)

A24 has a real gift for making me cry and Sorry, Baby is no exception. Even though I've come to expect deep themes and big emotions from the studio, it's a movie still stunned me in the best possible way.

This dark comedy movie, which is out now on HBO Max, follows a reclusive college professor who struggles with depression after a traumatic incident. It's a difficult watch at times, but also very cathartic, and lead actor Eva Victor delivers a standout performance in one of the best-rated movies of 2025. If you're in the mood to feel a lot this weekend, then you should check it out. – LB

• Watch Sorry, Baby on HBO Max

Warning: spoilers for The Witcher season 4 ahead.

Even before watching The Witcher season 4, you might have guessed that the season finale would have the best plot reveal. However, I think this actually happens in episode 6 of the hit Netflix show – which I'd also say is the strongest episode of the series.

It's when the Battle of Montecalvo takes place, bringing the villainous Vilgefortz (Mahesh Jadu) face-to-face with Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) and the remaining witches of Aretuza. Visually, it's a feast, packed with action sequences that are so dynamic, they unfold in the blink of an eye.

Everybody is at risk, and they know it. Yennefer's base camp at Montecalvo has been training to take on Vilgefortz's unhinged brand of chaos magic as well as they can, but really, we're all just waiting for Yennefer and Vilgefortz to try and take each other down.

It happens, but there's a surprise waiting for us – as Vilgefortz tries to track Yennefer down, former lover Tissaia (MyAnna Buring) is waiting for him. But how is this possible, given she took her own life in season 3?

Because it's actually Yennefer, disguising herself using illusion magic to bring Vilgefortz's guard down. It works, but it had my hopes up for a miraculous return (Tissaia is easily my favorite Witcher character of all time).

Thankfully, I had the chance to ask showunner Lauren Schmidt-Hissrich how it all happened – and yes, it means Tissaia could technically return once again in season 5.

Tissaia's cameo in The Witcher season 4 episode 6 'filmed new scenes' for illusion magic reveal

"New scenes were filmed for this," Schmidt-Hissrich confirms. "Sasha Harris, who's our amazing producer, will say when someone dies on our show, 'Are they dead, or are they Lauren-dead?' That means they may come back at any point. Oftentimes, we say goodbye to actors and it's like, 'actually, can you come back? Am I real? Am I a ghost?' My vision is, we'll figure it out.

"I love that you love the Battle of Monte Calvo," she tells me. "We had to work really hard this season. In the books, Yennefer is not a huge presence in this particular story. She's a jade statue for a lot of it. The stories of the females on this show are very important and we didn't want to sideline her, so we had to craft a story almost from scratch.

"The Battle of Montecalvo is mentioned in the books, but we're never really there for it. So it was so much fun to delve into and just be creative. Our surprise visitor is one of my favorite moments."

For me, Schmidt-Hissrich's telling me literally anybody can come back from the dead is enough fuel for my delusional fire to believe we could see Tissaia in The Witcher season 5. Both seasons 4 and 5 were filmed back-to-back... so if she was filming episode 6 anyway, why not keep her on the payroll for a little longer?

Given that Geralt (Liam Hemsworth), Yennefer and Ciri (Freya Allen) are all still separated by the time season 4 ends, The Witcher season 5 could throw just about anything at us. A lot of characters have died in the interim, and I'm all for as many as possible having a dramatic return.

Warning: Huge spoilers for The Witcher season 4 ahead.

Over the course of eight episodes, The Witcher season 4 has changed the Netflix franchise for good.

After Geralt (now played by Liam Hemsworth), Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) and Ciri (Freya Allen) were separated after the fallout of the Battle of Aretuza, the show's storyline has been on a quest to bring them back together.

There's a lot of obstacles standing between each of them and that end goal, though. Ciri, fed up of everyone after her for their own gain, has renounced her powers and assumed the pseudonym of Falka, joining outcast group The Rats to steal, pillage and cause chaos wherever they land.

Yennefer's got her hands full with personally going after the unhinged villain Vilgefortz (Mahesh Jadu), who equally has his sights set on demolishing what's left of Montecalvo in order to find Ciri. She tries to reunite what's left of the Aretuza sisterhood to do this, including getting on the good side of distant Elf Queen Francesca (Mecia Simson).

Meanwhile, the new Geralt has amassed a rag-tag following known as the Hanza, including OG bard Jaskier (Joey Batey), wise vampire Regis (Laurence Fishburne) and former Nilfgaard knight Cahir (Eamon Farren). They're going after Emhyr var Emreis (Bart Edwards) after hearing he's locked Ciri up to wed her. Really, it's freed mage Teryn (Frances Pooley) in her place.

That's the basic context you need heading into the final events of The Witcher season 4, but the ending still needs some explaining. Allow me to do the honors so my hours of head-scratching while watching it don't go to waste.

Are Geralt, Yennefer and Ciri reunited in The Witcher season 4?

In a word, no. Given that The Witcher season 4 is essentially acting as a context-builder ready for season 5 to hammer the final episodes home, it's not surprising that they've remained separate this entire time.

That doesn't mean they've forgotten each other, though. Ciri is only beginning to learn the true extent of her powers, whispering Geralt's name every time she achieves a huge physical or mental goal.

This is something that's picked up on by fellow Rat Mistle (Christelle Elwin), having heard Ciri say Geralt's name in her sleep. Mistle eventually learns the truth of who Ciri really is, but chooses to keep the information to herself.

The journey for Geralt and Yennefer is a little different. One after the other, they both learn that the time they've spent trying to reach Emhyr was for nothing, as the Ciri locked up in his castle is actually a fake. Yennefer portals to face Teryn herself, before managing to find Geralt to share what she knows.

Geralt and Yennefer have a brief yet steamy reunion in episode 7, cementing their focus being on finding Ciri and bringing their family unit back together. It's this that ultimately separates them again, with Yennefer choosing to go directly after Vilgefortz in order to save Ciri's life and what's left of Aretuza (more on that later).

Who dies?

Sadly, there's quite a long list here (RIP, infinite number of nameless soldiers lost in battle), and some low-level Aretuza mages are also wiped out in the Battle of Montecalvo in episode 6. For episode 8, however, The Rats are our main victims.

All of our members are wiped out in the final few scenes, meaning Giselher (Ben Radcliffe), Mistle, Iskra (Aggy K. Adams), Kayleigh (Fabian McCallum), Reef (Juliette Alexandra), and Asse (Connor Crawford) are no more. The reason why, of course, links straight back to Ciri, so keep reading to find out exactly how this plays out.

We've also seen life-threatening attacks on other key characters, such as Jaskier and Regis, but they've each been able to recover from them. I've got no idea what could actually kill them off, but we've yet to find out.

Geralt accidentally pledges his allegiance to Queen Meve

With Geralt's advance on Emhyr now in tatters, his focus is to get the gang away from enemy attention in episode 8. However, he chooses to do that by sailing them down the middle of a river, where they're confronted by Nilfgaardian and Rivian soldiers.

New Hanza member Milva (Meng'er Zhang) suddenly miscarries, having kept her pregnancy a secret from everybody except Cahir. Geralt and the others now need to cause a distraction, while Regis can effectively treat Milva and get her to safety, resulting in Geralt, Cahir and the dwarves taking on the Rivian-Nilfgaardian battle happening on a nearby bridge.

After saving everyone's lives in the Brokilon Forest in an earlier episode, the dwarves see it as fair game to lay their lives on the line for the greater good. It's also the perfect chance for Cahir to show that he's no longer involved with the Nilfgaardian army, pretending to be a high-ranking officer to trick troops into following his orders. There's a lot of fighting, a lot of death and a very angry giant in the midst of it all.

The fighting subsides and the Hanza are safely away from the thick of it. However, Geralt is out of the water. Given the fact that it's looked like Geralt was fighting alongside the Rivian army (not to mention he'd taken one of Regis' potions that essentially sends him into beast mode), Queen Meve of Lyria and Rivia (Rebecca Hanssen) requests to meet with him.

Geralt is quickly swept up in the majesty of being commended for his efforts, and Meve knights him when he won't reveal where he's originally from ("well, this won't do.") Jaskier comments that this has always been a dream of Geralt's, but our Witcher has forgotten one key thing: being knighted in front of a crowd effectively pledges your allegiance to the crown.

Meve says that Geralt will serve nobody and nothing else other than her from this day forward, with the reality of what's happening finally setting in. The result? A quiet "f**k" under Geralt's breath.

Yennefer abandons Montecalvo to find Vilgefortz

After finding Geralt to tell him that Ciri isn't with Emhyr, Yennefer returns to Montecalvo. It's been left in a sorry state after the battle, with the mages licking their wounds after the deaths of some of their friends and allies. Istredd (Royce Pierreson) gave his life in order to stop Vilgefortz's takeover of the portals, making sure his book holding the original magic used to create them is destroyed.

Vilgefortz retreats back to his surviving flock, but Yennefer isn't done with him. She's insistent on rallying "The Sisterhood" to take on the now-corrupt "Brotherhood", a plan which she confides in Philippa (Cassie Clare). However, instead of spearheading the sisterhood revolution herself – something she'd already put in motion before the Battle of Montecalvo – she leaves it in the capable hands of Triss (Anna Shaffer).

Yennefer instructs Triss on the importance of allying the sisterhood from all backgrounds, and to carry on regardless of if Yennefer comes back alive or not. They hug, and Yennefer portals out of Montecalvo's courtyard.

She finds herself in choppy waters, with Vilgefortz's lair looming on a cliff in the background. While we don't see Yennefer reach land (yet, at least), Vilgefortz remains inside, killing mages when they're unable to replicate the chaos magic portals he had previously corrupted.

Ciri is captured by Leo Bonhart – and The Rats are no more

As we saw at the end of season 3, Ciri has spent all of her time in The Witcher season 4 with The Rats. However, she's struggled to settle into a routine with them, with both The Rats and Ciri just as distrusting as the other.

Over time, the group gradually accepts Ciri has one of their own, though Ciri struggles to keep her past and true abilities to herself. This isn't help when she starts a romantic relationship with Mistle, who is the first to see through her ruse.

There's also a huge moral dilemma that Ciri has to deal with while spending time with The Rats. Once she learns that they hire out their skillset to the highest bidder (they kidnap a young boy for the Redanian Army, for example), she sees the wanton bruality behind some of their actions.

But what we can't forget is how many people are out to get Ciri for their own gain, and sadistic hitman Leo Bonhart (Sharlto Copely) is soon hired to kill them all. He leaves no stone unturned and no body intact in order to track them down, finally setting a trap for Ciri when she decides to leave the group for good.

She gets word that The Rats are in danger, drawing Ciri straight to Bonhart. There's little she can do once she's there, with Bonhart in the middle of killing them all. She's forced to look as Bonhart beheads Mistle, dumping her head in a barrel along with the rest of them. Ciri is now under Bonhart's "care", even though she's supposed to be dead too.

Emhyr ramps ups his efforts to have Geralt killed

Meanwhile, season 4 hasn't been plain sailing for Emhyr either. His corrupt spies are liaising with The Brotherhood to try and have him overthrown, all using the knowledge that Ciri is really Teryn to their advantage.

Seasons 2-3 taught us that Ciri is biologically Emhyr's daughter, but Geralt assumed the role of her father because he is bound to her by the Law of Surprise. The fact Emhyr plans to marry Ciri to cement his power with an heir is... vomit-worthy... to say the least, but that's the least of his worries at the moment.

It takes most of season 4 for Emhyr to learn he doesn't really have Ciri at all, challenging Teryn to fight and being presented with her feeble combat skills. However, Teryn pledges her full allegiance to Emhyr after Yennefer gives her the chance to escape, explaining that her new life is much better to being one of Vilgefortz's experiments.

Once he realizes, all hell breaks loose. However, it's his aides who once again convince him of what to do, explaining that if Geralt is killed, Ciri's destiny is no longer bound to him. Instead, it would come straight back to Emhyr. Agreeing that killing Geralt is the best thing to do, our final scene shows Emhyr in the dungeon, presenting some kind of creature with Geralt's scent.

We have no idea what is the other side of the prison bars, but it's being tasked to end Geralt's life, or else.

Who is the young girl reading The Witcher's story?

In short, we don't quite know. A young girl is seen reading about The Witcher's life at the very beginning of season 4, and by episode 8, she's grown into a teenager. We learn that she's to go to Aretuza, which has been rebuilt many years after Geralt and Yennefer were alive.

She tells us that she's bound to Ciri and Geralt through "destiny," though it's not clear exactly what this means. She continues to tell Geralt's stories to a young boy while the older man who gave them both the book moves on.

Clearly, her significance will be revealed in season 5, so watch this space.

The Witcher season 5 predictions

The main aim of The Witcher season 5 will be to bring Geralt, Ciri and Yennefer together once and for all. However, this doesn't guarantee that they'll all be alive by the end of it, seeing as details from the books and games are constantly being changed.

We also need to see if Emhyr is successful in bringing down Geralt, if Ciri can get away from Bonhart, and if Vilgefortz can be stopped and/or killed. Fans originally thought season 4 would end on the Tower of the Swallow, which is when Bonhart chains and tortures Ciri purely for his own horrific pleasure.

Seeing as we didn't quite get there, it would be safe to assume that this is next up in season 5. Whatever is coming, Laurence Fishburne and Joey Batey assure me that it will be "huge".

"Season 4, part one and two, essentially was how we shot it," Batey says. "We shot it 18 months, all in one go, and you wrote it in that way."

"It's absolutely huge, what's coming," Fishburne adds.

After two years of waiting, The Witcher season 4 has finally returned to our screens – and boy does it feel like we've been waiting that long in the worst possible way.

The hit Netflix show is a complex one to keep up with at the best of times, and that's even more exaggerated when so much has happened in the interim. Liam Hemsworth has taken over from Henry Cavill in the role of Geralt of Rivia, we've got a whole host of brand-new roles who make up his rag-tag crew, and Vilgefortz (Mahesh Jadu) is far from finished wreaking havoc with his unhinged chaos magic.

Add in the remaining witches of Aretuza, the White Flame and the introduction of infamous savage Leo Bonhart (Sharlto Copley), and there's a lot of plates spinning. Unfortunately, I don't think season 4 does the best job of easing us back into the drama, and that's to the detriment of the first four episodes.

However, I implore you to stick with it, even when it feels like you need a specially-made dictionary to decode what's going on. Episodes 5-8 might just be some of the strongest in the franchise, and the stakes are getting bigger and better for what promises to be an explosive final (and fifth) season.

This is possibly the only time I'd advocate in favor of Netflix's split-season drop – while shows like Emily in Paris season 4 and Wednesday season 2 really didn't need to be released in two goes, The Witcher seasons 4 and 5 are part of the same ongoing story.

By the end of season 4, the fictional engines are finally up and running, but are now left to thaw while we wait for season 5 to be announced. Good things come to those who wait, but is this a step too far?

The Witcher season 4 starts off as a slog, and that's a storytelling problem

For at least the first two episodes of The Witcher season 4, I didn't know if I was coming or going. Unless you're a diehard fan of the books and games or have rewatched the previous three seasons in preparation, you're going to be as lost as a kid on their first day of high school.

As someone who doesn't fit into either of those categories, I think episode 1 has done a particularly poor job of bringing us up to speed. We're reminded that Geralt, Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) and Ciri (Freya Allen) have been separated after the fallout of the Battle of Aretuza, but the details are woolly.

Instead of a traditional 'previously on...' recap that would have worked a lot better – or a standalone recap on the platform like Netflix has done with The Witcher before – we're reminded of how things stand through a young girl reading a book about the legend of The Witcher. It's clear she's going to be important in season 5, but the creative risk isn't helpful to getting the simple understanding that we need.

By the halfway point of season 4, you're back in the swing of things. Geralt has become a side plot in his own story, and the action we are seeing often feels like the CGI budget has obviously been spent on Stranger Things season 5 instead.

While there's a distinct cutback on nudity and intimate scenes this season (which was a conscious decision from showrunner Lauren Schmidt-Hissrich), those that do still appear feel somewhat gratuitous. I hate to sound like my Nan, but it's the swearing that rubs me up the wrong way the most in season 4. There's often no linguistic blueprint from the show, swinging from Ye Olde English to "I'm gonna f**cking kill you" in seconds.

The second half of The Witcher season 4 is where it truly shines

Get through these issues in the first four episodes, and you're onto a winner in the second four. Where I've been harsh on the first half of season four, I couldn't sing the praises of episodes 5-8 loud enough. They're some of the strongest in the franchise, upping their visuals, storytelling, and worldbuilding to deliver something we genuinely don't want to stop watching.

Rather than our final episode being the pinnacle of the season, I think it's actually episode 6. Here, we see Vilgefortz and Yennefer come face-to-face in the Battle of Montecalvo, something that's been hugely expanded on from the original books. The action sequences are dynamic and push creative boundaries, while there are plenty of genuine surprises in store (that may or may not change the game for season 5).

I've also got to take a moment for the new cast member who's the actual star of season 4: Laurence Fishburne. Though fans were quick to criticize his casting as thoughtful vampire Regis, Fishburne brings the perfect balance of wisdom and curiosity. It's honestly a wonder that he's not been cast in an old-world fantasy series before this, but now he's truly part of the furniture.

Now viewers are more settled back into The Witcher's lore and overarching narrative, these later episodes in the season also take more creative risks. Without giving too much away, we've got full-out musical numbers, animated sequences and unlikely alliances waiting for us, and I think each has spinoff potential (but more on that another time).

Is The Witcher season 4 the best outing Netflix has had so far? No – and that's largely because it's a placeholder for season 5. In order to give us the jaw-dropping ending we're all waiting for, the show has to give us a lot of context and build-up ready for that moment, and we have to ride out the underwhelming bits as a result.

If anything, think of this as season 4 part 1. Just like the Deathly Hallows or Mockingjay movies in Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, the calm comes before the storm... and what a storm The Witcher season 5 is going to be.

It's nearly time to return to The Continent. After a three-year hiatus, The Witcher returns to our screens later this week for its fourth season. Fans of the high fantasy series and/or those intrigued to see how Liam Hemsworth's Geralt compares to his predecessor, Henry Cavill, will want to know when it'll launch on Netflix.

Below, I'll tell you when The Witcher season 4 will be released on the world's best streaming service. That includes its official launch time where you live, and whether it'll arrive in one or two volumes. So, toss a coin to your Witcher and let's dive in.

What time can I watch The Witcher season 4 on Netflix?

One of the best Netflix shows (depending on who you ask, anyway) will air on Thursday, October 30. That's worldwide, too, so viewers in North and South America won't be able to stream it before everyone else.

As for this season's release time, read on to see when it'll arrive where you live:

• US – 12am PT / 3am ET
• Canada – 12am PT / 3am ET
• UK – 7am GMT
• India – 12:30pm IST
• Singapore – 3pm SGT
• Australia – 6pm AEST
• New Zealand – 8pm NZDT

When do new episodes of The Witcher season 4 come out?

Like The Witcher seasons 1 and 2, all eight episodes of the Netflix TV Original's latest installment will drop on the same date. Because they'll drop simultaneously on launch day, that means that, unlike The Witcher season 3, which released in two volumes, there won't be new episodes of season 4 to stream after October 30.

Well, at least until The Witcher's fifth and final season is released. A launch date for the series' final entry hasn't been publicly announced but, with seasons 4 and 5 being shot back-to-back, its last hurrah should be with us sometime in 2026.

For more on the Netflix show ahead of its return, get the lowdown on its next chapter via my definitive guide on The Witcher season 4. Then, read yourself where things left off last time by reading my ending explained piece on The Witcher season 3.

Geralt of Rivia is looking slightly different in The Witcher season 4, and that's because Henry Cavill has been replaced by Liam Hemsworth in the leading role. No spoilers here, but we're about to see exactly what that means when all eight episodes drop on Netflix on October 30.

Back in October 2022, Cavill announced that season 3 would be his last outing, writing in a statement on Instagram: "My journey as Geralt of Rivia has been filled with both monsters and adventures, and alas, I will be laying down my medallion and my swords for season 4. In my stead, the fantastic Mr Liam Hemsworth will be taking up the mantle of the White Wolf.

"As with the greatest of literary characters, I pass the torch with reverence for the time spent embodying Geralt and enthusiasm to see Liam's take on this most fascinating and nuanced of men. Liam, good sir, this character has such a wonderful depth to him, enjoy diving in and seeing what you can find."

Because The Witcher's main series is ending after five seasons, which were filmed back-to-back with season 4, Hemsworth is in for the duration. We're yet to find out how the show addresses the change, but the official trailer gives us our first glimpse of what the new Geralt is like. Deep voice, distant stare... it's all there.

But I wasn't satisfied with a mere two minute trailer to tell me what I wanted to know, so I asked showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich as well as cast members Laurence Fishburne and Joey Batey what to expect. Interestingly, the new changes seem to run deeper than I expected.

'Magnificent' Liam Hemsworth makes Geralt more 'emotional' and 'vulnerable' in The Witcher season 4

"He walked in, he jumped in without any fear, without any trepidation. If he was nervous at all, you would never have known it," Fishburne tells me. "He had absolute confidence. He brought his intelligence, humor and obviously, his physical stature to swagger. He's just magnificent as the Witcher.

"The way Lauren and her writing staff crafted his entrance, the way he's introduced, is really fun. It's really brilliant, succinct. It just goes, boom, boom, boom, you're in, let's go. It's really wonderful."

"He just became our brother, really" Batey adds.

If you're wondering when Fishburne came into the show, you haven't seen him yet. He's the other new but well-known face joining the season 4 cast alongside Hemsworth, taking on the role of Emiel Regis Rohellec Terzieff-Godefroy, aka Regis. In a nutshell, he's going to be a prominent force during new Geralt's time on screen.

For Schmidt Hissrich though, we're entering much more emotional territory with Geralt. With season 3 leaving us on the cliffhanger of Geralt, Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) and Ciri (Freya Allen) being split apart, the new goal of reuniting his family will feel like a very personal one.

"The stories lent themselves to this change, because Geralt is also going through something he's never gone through before," she explains. "So he's able to access these different emotional, more vulnerable places than we've not seen, and he's joining this sort of new family.

"Obviously, Jaskier has been there from the beginning, but you have these new characters that are joining Geralt on his path. So it's was a completely new dynamic, no matter what. It felt like the birth of a new family."

Intriguing... bring on October 30, I say.

Happy Valentine's weekend, everyone! If you're looking for something to watch while you enjoy a cosy night in with your significant other (or alone – hey, you can treat yourself this weekend even if you're single!), we've rounded up the best new movies and shows you'll want to catch over the next few days. That's if you're not planning a trip to your local theater to watch Captain America: Brave New World, the first of three Marvel movies launching this year, anyway.

So, whether you're ready to bid farewell to Cobra Kai, fancy streaming a romance-laced horror-thriller, or are looking for something else entirely, we've got you covered. – Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Cobra Kai season 6 part 3 (Netflix)

Netflix's huge Karate Kid spin-off draws to a close this weekend. It's not often we see such a long-winded conclusion like this, and fans of one of the best Netflix shows have been on the edge of their seats waiting to see how it all ends with season 6's third and final installment.

It's been a long road for the two warring dojos, who are in a very different place from where we first met them in 2018. But, nearly 40 years after the original 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, Cobra Kai season 6 part 3 is the ultimate showdown, and we'll see Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai forced to face their past while preparing for an uncertain future ahead. It's sure to be quite the finale. – Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch Cobra Kai season 6 part 3 on Netflix

The White Lotus season 3 (Max)

The White Lotus is opening its hotel doors once again as a fresh cast of wealthy socialites head to Thailand to experience the delight and (unbeknownst to them) death of the infamous luxury resort in The White Lotus season 3.

One of the best Max shows' third entry is another dark satire on wealth, class, and exploitation as it follows the antics of various guests and staff over a seven-day period. I’ve waited two years for the one series I won’t skip the opening credits for, so it’s safe to say I’ll be making a reservation to find out who will be in the body bag this time around when it's streaming on Max. – Grace Morris, entertainment writer

• Watch The White Lotus season 3 on Max

The Gorge (Apple TV Plus)

It's Valentine's Day, but that doesn't mean you have to put on a rom-com. Instead, why not try Apple TV Plus' latest movie The Gorge? In our initial trailer reaction, we described it as Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy with literal jobs from hell, with the duo playing opposing snipers who not only guard the titular gorge, but fall in love from across the cavern.

I'm hoping we'll add this to our best Apple TV Plus movies round-up, because it certainly looks promising. With two huge names leading the cast and Alien icon Sigourney Weaver supporting, it's definitely got some star power behind it. So, if you are looking for an alternative to the usual romance this weekend, The Gorge does look like it's worth your time. – LB

• Watch The Gorge on Apple TV Plus

Yellowjackets season 3 (Paramount Plus)

Yellowjackets fans have been eating their hearts out during the near two-year wait since the second season ended. That pause is finally over, though, as the first two episodes of Yellowjackets season 3 are out now.

If you were among those who were underwhelmed by Yellowjackets season 2 (the first season's 73% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes dropped almost 30% in its sophomore outing), I have good and bad news for you. Indeed, critics are pretty divided on season 3, with some labeling it a return to form and others saying it's not all that.

Regardless, one of the best Paramount Plus shows takes us back to the stranded high-school soccer players as summer and new tensions arrive. In the present day, long-buried secrets are expected surface, giving us plenty of new dark truths to chew on. – Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment editor

• Watch Yellowjackets season 3 on Paramount Plus

The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep (Netflix)

Netflix's adaptation of The Witcher hasn't endeared itself to fans of Andrzej Sapkowski's high fantasy book series. Whether it's the main show or one of its spin-offs, franchise devotees have become increasingly exasperated with the unnecessary changes to the source material and/or lackluster original content that the streaming titan has made.

The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep aims to get Netflix's Witcher-Verse back on track. It follows Geralt (voiced by the videogame series' voice actor Doug Cockle, rather than Henry Cavill or Liam Hemsworth) try to prevent all-out war between the Continent's land-dwellers and their sea-based counterparts. With the first animated Witched film – Nightmare of the Wolf – earning praise from fans and critics alike upon its 2021 release, Sirens of the Deep has a lot to live up to. Unfortunately, it won't be taking a spot on our best Netflix movies list due to its poor to mixed Rotten Tomatoes scores. – TP

• Watch The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep on Netflix

My Fault: London (Prime Video)

After watching Prime Video’s Spanish romance My Fault (Culpa Mía) and its recent sequel Your Fault (Culpa Tuya), I’m excited to see this new British adaptation of the same story.

In My Fault: London, teenage girl Noah (Asha Banks) relocates to London from Florida to live with her mom and new stepdad William. There, she meets her stepbrother Nick (Matthew Broome) and there’s instant attraction between them despite their dislike towards each other. But ,as Noah navigates this complicated relationship, she’s unaware that her estranged father has tracked her down after being released from prison.

It probably won’t make it onto our best Prime Video movies list for its typical cheesy ‘bad boy’ romance and over-the-top cliches, but it certainly will be an entertaining watch and it’s a welcome addition to the streamer’s stellar young adult selection (which I will admit, is my guilty pleasure). – GM

• Watch My Fault: London on Prime Video

The 2025 BAFTAs (BBC One)

Get your predictions in now, because it's soon time to find out who'll triumph at Britain's most coveted awards ceremony. The BAFTA Film Awards is one of the biggest nights of the year, and gives us all a chance to celebrate and recognize the incredible titles that have been released over the last 12 months.

The ceremony will be hosted by David Tennant, who'll guide us through the evening's awards. BAFTA award nominee frontrunners include Conclave, Emilia Pérez and The Brutalist, which will no doubt cause a stir – only one of these made it onto our picks for the best movies of 2024 (although The Brutalist was only released in theaters in the UK this year).

Many have been critical of Emilia Pérez’s record-breaking Oscar nominee success and The Brutalist has come under fire for using generative AI, so make sure to get the popcorn ready! The event begins on BBC iPlayer from 7pm UK time on Sunday (February 16), while those in the US and Australia can catch it on BritBox. – AS

• Watch The 2025 BAFTAs on BBC One

For more streaming suggestions, read our guides on the best Disney Plus shows, best Hulu movies, best Max movies, and best Prime Video shows.

• The Witcher 4's narrative director says he knew the decision to make Ciri the protagonist could be "controversial"
• Narrative director Phillipp Weber understands that some players would prefer Geralt but hopes to prove Ciri's role by delivering on "a lot of interesting things"
• Weber said making Ciri the next Witcher "really was the natural evolution of what we’ve already been making for so long"

CD Projekt Red knew that making Ciri the protagonist of The Witcher 4 "could be controversial" for some people, but it was a decision the team made "a very long time ago".

In a recent interview with VGC, following the reveal of The Witcher 4 at The Game Awards, narrative director Phillipp Weber addressed the fan reaction to Ciri starring as the playable protagonist.

"I think we definitely knew it could be controversial for some people because of course, in the previous three Witcher games Geralt was the protagonist and I think everyone really loved playing as Geralt," Weber said.

"I really loved playing as Geralt, so I think we’re aware that if some people think right now that they would still prefer to be Geralt, I do think that’s a legitimate concern, so if this is where that concern is coming from, that’s valid."

According to Weber, the decision to make Ciri the titular Witcher of the next major game was made "a very long time ago" and hope to deliver on "a lot of interesting things" with Geralt of Rivia's adopted daughter at the forefront.

The narrative director also pointed out that the Ciri was originally set up as the secondary main character of Andrzej Sapkowski's novels and in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, so for the development team "it really was the natural evolution of what we’ve already been making for so long".

It also allowed CDPR to "honor" the ending of the Blood and Wine expansion where players get to see Geralt retire.

The Witcher 4's executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga also commented on the positive reaction from fans, saying the team is "overwhelmed by so many people liking the choice, being excited for," and "understanding where it came from".

"Also actually doing a little bit of our job, the community itself is doing the explanation on why it’s the correct choice," Mitręga said.

"Everyone has the right to have an opinion, and we do believe it comes from the passion for our games and I think the best answer for that will be the game itself when the game is released."

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• The Witcher in Concert will kick off next year to coincide with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's 10th anniversary
• Shows are planned for Poland and Boston, Massachusetts, but more tour dates are to be added for Europe in 2025 and North America in 2026
• Attendees can expect live music from the base game and its expansions, arranged by Wild Hunt's composer Marcin Przybyłowicz

CD Projekt Red has announced that it will celebrate 10 years of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt with a concert tour.

The Witcher in Concert is set to kick off next year to coincide with the game's anniversary release in May. The tour will feature select tracks from the main game and its Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions, arranged for the occasion by Wild Hunt's composer Marcin Przybyłowicz, who will also join select stops as a special guest.

Currently, shows are planned for Poland and Boston, Massachusetts, the location of the CDPR's new hub, but more tour dates for Europe will be added in 2025, with concerts taking place in North America at the beginning of 2026.

The concert tour will feature a live orchestra rendition of the game’s memorable soundtrack and "combine cutting-edge visuals and gameplay to create an unforgettable experience."

"The live celebration is further bolstered by Polish folk metal band Percival, co-composers of the game’s soundtrack, known for their iconic contributions to the game’s sound," CD Projekt Red said. "Alongside a skilled orchestra, they will bring to life beloved tracks from Geralt’s journey through the continent."

Ticket sales are expected to go live soon, and those interested can sign up here to be alerted for the pre-sale in CD Projekt Red's newsletter.

CDPR explained that the full scale of the concert series and ticket information will be unveiled over time, with updates to arrive through the official website and newsletter.

The Polish studio just announced The Witcher 4 alongside a brutal new trailer, which finally confirmed that Ciri will be the starring Witcher.

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• The Witcher 4 devs talk about Gwent in a recent interview
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• The game is expected to launch in 2026 at the very earliest

It's not even been a week since The Witcher 4's debut trailer and we're already asking the most pressing of questions: will it have Gwent?

Well, there's potentially great (or terrible, depending on how much you value your free time) news on that front. In an interview with Easy Allies (via PC Gamer), The Witcher 4's executive producer Gosia Mitręga and game director Sebastian Kalemba were asked about the return of the fiendishly addictive card game.

"We really love the game," replies Mitręga, "and we also really carefully, always listen to the community⁠ - which we love, and it's an amazing one." Mitręga adds: "But I don't think anyone will be disappointed."

Kalemba also speaks on the topic, stating that the card game is "a part of the experience, absolutely. We also love Gwent."

While not a rock-solid confirmation that Gwent is definitely coming back in The Witcher 4, it does seem more likely to make a comeback than not based on the developers' responses.

I never quite got around to finishing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, but whenever I played I always got sucked into playing hours of Gwent. Blissfully simple to understand yet providing plenty of room for depth and mastery, it was easily the best part of the previous game for me. I think the only other in-universe card game I've had close to this much fun with since is probably Vantage Master from Trails of Cold Steel 3, even if that's not quite as elegantly put together as Gwent is.

Otherwise, we still don't know much else about The Witcher 4 at present, which is understandable for a game that's still early on in development. We do know that Ciri has been recast for this game, with actress Ciara Berkeley voicing the protagonist in place of Jo Wyatt.

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• Ciri has been recast in The Witcher 4
• This has been confirmed by developer CD Projekt Red
• The character will now be played by Ciara Berkeley

You might have already guessed it, but we now have official confirmation that Ciri has been recast in The Witcher 4.

Eagle-eared fans were quick to notice that Ciri sounds very different in the recent The Witcher 4 cinematic trailer, which debuted at The Game Awards 2024 last week. This led many to speculate online that the character has been recast.

You can check out the trailer for yourself below.

Now we know that this is definitely the case as, in a new statement given to gaming blog The Gamer, developer CD Projekt Red confirmed that Irish actor “Ciara Berkeley was cast as Ciri for The Witcher 4 Cinematic Reveal Trailer.”

In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, the character was portrayed by Jo Wyatt.

“Ciara is a talented actress who impressed us with her enthusiasm and vocal acting skills,” the statement continues, “and in this trailer we believe she truly brought Ciri to life in a way that is both faithful to the character and exciting for fans of the series.”

Although it’s unclear from that statement, the website claims that a CD Projekt Red representative went on to confirm that Berkeley will be portraying the character in the full game.

Ciri will be the protagonist of The Witcher 4. The game has been described by its developer as “an upcoming single-player open-world RPG” that is “the beginning of a new saga, and a follow-up to one of the most acclaimed RPGs of all time”.

We also know that, as a younger and less experienced witcher than previous protagonist Geralt, players will have more freedom to shape her character than before. There is no official release window yet, nor are there any confirmed platforms at this time which might suggest that release is quite a ways off yet.

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In a surprise turn of events, CD Projekt Red has unveiled the first official look at The Witcher 4 at The Game Awards 2024, and yes, Ciri is the playable protagonist.

As the first big game announcement of the night, the studio debuted a stunning, six-minute cinematic trailer depicting a short story from the eyes of a now older Ciri as she takes on a witcher contract in a remote village, terrorized for generations by a monster demanding ritual sacrifice.

Previously codenamed Project Polaris, The Witcher 4 is being developed using customized Unreal Engine 5 technology and will mark the beginning of a new Witcher saga starring Ciri.

"We're kicking off a brand-new Witcher saga, this time with Ciri as the heart of the story!” said game director Sebastian Kalemba. "It feels so good to finally be able to say those words - for the longest time we knew that we wanted Ciri to be the protagonist of The Witcher 4; it just felt natural to us and we believe that Ciri deserves it.

"In this game we want to explore what it means to truly become a witcher by following Ciri on her Path. This trailer is a taste of both that, and just how dark and grounded the world of The Witcher can be."

If you're unfamiliar, Ciri is the adopted daughter of Geralt of Rivia, the protagonist of the first three Witcher games. Interestingly, it seems CDPR has canonized The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's ending, which would see Ciri become a witcher or the Empress of Nilfgaard depending on the player's choices.

Speaking in a recent interview with IGN about the decision to make her the star of the new saga, executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga said that this is a "continuation", and that Ciri was "the very organic, logical choice" as the story has always been about her.

Kalemba expanded on this, saying that choosing Ciri as the main character "was far from roulette. It wasn't random" and that the idea came about in discussions nine years ago.

In terms of what we can expect from the story, Kalemba explained that since Ciri is younger than Geralt, players will be allowed more freedom to shape her character in The Witcher 4.

"She's actually about to become the Witcher,” the director said. “She's about to actually form her own codex, but on her own terms. The way she actually deals with the monsters, the way she deals with quests, the adventures, it's her own unique way. And also I think that she gives more room to be able to tell different stories here and there.

"Of course, we want to give the opportunity for the player to explore more nuance because this is what we do. But she deserves that.”

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CD Projekt Red has announced that The Witcher 4 has officially entered "full-scale production".

The latest comes from the studio's Q3 2024 earnings report, published on November 27, where joint CEO of CD Projekt Red Michał Nowakowski shared a statement regarding the development progress of the next Witcher game, aka Project Polaris.

"I’m proud to confirm that several weeks ago the Polaris team wrapped up pre-production and moved on to full-scale production - the most intensive phase of development," said Nowakowski.

"We are very pleased with our progress on this project, and I wish to thank the team for its dedication."

Polaris was announced back in March 2022 and will kick off a new saga for The Witcher series, though at this time we don't have any details to go on regarding the story and returning characters.

In the same report, it was also revealed that Cyberpunk 2077 has now sold 30 million copies, while Phantom Liberty - the game's sole expansion - has sold over eight million in just over a year since its release.

"I’m very happy to see a large, dedicated community coalesce around our Cyberpunk games," the CEO said before adding that CD Projekt Red is "looking back at another very strong quarter."

"Cyberpunk 2077 and its Phantom Liberty expansion continue to sell very well, but The Witcher 3 is also performing admirably."

At the same time, CD Projekt Red is also currently working on Project Orion, a new game set in the Cyberpunk universe, which is being made by the team responsible for Phantom Liberty.

According to Nowakowski in August, the ongoing projects are "pretty stable" and have been "progressing at a consistent pace".

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The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep, the second animated film set in Netflix's Witcher-Verse, won't be releasing this year after all.

Announced in a Geeked Week 2024 video starring voice actor Doug Cockle, who reprises his iconic role as Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher videogame series in the forthcoming film, Sirens of the Deep won't arrive before 2024 ends. Instead, it'll now aim to cast a spell on viewers worldwide on February 11, 2025.

The movie's official release date was revealed alongside a new clip, which shows Geralt and Jaskier, another fan-favorite character from The Witcher, enjoying a meal by a campfire as they discuss Essi, a rival bard and friend of Jaskier's.

Sirens of the Deep was expected to launch on the world's best streaming service sometime in late 2024. Indeed, Netflix said as much upon The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep's official unveiling last November, but the streaming titan has, for reasons unknown, handed the adult animated flick a revised launch date.

For anyone who needs to know, Sirens of the Deep is based on 'A Little Sacrifice', a short story companion piece to Andrzej Sapkowski's The Witcher book series that expands on Geralt's adventures across The Continent. Per a Netflix press blast that was released alongside the movie's official announcement in late 2023, it'll see the famous monster hunter "investigate a series of attacks in a seaside village" before Geralt "finds himself drawn into a centuries-old conflict between humans and merpeople". It'll be up to everyone's favorite mutant, and allies old and new, to prevent all-out war erupting between the land-dwelling and sea-faring kingdoms. 

Joining Cockle on the voice cast roster is Christina Wren (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice), who'll voice Essi. Joey Batey and Anya Chalotra, who play Jaskier and Yennefer in Netflix's live-action take on The Witcher novels, will voice their respective characters in Sirens of the Deep, too.

A temporary hiatus for Netflix's flagship fantasy franchise

With The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep not due to launch until early next year, 2024 will be the first proper year where Netflix won't release a new Witcher-Verse project.

Indeed, since The Witcher's first season debuted in late 2019, Netflix's live-action and animated retellings of Sapkowski's adored book series has always delivered something new for new and established fans to enjoy and/or bristle with frustration over. The aforementioned debut of one of the best Netflix shows notwithstanding, 2021 saw The Witcher season 2 and The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf unleashed on the world, 2022 gave us the critically-panned The Witcher: Blood Origin, and 2023 saw fans bid farewell to Henry Cavill after his final outing as Geralt in The Witcher season 3.

2020 was the only other year when a new Witcher production didn't see the light of day, but there were mitigating circumstances, with the pandemic heavily impacting season 2's development. If not for Covid-19, then, Netflix likely would've released a new season or standalone production, every year for the past five years.

As it stands, with Sirens of the Deep not releasing until February 2025, The Witcher season 4 in the middle of its development cycle, and The Rats' live-action spin-off being cancelled, there'll be no Continent-based jaunts for viewers to check out. Still, with The Witcher suffering from diminishing returns on the critical and commercial front, taking a year off may be a blessing in disguise. After all, thanks to the 2023 Hollywood strikes, Marvel was forced to reduce its output in 2024, and look at how the MCU's flagging fortunes have turned around as a result. Why can't Netflix's Witcher-Verse enjoy a similar renaissance period in 2025 with Sirens of the Deep and, if it's ready, The Witcher season 4?

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CD Projekt Red has provided an update on the development of The Witcher 4 and the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel.

In a new press release looking back on the studio's financial report for the first half of the year, joint CEO Michał Nowakowski said that CD Projekt Red is now "gearing up to begin the full-fledged production phase" of the next major Witcher game - aka Project Polaris - and that its Cyberpunk 2077 sequel, Project Orion, is now in the planning phase.

"Work on Polaris is progressing – its development team is nearing a major milestone which will mark the end of the preproduction phase," Nowakowski said. 

"The first half of the year was also a busy period for our Boston studio, which is laying the groundwork for Project Orion – a new game set in the Cyberpunk universe."

In a separate earnings call covered by VGC, Nowakowski reaffirmed that work on the studio's ongoing projects is "pretty stable" and that they "have been progressing at a consistent pace."

"The Polaris team is maintaining the right scale to enter the production phase very soon, while our work on both announced and unannounced projects is steadily progressing," the CEO added.

Polaris was announced in March 2022 and will kick off a new saga for the role-playing game (RPG) series. As of July 31, 2024, it's now being worked on by 410 developers, which was predicted by CDPR CEO Adam Kiciński last year. 

As for Project Orion, the next Cyberpunk game will be made by the developers responsible for fine-tuning Cyberpunk 2077 and designing Phantom Liberty team and was said to be in the conceptual design phase during October 2023. 

Cyberpunk 2077's quest director Paweł Sasko, now associate game director of the sequel, revealed this summer that the game is being worked on by former modders.

"Half of the quest team [on the next Cyberpunk] - this is the team that builds the quests which is at 24 people right now - are former modders," Sasko said. "[They come] from Witcher, Cyberpunk, and other games."

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It's seeming more likely than ever that The Witcher 4, currently in the early stages of development at CD Projekt Red, won't feature series protagonist Geralt of Rivia as the leading man this time.

Spotted by VGC, Geralt's voice actor, Doug Cockle, spoke as a guest on a YouTube channel known as Fall Damage. During the spot, he revealed some rather interesting tidbits about the upcoming game.

"What we know is that Geralt will be part of the game, we just don't know how much," Cockle said during the interview. "The game won't focus on Geralt - it's not about him this time. We don't know who it's about, I'm excited to find out, I wanna know!"

Cockle added that he hasn't seen the script for The Witcher 4 yet, but also teased that he wouldn't be able to say anything even if he had seen it. The Witcher 4 was initially announced way back in early 2022, and CD Projekt Red has already hinted that it will be the first game of "a new saga" for the series. Late last year, it was reported that nearly 330 employees were working on the project. This has since grown to over 400 CD Projekt Red staff.

The Polish developer is yet to confirm who The Witcher 4's protagonist will be, but it's long been speculated that the game will focus on Geralt's protégé, Ciri. Even then, there's potential for it to be a new character entirely or, perhaps CD Projekt Red takes the Cyberpunk 2077 route and allows us to make our own Witcher through character creation elements.

The Witcher 4 is likely still a good few years away, but a remake of the first game in the series is also in development right now, which should tide many over until the next big release.

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Netflix has revealed that it's in the process of completely overhauling its homepage – a user interface (UI) redesign it claims will be "our biggest update in a decade".

As part of a letter to its shareholders covering its Q2 2024 earnings, the streaming titan revealed it was developing a "more intuitive TV homepage" that would make it easier for you and I to find our next favorite movie, TV show, and/or videogame. 

Netflix didn't provide any images that tease what the revised homepage will eventually look like, so it's unclear how different it'll be to the one that fans have become accustomed to. The world's best streaming service, though, suggested its homepage refresh will not only make it far easier to find the type of content we enjoy, but also provide more key information to consumers to help them determine whether they should stream it.

"While our recommendations are widely recognized as industry leading," Netflix said. "We believe we can do much more to improve discovery on Netflix. So, we recently began testing a new, more intuitive TV homepage design, our biggest update in a decade. 

"This new interface provides more visible title information at a glance – including synopsis, genre, and ratings. Title previews are also larger and more dynamic, with more immersive trailers and bigger box art to make browsing easier. We’ve also simplified the navigation bar and moved it to the top of the page to create quicker, easier short cuts. And this new design includes 'My Netflix', which has everything members have saved or watched and was previously only available on mobile. As always, with any changes to our product, we’ll listen to the feedback, learn and continue to improve the experience over time."

An insurmountable userbase lead?

Netflix's homepage redesign announcement comes as the streaming giant celebrates plenty of big wins heading into the second half of 2024. 

In its latest earnings report, Netflix confirmed it added 8.05 million more subscribers to its global userbase in the three-month period running from April to June; a figure that takes its total subscriber count to 277.65 million. That means the streamer has added over 40 million new users since Q2 2023, the vast majority of whom have signed up to its cheapest, ad-supported tier. On the monetary front, Netflix is also popping the champagne corks, with its $2.4 billion operating income for Q2 2024 representing a 42% increase on the same period last year.

So, what's driven Netflix's success over the past 12 months? For one, Netflix ditched its cheapest ad-free plan in January, meaning new and returning customers – those operating on a budget, anyway – are forced to sign up to its new ad-supported Basic tier to the tune of $6.99 / £4.99 / AU$7.99 per month. The annual price hikes that Netflix and its competitors continue to drop on consumers – you should brace yourself for another price increase later this year, according to industry analysts – have given rise to sharp jumps in Netflix's profit margins, too.

Of course, Netflix will – rightly, in some cases – point to the popularity of its exclusive movie and TV show range as a major reason for its ongoing success. In its letter to shareholders, the streamer boasted about the wild success that Baby Reindeer and season 3 of Bridgerton had achieved, with two of the best Netflix shows drawing in hundreds of millions of viewers following their releases earlier this year. The same is true of some unexpected hits from Netflix's 2024 Original Movie back catalog, too, with the Jaws-inspired shark horror flick Under Paris racking up nearly 91 million views to become Netflix's third most-popular non-English movie of all-time. Clearly, I should think about adding it to our best Netflix movies guide.

But I digress. Yes, Netflix can boast about the performance of numerous originals and, without them, audiences wouldn't have anything to watch on the service, which would lead them to shuttering their accounts. There's no denying, though, that the streamer's decision to funnel users onto its cheapest tier – one with inescapable ad breaks – or its increasingly expensive Standard and Premium Tiers has also been vital to the platform overcoming its 2023 financial and subscriber loss woes.

The good times won't last forever, with Netflix admitting that it expects subscriber growth to slow in Q3 2024. But, as the streamer extends its seemingly insurmountable subscriber lead on its competitors – Disney Plus, its nearest rival, only has 153.6 million as of March 2024 – Netflix is the undisputed number one streaming service around. Regardless of whether people love or hate its forthcoming homepage redesign, then, it can be confident that fans will stick around for the long haul.

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The Witcher season 4 is almost here. The Netflix fantasy show's latest installment is set to debut on October 30 so, if you're gearing up for its return, you'll want to catch up on what we know about it.

In this guide, I've rounded up the latest information on The Witcher's fourth season. You'll get the lowdown on its release format, extensive cast, story details, trailer, and the series' fifth and final season from this point on. Proceed with caution if, for whatever reason, you haven't watched all three seasons so far, then.

The Witcher season 4 release date

As I mentioned above, The Witcher season 4 will make its Netflix bow on October 30. Its release date was confirmed in mid-September and came almost three years after Netflix renewed The Witcher for a fourth season.

Unlike its forebear's two-part arrival on the world's best streaming service, The Witcher 4 will air in full on launch day. That means each of its eight chapters will drop on October 30.

The Witcher season 4 trailer

It took a while to arrive, but the first trailer for The Witcher season 4 was released in mid-October. Predictably, it teased more gory action, inter- and intra-politicking between The Continent's various factions, and reminded us where we left Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri after last season's finale.

Before then, we were only treated to a new clip (see below) that revealed Liam Hemsworth's Geralt of Rivia in action for the first time. That video arrived almost 18 months after we received our first official glimpse of Hemsworth's Geralt in The Witcher 4's first-look teaser.

The Witcher season 4 confirmed cast

Per Netflix, here's the full – and lengthy! – cast list for The Witcher season 4:

• Liam Hemsworth as Geralt of Rivia
• Anya Chalotra as Yennefer of Vengerberg
• Freya Allen as Princess Ciri of Cintra
• Joey Batey as Jaskier
• Laurence Fishburne as Regis
• Eamon Farron as Cahir
• Anna Shaffer as Triss Merigold
• Mimî M. Khayisa as Fringilla
• Cassie Clare as Philippa Reinhart
• Mahesh Jadu as Vilgefortz
• Meng’er Zhang as Milva
• Graham McTavish as Dijkstra
• Royce Pierreson as Istredd
• Mecia Simson as Francesca
• Sharlto Copley as Leo Bonhart
• Danny Woodburn as Zoltan
• Jeremy Crawford as Yarpen
• Bart Edwards as Emhyr
• Hugh Skinner as Prince Radovid
• James Purefoy as Skellen
• Christelle Elwin as Mistle
• Fabian McCallum as Kayleigh
• Juliette Alexandra as Reef
• Ben Radcliffe as Giselher
• Connor Crawford as Asse
• Aggy K. Adams as Iskra
• Linden Porco as Percival Schuttenbach
• Therica Wilson-Reid as Sabrina
• Rochelle Rose as Margarita
• Safiyya Ingar as Keira

Unsurprisingly, the biggest casting news is that of Hemsworth, who was confirmed to be replacing Henry Cavill as the titular character alongside the the show's season 4 renewal.

Cavill and showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich haven't publicly commented on why he left but, in December 2022, Hissrich told me that she "fully understood" fans' concerns over Cavill's departure. The series' cast has since claimed Hemsworth will change The Witcher for good, too, due to his ability to present Geralt in a more emotionally vulnerable light.

Hemsworth isn't the only newcomer in season 4. Last January, The Matrix and John Wick alumnus Laurence Fishburne was confirmed to be playing fan-favorite character Regis, a sophisticated and wise barber-surgeon with a mysterious past. Copley, Purefoy, and Woodburn were added to the show's roster in early April.

Elsewhere, Radcliffe, Elwin, McCallum, Adams, Crawford, and Alexandra's characters make up The Rats.

A gang of teen tearaways, they were introduced in season 3 – you can read more about them in my Witcher season 3 ending explained article – but weren't expected to feature heavily this season. Indeed, there were rumors that The Rats would get their own spin-off, which would revolve around their adventures with Ciri, who joined their crew in last season's finale.

However, while that series was reportedly shelved (per What's on Netflix) in late 2024, it might be released as a special movie-length episode alongside season 4. It's possible, then, that this project, which Redanian Intelligence says is called The Rats: A Witcher's Tale, might be worth streaming first so you're fully aware of their place in the wider Witcher-Verse and how they help to set up Ciri's arc in this season's story. Speaking of which...

The Witcher season 4 plot details

Full spoilers follow for The Witcher season 3.

Here's this season's official plot synopsis: "After the shocking, Continent-altering events that close out season 3, the new season follows Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri who are faced with traversing the war-ravaged Continent and its many demons apart from each other. If they can embrace and lead the groups of misfits they find themselves in, they have a chance of surviving the baptism of fire – and finding one another again."

In a Netflix press release, the streaming giant also revealed season 4 would adapt the final three novels in Andrzej Sapkowski's book series: Baptism of Fire, The Tower of the Swallow, and Lady of the Lake. You can find out how to read The Witcher novels in order, too, if you want to get a head start on this season's major plot points.

I won't spoil events depicted in those novels here, but I am going to discuss major season 3 spoilers from now on. So, consider this your final warning if you still haven't seen it!

Following The Witcher season 3's explosive events, the series' main trio – Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer – have been scattered to the wind. So, where will we find each one at the start of this season?

Where Geralt is concerned, last season's finale revealed the mutant monster hunter – who, thanks to the dryads and Yennefer, had largely recovered from the life-threatening wounds he sustained at Vilgefortz's hands – has set off to rescue Ciri.

Accompanied by Jaskier and Milva – the beginnings of the group known as the Hanza, according to Hissrich (per Netflix Tudum) – Geralt is heading to Nilfgaard. He believes the nefarious emperor Emhyr has been reunited with Ciri – Emhyr's daughter, don't forget – which, to put it mildly, Geralt isn't happy about.

Fascinating as it'll be to see Geralt and Emhyr cross paths once more – remember, Emhyr was the individual (then known as Duny) that Geralt helped in season 1 – Ciri hasn't returned to NIlfgaard.

Season 3 episode 8 showed Emhyr had been duped into believing she had. Unbeknownst to him, though, Teryn – the Vilgefortz-brainwashed Ciri lookalike that Geralt met in season 3 episode 2 – is masquerading as Cintra's princess. How long will it be until Emhyr and Geralt realize the truth and set off to find the real Ciri?

Speaking of Emhyr and Princess Pavetta's magically powerful daughter, Ciri escaped the labyrinthine Korath Desert and is now traveling – under the guise of her 'Falka' alias – with The Rats.

As I mentioned earlier, this group of bandits (with Ciri in tow) was supposed to star in The Witcher's next TV spin-off, which is now expected to be released as a standalone episode. Nevertheless, we should see Ciri traverse The Continent alongside her new friends in the early part of the forthcoming season.

We'll also learn if she's relinquished control of her incredibly potent abilities. "Did we want her to choose to give up her powers – meaning that she has them, but she’s not going to access them because she wants to rid herself of her prior identity?" Hissrich teased to Tudum. "Or, did she actually magically relinquish those powers and she no longer has access to them? You’ll have to watch Season 4 to wait and see which is true."

As for Yennefer, she's returned to Aretuza to establish a new Sorcerers Guild. Known as the Lodge of Sorceresses, it'll be formed in the wake of the Brotherhood's collapse during the brutal Thanedd Coup in last season's final three episodes. Yennefer will be dealing with the death of long-time mentor and maternal figure Tissaia, too, who killed herself following said coup. Don't be surprised if Aretuza's new leader eventually joins the hunt to track down Ciri, though, especially as the pair have grown closer over the past two seasons.

There are plenty of other side stories that need expanding upon.

With Philippa and Dijsktra installing Prince Radovid as a puppet king on Redania's throne – Philippa murdered the former monarch Vizimir after he blamed her for the failed Thanedd Coup – we can expect one of The Continent's four major kingdoms to take on a bigger antagonistic role in season 4.

Meanwhile, Francesca will be gunning for revenge against Emhyr and Nilfgaard for the role that they played in her baby's death, which former Nilgaardian sorceress Fringilla accidentally revealed in season 3 episode 8.

Oh, and we need to learn what's become of Vilgefortz his role in The Continent's most harrowing events of recent times. Judging by his brief appearance in this season's official trailer, he's mostly recovered from the wounds he sustained when Ciri inadvertently destroyed the Tower of Tor Lara in season 3 episode 7, and he'll still have an integral part to play in proceedings.

"We want people to go back and start looking at all of the clues and breadcrumbs that we have laid out to see how these two people align," Hissrich said. "Because, clearly, there’s a lot more going on with Emhyr, Vilgefortz, and their past – and their future."

Will The Witcher return for more seasons?

Yes, but only one more. As the above X/Twitter post confirmed last April, The Witcher season 4 is the precursor to the fifth and final season, which was reportedly filmed alongside the forthcoming chapter.

In a statement published at the time of the announcement, Hissrich said: "It is with huge pride that we begin shooting our penultimate [aka the fourth] season of The Witcher with a stellar cast, including some exciting new additions, led by Liam Hemsworth as Geralt of Rivia. We’re thrilled to be able to bring Andrzej Sapkowski’s books to an epic and satisfying conclusion [with season 5]. It wouldn’t be our show if we didn’t push our family of characters to their absolute limit – stay tuned to see how the story ends."

The revelation that The Witcher will end after five seasons isn't a huge surprise. Indeed, Hissrich previously said she contemplated ending the series after Cavill's departure (per GamesRadar).

It's the double-edged sword of the show's declining popularity and critical reception, though, that appears to have had a major say on Netflix's decision to bring it to a close. The Witcher's Rotten Tomatoes scores reveal how critics and general viewers have received each season with varying levels of positivity. Meanwhile, the 30% drop in viewership between The Witcher season 2 and The Witcher season 3 proves it's not as successful as it once was.

It's unclear what the future holds for Netflix's Witcher-Verse, too. With its latest animated film offering The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep being met with with mixed to negative ratings on Rotten Tomatoes earlier this year, it might be that The Witcher season 4 and its sequel will bring the streamer's live-action adaptation of Sapkowski's works to a permanent end.

For more Netflix TV-based coverage, read our guides on Stranger Things season 5, One Piece season 2, Emily in Paris season 5, and Bridgerton season 4.

Netflix has revealed that One Piece season 1 was the most popular series among its fanbase between June and December 2023.

In the second edition of its 'What We Watched: A Netflix Engagement Report' series, the streaming giant confirmed that One Piece's first season was the most-watched show on its platform in the second half of 2023. Considering that it spent three weeks at the summit of Netflix's Top 10 TV chart – a performance that made it king of the TV high seas in mid-August 2023 – and five weeks in the top 10 overall, that'll come as little surprise to some readers. Given its impressive display, you won't be shocked to know that One Piece season 2 is in development.

But I digress. What's most impressive about One Piece's accomplishment is just how popular it proved to be. 

In total, 71.6 million people tuned into watch some of Netflix's live-action adaptation, whether that's a single episode or the full season. Few other series came close to matching one of the best Netflix shows' treasure-like haul of 541.9 million hours streamed, too. In fact, only one other Netflix TV Original managed to do so – King The Land: Limited Series, a Korean rom-com, surprisingly amassed a whopping 630.2 million hours viewed. However, thanks to its incredibly long episodic runtimes (compared to One Piece, anyway), King: The Land was only seen by 33.2 million people – a haul only good enough to net it 14th position on Netflix's latest bi-annual TV chart.

Shock successes dominate the Netflix TV charts

While King: The Land couldn't wrestle the 'most-watched Netflix show' crown from One Piece's grasp, it wasn't the only surprise inclusion in the top-20 most popular series on the world's best streaming service between last June and December.

Obliterated, Netflix's hardcore action-comedy from Cobra Kai's creators that was canceled after a single season, actually performed better than anyone expected, sneaking into the top 20 with a not-too-shabby haul of 27 million views. If it wasn't for the critically acclaimed The Fall of The House of Usher's bigger haul of hours streamed – 223.4 million hours viewed to 184.8 million – Obliterated would have bagged itself a 19th placed finish instead.

There were, though, even bigger shocks than Obliterated. Popular shows including The Witcher, Sex Education, Lupin, and The Lincoln Lawyer all managed to nab spots in the top 10, but none of them came close to reining in One Piece. Indeed, Lupin Part 3 could only muster up 49.7 million views to finish 4th, while The Witcher season 3 (47.9 million), Sex Education season 4 (46.3 million), and The Lincoln Lawyer season 2 (35.7 million) finished 5th, 6th, and 10th respectively.

Okay, so if none of these seemingly popular and/or hit shows finished runner-up to One Piece, which ones did?

In a turn up for the books, Dear Child, a German crime-thriller series, took second place in the period running June to December 2023. It only accrued 252.8 million hours streamed but, thanks to its short episodic runtimes, that translates to 52.5 million total views, which is only 20 million less than Netflix's live-action remake of One Piece accumulated.

Even more bizarre is what finished in the bronze medal position. Who Is Erin Carter?, another thriller series (albeit a British one), snatched third place ahead of its competitors with 286.2 million hours streamed and a total haul of 50.1 million views. Why is Erin Carter's position in the final standings so unexpected? Because, based on its mixed reception – it holds 67% critical and 54% audience ratings on Rotten Tomatoes – it shouldn't have been as popular as it is. It just goes to show, then, that using Rotten Tomatoes scores to decide whether you should watch and a show or not isn't always a good idea.

There are other unexpected TV winners and losers on Netflix from the latter half of 2023. The Crown season 6 was, based on its paltry 25.2 million views haul, a certified dud. Netflix's latest engagement report also shows just how popular Suits proved to be following its debut on the streamer last June – the legal drama, which starred Meghan Markle for much of its run, racking up an insurmountable 144 million views across its nine seasons. Even older Netflix originals, such as Wednesday and The Night Agent's first seasons, continued to attract new viewers – the pair mustering up 23.9 million and 19 million views respectively.

What does all of this tell us, then? As much as we think we know which shows will be hits, it's far more difficult to determine what TV series will be popular with the masses. Just look at something like Baby Reindeer, which debuted to little fanfare in early 2024 and has gone on to be Netflix's biggest TV success story so far this year. Don't be surprised if, in six months' time, I'm telling you that Baby Reindeer was the most-streamed series of the period running January to June 2024.

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Major spoilers follow for The Witcher season 3.

Netflix has revealed a first clip of Liam Hemsworth as Geralt in The Witcher season 4 – and, for the most part, fans think he's a fitting replacement for Henry Cavill.

The first-look footage, which was released yesterday (May 22), only shows Hemsworth as the titular character for a few seconds. However, with the camera lingering on Hemsworth before the screen cuts to black, we get a good look at how similar his iteration is (aesthetically, anyway) to Cavill's.

The debuting of Hemsworth's Geralt comes a week after images, which show Hemsworth as the titular character, leaked online. The photos, which you can view on ResetEra (they originally appeared on The Witcher fansite Redanian Intelligence), appear to show Hemsworth reshooting scenes from The Witcher season 3. Reading between the lines, this suggests Geralt might be plagued by flashbacks of his life-threatening defeat to Vilgefortz in the show's previous season.

It's been over 18 months since Hemsworth was announced as Cavill's successor. In October 2022, Netflix renewed The Witcher for a fourth season, but confirmed that Cavill wouldn't return as the fantasy show's protagonist, much to the chagrin of The Witcher's fanbase. Two months later, showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich exclusively told TechRadar that she "fully understood" why fans were concerned about Cavill's departure. Since then, Hissrich and Cavill have declined to comment on why the latter walked away from one of the best Netflix shows, though there have been rumors that Cavill didn't see eye to eye with the creative team's vision for the rest of the hit series.

Hemsworth isn't the only newcomer among The Witcher season 4's cast. The series got a magical cast upgrade with the addition of Laurence Fishburne in January, with The Matrix and John Wick star set to portray fan-favorite character Regis. Three months later, Sharlto Copley, James Purefoy, and Danny Woodburn were added to the show's sizable ranks as bounty hunter Leo Bonhart, Nilfgaardian spy Skellen, and fan-favorite dwarven individual Zoltan respectively.

Filming is underway on The Witcher season 4 as of mid-April, while Netflix has confirmed that a fifth and final season will wrap up the series in the near future. The show's last two installments will cover the final three novels in Andrzej Sapkowski's The Witcher book series, too.

A Cavill-cade of positive comments

Considering how popular Cavill's hiring and subsequent portrayal of Geralt was in The Witcher's first three seasons, you could be forgiven for thinking that Hemsworth is on a hiding to nothing by succeeding Cavill in one of his most famous roles.

And yet, judging by the vast majority of online comments since Hemsworth's Geralt was unveiled, it seems fans are taken by his new version of the character.

Indeed, a quick glance at threads on ResetEra and various Witcher-based Reddit pages shows that fans are largely happy with what they've seen. Heck, some have even suggested that they prefer Hemsworth's Geralt – again, based on his look – to that of Cavill's, who was considered to be a bit too muscular by small sections of The Witcher's global fanbase.

Of course, there are others who claim that it doesn't matter who's playing Geralt in the show's final two seasons – comments that are based on the perceived drop in quality that The Witcher has suffered on the world's best streaming service. Indeed, while the series' critical rating has fluctuated from season to season on Rotten Tomatoes, its audience score has fallen significantly with each new eight-part entry – 89% for season 1, 55% for season 2, and an abject 19% for season 3.

I largely agree with those audience verdicts, too. In my review of The Witcher season 2, I suggested it "deliver[ed] a more ambitious, action-packed and emotionally resonant second season", whereas The Witcher season 3 part 1 "proves the hit Netflix show is losing its magical touch". We'll see if Hemsworth's arrival can steer the series back on track when its fourth season is eventually released. In the meantime, read my The Witcher season 3 ending explainer to see what it sets up about said fourth season.

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Netflix has lots of news regarding its very biggest shows, and most of it is good. The streamer has said when new seasons of some of its most popular shows will air, and the list includes some of its biggest hitters: Squid Game season two, a new season of The Night Agent, the final season of Cobra Kai and more. But it's bad news for The Witcher fans. The final two seasons are to be filmed back to back with the show ending with its fifth and now final season.

The news comes via CEO Ted Sarandos, who spoke about the series during the streamer's first-quarter earnings call. However, while he did give time frames for the shows, he didn't give the actual dates. Fear not, they'll no doubt trickle out as the trailers drop and the publicity machine for the best streaming service gets into gear.

So what's coming – and what's going?

Netflix's biggest shows for 2024

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the shows that will "premiere in the second half of the year" include the second season of Squid Game along side new seasons of Cobra Kai, The Night Agent, Outer Banks, Emily in Paris and Monster. And they'll be joined by a bunch of new exciting shows including Senna, about the legendary Formula 1 racing driver Ayrton Senna, and a new adaptation of the novel The Perfect Couple starring Nicole Kidman and Liev Schreiber.

One of the reasons for the packed slate of shows is that many are finally cleared for streaming after the resolution of the writers' and actors' strikes, which delayed many already scheduled shows and movies. According to Sarandos, "the floodgates have opened a little more" in terms of Netflix licensing shows from other huge media firms too.

It's not all good news, though. The Witcher showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich has posted a statement about the forthcoming end of the show, with two final seasons being filmed back to back and Liam Hemsworth taking on the role of Geralt from Henry Cavill. The final two seasons will adapt the final three books in Andrzej Sapkowski’ series: Baptism of Fire, The Tower of the Swallow and Lady of the Lake.

As The Hollywood Reporter, er, reports, the statement says that "it is with huge pride that we begin shooting our penultimate season of The Witcher with a stellar cast, including some exciting new additions... We’re thrilled to be able to bring Andrzej Sapkowski’s books to an epic and satisfying conclusion. It wouldn’t be our show if we didn’t push our family of characters to their absolute limit – stay tuned to see how the story ends."

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Developer Fool's Theory has confirmed that it plans to make significant changes to its remake of The Witcher.

The remake of the 2007 title - initially codenamed Canis Majoris - was announced back in 2022 and will be helmed by a crew of CD Projekt Red veterans including CEO Jakub Rokosz, who said in a recent interview with Edge (via GamesRadar) that a multitude of elements of the classic role-playing game need to be addressed for the remake to work.

Rokosz worked on The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt but didn't get the opportunity to work on the first game. He said that "bothered" him and wanted a "chance to give it the justice it deserves." 

Now taking charge of the remake, the CEO already has some ideas of what needs to be addressed, and said: "First and foremost, we need an honest, down-to-earth analysis of which parts are simply bad, outdated, and need to be remade." 

This applies to features that simply don't hold up almost two decades later, such as visuals and other gameplay elements, but will also be "highlighting the parts that are great, should be retained, or are direct key pillars that can't be discarded."

We don't know too many details about the remake right now, only that it will be open-world so it's likely it'll see an overhaul similar to The Witcher 3 in terms of exploration and visuals, like those stunning sunsets. Fool's Theory will also be doing some "rearranging" of the best parts of the original "to create something that is both satisfying and still resonates with the feel" of the game.

The Witcher remake will be developed in Unreal Engine 5 using the same technology as The Witcher 4 - codenamed Polaris - which is being worked on by CD Projekt Red alongside the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel.

For more, check out our picks for the best RPGs, as well as our list of the best story games. 

Acclaimed actor Laurence Fishburne has officially joined the cast of The Witcher season 4.

Revealed in a press release today (January 12), Netflix confirmed the John Wick star had landed a role in the hit fantasy show's fourth installment. Fishburne will play Regis, a fan-favorite character from Andrezj Sapkowski's The Witcher book series.

In a brief statement accompanying the announcement, Fishburne – who's also known for starring in The Matrix's original trilogy and multiple Marvel projects, such as Ant-Man 2 and What If...? season 2, said: "I’m very excited to be joining the cast and look forward to exploring the wondrous world of The Witcher."

For the uninitiated, Regis is a sophisticated and wise barber-surgeon – one with a mysterious past, no less – who first featured in 'Baptism of Fire', the sixth of Sapkowski's novels. Netflix is keeping Regis' role in The Witcher season 4's plot firmly under wraps, with the world's best streaming service simply telling viewers that Regis will join Geralt on his journey in the show's next installment. 

There's further good news for those of you who are still interested in The Witcher following the departure of Henry Cavill, who played Geralt in one of the best Netflix shows' first three seasons. Indeed, Netflix confirmed the series' fourth season will enter full production in spring 2024 (that's autumn for southern hemisphere dwellers), meaning principal photography should begin around March or April.

Lastly, the streaming giant provided a brief logline of what audiences can expect from The Witcher season 4's story. "After the shocking, Continent-altering events that close out season three, the new season follows Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri who are faced with traversing the war-ravaged Continent and its many demons apart from each other," the synopsis reads. "If they can embrace and lead the groups of misfits they find themselves in,  they have a chance of surviving the baptism of fire – and finding one another again."

Casting a new-look spell on Netflix's Witcher-Verse

Fishburne won't be the only new face we'll see in The Witcher season 4. As mentioned, with Cavill walking away from one of his dream roles after the third season's full release, Netflix had to find someone else to assume the role of Geralt. In October 2022, we learned Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games) would replace Cavill as the titular character.

Season 4 of The Witcher isn't the only project in development for Netflix's Witcher-Verse, either. Another spin-off series, which is believed to center on The Rats – the gang of misfits Ciri comes across in the season 3 finale (read our Witcher season 3 ending explained article for more details) – has reportedly been filming for months. Meanwhile, another animated movie, titled The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep, will see beloved Geralt voice actor Doug Cockle reprise his role as the gruff, no-nonsense warrior sometime in 2024. Cockle is famous for voicing Geralt in CD Projekt RED's The Witcher video game series.

Netflix's TV adaptation of Sapkowski's novels has been losing its shine in recent years. Indeed, in our review of The Witcher season 3, we said the hit Netflix show was losing its magical touch. 

Add in the universally negative reviews that spin-off show The Witcher: Blood Origin was met with in December 2022, and the streamer needs to turn its franchise's fortunes around. It'll hope, then, that the aforementioned spin-off projects and Fishburne's season 4 hiring will go some way to earning back fans' trust.

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The Witcher 4 is being worked on by nearly half of CD Projekt Red, the studio's biggest development team at this time.

According to CD Projekt Red's latest earnings report, the next installment in The Witcher series - codenamed Polaris - currently has almost 330 developers at work on it, which is just under 50% of the staff (via VGC).

CDPR CEO Adam Kiciński also confirmed during the company’s third-quarter earnings conference on November 28 that "It’s expected to grow to over 400 by mid-next year."

Polaris was announced in March 2022, and its development team reportedly grew to 260 members as of July 31, 2023. The report also states that as of the end of October, over 25% - 220 developers - are in transfer as they move away from working on Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, and the recently announced Ultimate Edition, to join the Polaris team.

Additionally, it seems there's a small percentage of developers working on "other projects" as well as a separate Witcher spin-off, Project Sirius, alongside The Molasses Flood - the studio behind The Flame in the Flood and Drake Hollow - which was acquired by CDPR in 2021.

Alongside Polaris and Sirius, there are three other games in the works at the studio, including projects Orion, Canis Majoris, and Hadar. 

Orion is the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077 and will be made by the Phantom Liberty team, while Canis Majoris intends to be a new "full-fledged" Witcher game, but separate from Polaris, which will kick off a new saga for the series. 

As for Hadar, not much is known, only that it's an "entirely distinct IP, created from scratch within CDPR.”

In the report, the studio also revealed new sales for Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, claiming that the expansion has now surpassed 4.3 million sales in its first two months of launch. 

If you're looking for some more narratively gripping games, then check out our list for the best story games and the best single-player games available to play right now.

The Witcher author Andrzej Sapkowski isn't interested in playing CD Projekt Red's games.

During a recent interview at Vienna Comic Con with Austrian website Cerealkillerz, the fantasy author - who has a brand-new Witcher book in the works - discussed the popular Netflix adaption of his novels, as well as CD Projekt Red's games (via PC Gamer).

When asked if he ever gave feedback on the series, Sapkowski shared that he offered advice to Netflix for its adaptation of his books, but they didn't listen to him. 

"Maybe I gave them some ideas, but they never listened to me," he said, laughing before repeating, "They never listen." He also seemingly gave an impression of someone at Netflix, saying, "Who's this? It's a writer, it's nobody," waving his hand in dismissal. 

As for the games, which have turned out a trilogy that includes the massively successful The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Sapkowski doesn't intend on playing them at all despite their popularity with fans.

When asked if he ever played the games, he responded: "Never. I have no time for this, and it's not entertainment for me. No… I never played it and I do not intend to play it." 

It's fair to assume that Sapkowski won't be interested in playing the next Witcher game from CD Projekt Red, which is currently in early development. Codenamed "Polaris", the project was announced back in March 2022 and aside from some official artwork, we know quite little about it other than the fact that the game will kick off a "new saga" for the series. 

CD Projekt Red also recently announced that after eight years, an official mod editor is currently in the works for the PC version of The Witcher 3.

If you're looking for the best gaming discounts as we approach the holiday season, check out our Black Friday gaming deals guide, along with our picks for the best Black Friday video game deals which feature some great offers.

Destiny 2 is getting ready for its next season, and with this, players are getting some fantastic new gear inspired by the White Wolf. 

Destiny 2's Season of the Wish will introduce a set of Geralt-inspired gear; players will be able to unlock all of these once the upcoming season starts on November 28. We also know that this collaboration with The Witcher will also provide players with "armor ornaments, a Ghost shell, ship, Sparrow, emote, and finisher," according to a tweet from Destiny Bulletin.

From what we've seen already in an official Tweet from Destiny 2, it looks like this collaboration will be one to remember. Each starting class can be seen wearing gear inspired by Geralt of Rivia. The Titan class has the iconic characters' famous armor, while the Hunter and Warlock have cloaks and breastplates that look like they have been pulled straight from The Witcher series. 

This fantastic collaboration in Season of the Wish isn't the first time Destiny 2 players have been treated to incredible cosmetics. Earlier this year, players were treated to tons of Destiny 2 crossover content, which included items and gear inspired by PlayStation titles like Horizon Forbidden West and Ghost of Tsushima.

The Season of the Wish also marks an important occasion for Destiny 2 as it is the final season before the upcoming Final Shape expansion goes live in February 2024. This expansion will conclude the Light and Dark Saga, a narrative that began in 2017 when Destiny 2 was released.

That's all the information concerning the collaboration available for the time being; however, as we draw closer to the next season, here's hoping that we'll learn even more exciting news concerning these brilliant items and gear.  

If you're in the market for something more than just in-game cosmetics, then be sure to check out all these terrific Black Friday gaming deals as well as these Black Friday PS5 deals, which are all available right now.

Netflix has announced The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep, a brand-new animated set in its Witcher-Verse starring everyone's favorite monster hunter Geralt.

Revealed during its Geeked Week 2023 celebrations, The Witcher's latest spin-off project is sure to make waves on Netflix when it arrives in late 2024. In news that's sure to delight long-time Witcher fans, Sirens of the Deep sees iconic voice actor Doug Cockle reprise his role as Geralt, who voiced the character in CD Projekt RED's Witcher video games.

"I am super excited to announce my return to the world of The Witcher voicing Geralt of Rivia once again, but this time in the upcoming animated feature The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep," Cockle said in a statement. "It’s been an honor to work with Studio Mir and Netflix on this new animated film and I’m thrilled to be able to share this next chapter of the White Wolf’s journey with fans of the Witcher universe. Mire taedh aen stráede!"

As well as unveiling the title of its latest Witcher production, Netflix released a couple of first-look videos that tease Sirens of the Deep's story. First, check out the announcement trailer, which confirms Geralt as the story's lead:

Then, watch The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep's official teaser, which contains footage different from the aforementioned announcement trailer:

You won't be able to glean much about the plot from those trailers, so it's a good thing Netflix provided more in the way of story details in Sirens of the Deep's press blast.

"Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster hunter, is hired to investigate a series of attacks in a seaside village and finds himself drawn into a centuries-old conflict between humans and merpeople" the story synopsis reads. "He must count on friends – old and new – to solve the mystery before the hostilities between the two kingdoms escalate into all-out war."

Sirens of the Deep is based on Andrezj Sapkowski's 'A Little Sacrifice' short story, so certain fans of the acclaimed author's The Witcher book series will already be familiar with this tale. 'A Little Sacrifice' is one of the stories that make up the 'Sword of Destiny' book, aka the second novel in the series, which suggests Sirens of the Deep will be a pre-sequel movie set around The Witcher season 1 and The Witcher season 2.

Christina Wren (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) joins Cockle on voice acting duties as Essi Daven, a female bard with ties to Jaskier – or, as he's known in The Witcher books, Dandelion.

Perhaps even more surprisingly, Joey Batey, who has played Jaskier in The Witcher seasons 1 through 3, as well as The Witcher: Blood Origin, returns to voice the musician in Sirens of the Deep. Anya Chalotra, who portrays Yennefer of Vengerberg in Netflix's hit live-action series, is also back to lend her vocal talents to Yennefer's animated form in this film. The pair's appearance in The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep lends further weight that it'll be set between one of the best Netflix shows' first and second seasons – or, at the very least, around season 1, which is when Geralt was first introduced to the duo.

The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep is the second animated spin-off movie to be set in Netflix's Witcher-Verse; the first being 2021's Nightmare of the Wolf, which starred Geralt's mentor Vesemir. It's also likely to be the only project that tides us over until The Witcher season 4, which is in active development, lands on the world's best streaming service. Studio Mir (The Legend of Korra) is responsible for its animation.

Unfortunately, Henry Cavill won't be back to play Geralt in The Witcher season 4. Upon the show's renewal in October 2022, Netflix and Cavill confirmed he was departing for pastures new, with Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games) stepping into the role – and, considering how popular Cavill's portrayal of Geralt was, they're big boots to fill. To learn more about Cavill's departure and where the show is heading, read our Witcher season 3 ending explained article.

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Fresh out of the launch of Cyberpunk 2077’s highly anticipated DLC expansion, Phantom Liberty, CD Projekt Red has its sights set on the future of the Cyberpunk series, and according to narrative director Igor Sarzyński, the studio is aiming for it to somewhat follow in the footsteps of The Witcher.

In an interview with PC Gamer, Sarzyński explained that the developers are hoping that the Cyberpunk series will evolve in a “similar” way to The Witcher games. He said: "Consider The Witcher games and how much they changed with each installment. We want a similar evolution here.”

Explaining the way forward, Sarzyński noted that Cyberpunk 2077 was the team’s “first venture into a futuristic sci-fi world”, and it pushed the developers with new mechanics and themes that they’d not explored before. Everyone knows that the 2020 open-world RPG didn’t exactly hit the mark when it first launched, and Sarzyński acknowledged this, too.

"Some of the stuff worked almost right out of the box, such as the art, city design, music, interactive scene system, playstyles,” he said. “Other aspects took more time to get right, like character progression, NPC interactivity, and optimization. That’s natural; it’s impossible to nail everything on your first try.”

However, in the time since Cyberpunk 2077’s shaky launch, the developers have rolled out numerous updates that have brought the game up to scratch. In addition to improving the player experience, these updates have also put the team in a good position going forward.

“Now with all the game elements iterated and working well, we’ll focus on connecting them even tighter and creating a coherent, total immersion experience,” said Sarzyński.

Phantom Liberty released at the end of September, and takes place during the main Cyberpunk 2077 story. Last week, it was revealed that the devs never planned to have an expansion set after the original endings, since they’re too varied to make any sort of continuation viable from a narrative design perspective.

If you’re looking for some new games to play that are similar to Cyberpunk 2077, look no further than our recommendations for the best open-world games on PC and the best RPGs. 

CD Projekt Red has announced a new board game called The Witcher: Path of Destiny in collaboration with Go On Board.

The Witcher: Path of Destiny is a new one-to-five player competitive board and card game based on the novels by Andrzej Sapkowski and will feature the return of fan-favorite characters that were included in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, including Geralt of Rivia, Ciri, and Yennefer of Vengerberg.

The board game will offer a chance to "dive deep into an immersive dark fantasy story", and will feature a complex, strategy-focused system. Players will be able to use the powers and abilities of the characters, as well as make actions that will determine how the story ends, "but only one of you will be remembered as a hero".

You can check out the announcement trailer below, which showcases the beautiful box art featuring Geralt and the gang, as well as what comes included with the board game. 

Unique figurines will come included, and each character will have their own specific theme for character tokens, starting cards, player board, ability tokens, and character standee. For example, Yennefer's set will be purple, Geralt and Ciri's a rustic brown to match their Witcher armor, Dandelion's pink, and Vesemir's will be blue. 

Path of Destiny will kick off its crowdfunding campaign over on Gamefound on October 9 where it will run until November 7. 

CD Projekt Red has collaborated with Go On Board in the past to bring fans of the series The Witcher: Old World, and will carry on the partnership with Path of Destiny. 

Alongside a new board game, CD Projekt Red is already at work developing The Witcher 4, the next game in the series. Not much has been revealed about the game, but we do know that it will be built in Unreal Engine 5 and will follow a new tale in the world of The Witcher. 

If you're looking for something new to play, check out our top picks for the best RPGs, as well as every upcoming game to be released in 2023 for PC and console.

The Witcher season 3 has ended its eight-episode run on Netflix – but your fantasy binge-watch session doesn't have to end here.

Billed as one of the best Netflix shows around, The Witcher's latest season wasn't as fantastical as we'd hoped. Our review of The Witcher season 3 volume 1 suggested it was losing its magical touch and, while volume 2 made up for some of its predecessor's issues, it wasn't a brilliant season overall. Be sure to read our Witcher season 3 ending explainer to see how it sets up the show's already greenlit fourth season.

Regardless of whether you liked The Witcher's third season or not, there are plenty of other superb fantasy shows to stream on the world's best streaming services. Below, we've rounded up seven of the best, so if you're looking for your next favorite fantasy TV series or simply want something to tide you over until The Witcher season 4 launches, we've got you covered.

House of the Dragon (Max)

This Game of Thrones prequel series was not only one of the best Max shows, it was also one of the best shows of 2022. Originally debuting on HBO Max, it's now available to stream on Warner Bros Discovery's (WBD) new super streamer, aka the aforementioned Max. (NB: Australian and UK viewers can watch it on Foxtel/Binge and Sky Atlantic, respectively).

You'll want to check it out if you're yet to do so. House of the Dragon captures the thrilling and politically-fuelled drama of Game of Thrones' earlier seasons, introduces us to new characters we love to hate, and has its fair share of shocking and tumultuous moments.

House of the Dragon's first season, consisting of eight episodes, is available to watch now. Season 2, which was greenlit just weeks after season 1 premiered, is filming as we speak. That's in spite of the ongoing actors' strike and writers' strike bringing Hollywood to a standstill. As House of the Dragon season 2 is being shot in the UK and uses actors who aren't part of the US-based union production hasn't been halted.

Want more House of the Dragon coverage? Read our article on five big questions its second season needs to tackle. While you're here, see how we ranked every Game of Thrones season, too.

Once Upon a Time (Disney Plus)

It's been 12 years since Once Upon a Time initially aired on ABC in the US, but this fairy tale-centric TV show is still a beloved property.

Now available to stream on Disney Plus, it follows a bail-bonds individual called Emma Swan, who acts as the audiences' eyes and ears as she explores the fictional town of Storybrooke, where fairy tale characters such as Prince Charming, Jiminy Cricket, Cinderella, and the Evil Queen live.

The award-winning series began to run out of steam from its fourth season onwards, meaning it doesn't make it onto our best Disney Plus shows list. Until that point, though, it was one of the most popular cable network shows in America. It continues to have a devout following to this day, too. So, if you're searching for a less adult-themed/gratuitously violent fantasy series to watch, Once Upon a Time will be one to *ahem* wish upon a star for.

The Rings of Power (Prime Video)

A non-canonical entry in J.R.R. Tolkien's legendary Lord of the Rings universe that explores Middle Earth's Second Age, The Rings of Power is one of the best Prime Video shows around.

That's a controversial opinion to hold in the eyes of some Tolkien diehards. Sections of Lord of the Rings' global fanbase hit out at the fantasy series for its depiction of Middle Earth and certain iconic characters, and some even went as far as to sickeningly criticize the casting of Black and ethnic minority actors as key elven and dwarven characters.

Despite that baffling and, at times, xenophobic flak, we really enjoyed The Rings of Power season 1 and felt it added something fascinating, spooky, brutal, and humorous to the world-renowned fantasy franchise. With filming on The Rings of Power season 2 already complete, we shouldn't have to wait long to find out what happens in the show's sophomore season. In the meantime, read our Rings of Power season 1 ending explainer to see how it sets up the series next installment.

The Sandman (Netflix)

The Sandman's live-action adaptation, based on Neil Gaiman's award-winning graphic novel series, spent years in development hell until Netflix finally breathed life into the project.

Thankfully, it was worth the wait. In our review of The Sandman's first season, we called it a "remarkably authentic adaptation [that's] oh-so-nearly brilliant". From its perfect casting and majestic world-building to its horrifying and charming story beats, The Sandman's TV adaptation is absolutely worth your time. Sure, long-time fans will be irked by slight deviations from the source material, but that was necessary due to the books' occasionally unwieldy content. As a spectacle that newcomers and diehards can enjoy, The Sandman is a terrific piece of television.

Before The Sandman season 2 arrives, read our exclusive chat with The Sandman's cast and crew on bringing its universe and characters to life.

Shadow and Bone (Netflix)

Speaking of fantasy book adaptations that Netflix has turned into household names, Shadow and Bone is another epic fantasy series that deserves your attention.

Based on Leigh Bardugo's book series, Shadow and Bone is a thrilling, original take on magic and the fantasy genre as a whole. Set in the Grishaverse, it primarily follows the adventures of Alina Starkov, a magic wielder who's supposedly destined to save the world from the looming darkness.

In our Shadow and Bone season 1 review, we said it was a show good enough to rival The Witcher for Netflix users' affections. Its second season, however, was a "magic-fuelled mishmash" of ideas that struggled to replicate its predecessor's success. Netflix hasn't confirmed if a third and potentially final season is coming yet, but that hasn't stopped viewers from trying to game Shadow and Bone's viewing stats to save it from possible cancellation. Our opinion? It deserves a third outing to wrap up its tale.

What We Do in the Shadows (Hulu/Disney Plus)

Who would have thought that a dark comedy centered on vampires would prove to be this popular?

Billed as a mockumentary fantasy-horror series, What We Do in the Shadows is one of the best Hulu shows – and with good reason. With executive producers Taika Waititi (Thor: Love and Thunder) and Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) at the helm, and brilliantly funny actors like Matt Berry and Kayvan Novak among its cast, What We Do in the Shadows is an absurdist comedy fan's dream TV show.

So, what's it about? In short, we follow four centuries-old vampire roommates (who reside on Staten Island of all places) as they interact with the everyday modern world, plus other supernatural beings. There's a lot more to What We Do in the Shadows than its simple premise, but saying too much would be to spoil the wild and hilarious adventures that the vampiric gang gets embroiled in. All five critically-acclaimed seasons (rated 95% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes) are available on Hulu in the US and Binge in Australia. UK fans can catch the first four seasons on Disney Plus.

The Wheel of Time (Prime Video)

Another brilliant Prime Video fantasy show, The Wheel of Time is a more mature, but no less thrilling and dramatic, offering on Amazon's streaming service.

Inspired by Robert Jordan's convoluted book series of the same name, it focused on Moiraine Damodred's search for The Dragon Reborn, an extremely powerful magic wielder who has the ability to save or destroy the world. The mainline novel series comprises 14 action-packed and fantasy-filled novels, but Amazon's TV adaptation has done a pretty good job of condensing Jordan's complex source material into a more manageable story epic so far.

In our season 1 review of The Wheel of Time we labeled it as "your next fantasy show obsession." Our exclusive cast feature suggested that The Wheel of Time was Prime Video's big-budget series that couldn't afford to fail. Pleasingly, it didn't – if anything, it laid the groundwork for Amazon-developed fantasy shows like The Rings of Power to thrive.

The Wheel of Time season 2 is set to make its long-awaited Prime Video debut on September 1, so now is a good time to catch up on a highly entertaining show. In fact, it's one of five big Prime Video projects we're most excited for in late 2023 – many of which are making us consider cancelling our Netflix account.

It's nearly time to wave goodbye to July. But, before we do, there are a bunch of great (and not so great) new movies and TV shows to stream over the final weekend of the month.

Unsurprisingly, Barbenheimer continues to dominate the entertainment news cycle. That doesn't mean, though, that the world's best streaming services are resting on their laurels. Far from it, in fact – the likes of Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney Plus are coming out swinging with some heavy hitters this weekend. As always, we're here to clue you up on what's worth watching before the new working weeks begins.

From returning hit fantasy shows to new sports-based documentaries, these are the new films and TV series to watch this weekend. Happy streaming!

The Witcher season 3 volume 2 (Netflix)

One of the best Netflix shows – depending on who you speak to, anyway – is back on our screens to wrap up Henry Cavill's time as Geralt of Rivia. The Witcher season 3 volume 2 marks the final time we'll see Cavill suit up as everyone's favorite monster slayer, with Liam Hemsworth set to replace the departing lead actor from season 4 onwards.

After The Witcher season 3 volume 1's cliffhanger ending, this installment's second batch of episodes has a fair deal to wrap up before Cavill rides off into the sunset. Season 3's final trio of episodes are out now and, once you've watched them all, be sure to read our Witcher season 3 ending explainer to get answers to your biggest questions about Cavill's departure and more.

Twisted Metal (Peacock)

Another week, another live-action adaptation of a beloved video game property. This time around, cult classic PlayStation series Twisted Metal is the beneficiary of the TV show treatment, with the series debuting on Peacock on July 27.

Marvel star Anthony Mackie plays John Doe, an amnesiac driver who's forced to deliver a package to a mysterious benefactor in a post-apocalyptic world. Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine Nine), Thomas Haden Church (Spider-Man: No Way Home), and Will Arnett (The LEGO Batman Movie) are among its supporting cast.

Twisted Metal's first teaser clip had fans pulling their hair out over how corny it seemed, but critics have been a lot kinder to we expected. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds a respectable 66% critical rating, so maybe it's not as bad as we all feared. One to check out if you're a fan of the games and/or dark comedy-infused apocalyptic TV shows.

The Beanie Bubble (Apple TV Plus)

Based on real-life events (and the 2015 novel The Great Beanie Baby Bubble), this Apple TV Plus comedy-drama movie is a Beanie Baby collector's dream film adaptation.

Zach Galifianakis stars as Ty Warner, a frustrated salesman who can't convince anyone to invest in his idea for a new toy line. However, his luck changes when three women – his wife Sheila (Sarah Snook), Robbie (Elizabeth Banks), and Maya (Geraldine Viswanathan) – join forces with him to bring his idea to life. The result? One of the biggest toy crazes the world has ever seen.

The Beanie Bubble isn't likely to cement itself as one of the best Apple TV Plus movies ever, mind you. Per Rotten Tomatoes, it currently holds 62% critical and 56% audience scores, so don't expect it to be a heavy hitter. Still, if you've exhausted every other item on this list, it might be worth catching.

Good Omens season 2 (Prime Video)

Four years after David Tennant and Michael Sheen's Crowly and Aziraphale wormed their ways into our hearts in Good Omen's TV adaptation, the duo are back for more celestial adventures in one of the best Prime Video shows around.

Based on an original idea by legendary authors Neil Gaiman and the late Terry Pratchett, Good Omens season 2 reunites the pair as they're forced to save the world once more. Jon Hamm, Derek Jacobi, Mark Gatiss, Niamh Walsh, and Gloria Obianyo are among its fantastic supporting cast.

At the time of writing, Good Omens season 2 has been acclaimed by fans and critics alike. Yes, some have criticised its piecemeal plot and less enthralling drama. But, buoyed by Tennant and Sheen's powerhouse chemistry and plenty of laugh-out-loud gags, Good Omens' sophomore season appears to be another TV winner for Amazon's main streamer.

Harley Quinn season 4 (Max)

One of the best Max shows – and one of the best animated series currently on TV – is back for its highly anticipated fourth season this weekend.

Following events in its third season and 2023 Valentine's Day Special, Harley Quinn season 4 sees the titular anti-hero and her girlfriend Posion Ivy navigate the world of Gotham City in new and riotously exciting (and gratuitously violent) ways.

Fans of the award-winning animated show will find plenty more to enjoy from Harley Quinn's latest offering, which continues to be one of the most underrated TV shows of the last four years. Don't take our word for it, though – outside of its first season, which earned no-less-impressive 89% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, every season of Harley Quinn has landed a perfect rating on the review aggregator website. Go and watch this terrific Batman spin-off series on Max immediately.

Miraculous: Ladybug and Cat Noir: The Movie (Netflix)

Need to keep any young children quiet for a couple of hours this weekend? Miraculous: Ladybug and Cat Noir: The Movie is our family-friendly option on this week's list.

Based on the French CGI animated series of the same name, this semi-reboot project follows the titular crimefighting pair as they acquire their superhuman abilities and collaborate to keep Paris safe from the villain known as Hawk Moth.

Miraculous' movie adaptation isn't likely to make it onto our best Netflix movies (it's just debuted in our new Netflix movies guide, though), but it's sure to entertain your kids for a bit. Reviews have been mixed for this one – but hey, when have children ever cared about that?

Chevalier (Disney Plus)

This Searchlight Pictures offering is the latest addition to our new Disney Plus movies list, and while it doesn't have the unquestionable ability to take a spot in our best Disney Plus movies guide, Chevalier is still worth watching if you're after something a tad different.

The film tells the story of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, aka the first classical composer of African descent and one of the most underrated musicians of all-time. Chevalier charts his rise from working class son of a plantation worker to the revered composer he's known as today, albeit with some historical revisions to add dollops of drama to proceedings.

Fans of Hamilton and other iconic musicals shouldn't expect similar genre fare from Chevalier, but anyone who enjoys period and/or musical dramas will get a kick out of it.

Full spoilers for The Witcher season 3 follow. You've been warned.

The Witcher season 3 has drawn to a close on Netflix. And, if you're like us, you might have some burning questions you need answering.

We weren't enamored with the first half of the fantasy show's latest installment – read our review of The Witcher season 3 volume 1 for more on why – so we were very happy The Witcher season 3 volume 2 makes up for the glaring errors in volume 1. There are thrills and bloody spills galore in the final three episodes of The Witcher's latest season, oh, and the small matter that its final episode is lead actor Henry Cavill's swansong. Cavill isn't returning as Geralt of Rivia for The Witcher season 4 (Liam Hemsworth will replace him next time out), so this is truly his last hurrah.

So, do we discover how Cavill's Geralt transforms into Hemsworth's take on the character before season 3 ends? Are there any post-credit scenes that tease what's to come in the fourth season or potential spin-offs? We try to answer those pressing questions and more in this article.

This is your final warning: major spoilers for The Witcher season 3 follow. Don't read on unless you've watched volume 2's trio of episodes.

Does Geralt die in The Witcher season 3?

No. Before volume 2 was released, The Witcher season 3 part 2 trailer had teased a heart-breaking end for Geralt, which might have meant his death. However, he lives to tell the tale, despite everyone's favorite brooding monster slayer taking a severe beating from turncoat mage Vilgefortz.

In the season's sixth episode, the duo fight on a beach near Aretuza. Vilgefortz wants to kidnap Ciri and reunite her with her father, Emperor Emhyr of Nilfgaard, so Emhyr and Ciri can rule the Continent. Geralt, as he has done for two seasons, wants to keep Ciri safe and teach her to use her powers for good.

Unfortunately for Geralt, he's no match for his opponent. Vilgefortz almost kills Geralt, a broken back and right leg being among numerous life-threatening injuries he sustains during the battle. Given how episode 6 ends, it would appear that Geralt won't survive his wounds.

Geralt is rescued by Triss Merigold, who takes him to Brokilon Forest to be healed by the dryads, however, they're unable to help him. It takes a visit from Yennefer (more on her later) and her chaos magic to nurse Geralt back to health, so he can begin searching for Ciri, who has been taken to Nilfgaard by Vilgefortz – or so it seems.

So no, Geralt doesn't die in The Witcher's third season. Considering Hemsworth is set to replace Cavill as the titular character from season 4 onwards, it wouldn't make sense if Geralt died.

Does Liam Hemsworth's Geralt appear in The Witcher season 3?

Again, no. Hemsworth's Geralt won't make his debut until season 4, after Cavill's given a "heroic send-off", according to showrunner Lauren Hissrich (per Entertainment Weekly), in the third season's finale.

Cavill's farewell wasn't as heroic as we expected, though. Okay, he kills a bunch of Nilfgaardian soldiers, but we thought his final battle would be far more meaningful than it was. It makes sense to allow Cavill to ride off into the sunset, rather than replace him with Hemsworth in a scene reminiscent of Doctor Who's regeneration sequences.

It's still unclear how Netflix will explain Cavill's Geralt turning into Hemsworth's iteration. The Witcher producer Tomek Baginski has teased a "meta" way in which this will be handled (via Yahoo). Right now, though, we're unsure how the transformation (if indeed that's how it happens) will occur.

Who is fake Ciri? And why is she in Nilfgaard?

That'll be Teryn, the half-elven girl that Geralt rescued from the Flesh Monster at Vuilpanne in episode 2.

In episode 3, we learned that Teryn had been kidnapped and subjected to magic-based mind control tests to make her believe she was the real Ciri. At the time, we all thought it was Stregobor who had abducted her (and numerous other young women) and experimented on them to "turn" them into Ciri. Now, we know it was Vilgefortz. If he was unable to track down the real Ciri, Teryn or another brainwashed girl would be his backup plan – i.e. Vilgefortz would take them to Nilfgaard instead and convince Emhyr that Teryn (or another vessel) was his one, true daughter.

As we learn in the season 3 finale, Vilgefortz is forced to use his contingency plan. He couldn't find the real Ciri after their brief encounter in episode 6. That isn't surprising, mind you, when you consider that Ciri teleported to the Korath Desert after she used Aretuza's monolith to escape Vilgefortz (and inadvertently disfigure him in the process).

It's unclear how long it'll take Emhyr to realize he's been duped (if he hasn't already) by Vilgefortz. But, given Geralt and his druid friend Anika almost freed Teryn from Vilgefortz's mind control spell, Teryn might end up giving the game away early in season 4 anyway. As for the real Ciri...

Where is the real Ciri in The Witcher season 3's finale?

She's been rescued by the Rats, a Geso-dwelling gang of young misfits who steal from the wealthy for their own material gains.

As we witnessed in episode 7, Ciri was found by a group of criminals called trappers after her ordeal in the Korath Desert. The trappers were set to turn her over to Nilfgaard for a handsome reward, but the Rats – coming to rescue one of their own, Kayleigh, who had been captured by a gang called the Nissir – save Ciri, too. 

Interestingly, Ciri has crossed paths with one of the Rats before. In episode 3, she has a run-in with Mistle – the Rats' apparent leader – in Gors Velen, when the latter tries to rob Ciri after her encounter with a Wyvern.

We're not sure if Ciri will stay with the Rats (like she does in Andrezj Sapkowski's Witcher book series) in season 4. A Witcher fansite called Redanian Intelligence has regularly suggested that a Rats spin-off show is in development at Netflix. It's possible this project could bridge the gap between seasons 3 and 4, with Ciri joining the Rats for a few episodes before departing for pastures new. Alternatively, the Rats' spin-off could be a prequel – in the same vein as The Witcher: Blood Origin – that expands The Witcher's universe before season 4 arrives.

What's Yennefer up to at Aretuza?

She's building a replacement for the Brotherhood of Sorcerers in the wake of the Thanedd Coup.

After grieving for Tissaia, who commits suicide over the coup, Yennefer and her fellow female mages, including Triss and Sabrina, set up the Lodge of Sorceresses. This is a new secret organization of all-female magic wielders, who aim to preserve magic and only use it for the good of the Continent.

In Sapkowski's novels, it's Philippa Eilhart who founds the group. In Netflix's adaptation, though, she's busy killing King Vizimir of Redania, so she and Sigismund Dijkstra can install Prince Radovid as a new puppet king. Instead, it's Yennefer who sets the Lodge up, thus ushering in a new era in The Witcher universe.

What Witcher books will influence season 4's plot?

There are a number of Sapkowski's works that The Witcher season 4 could draw inspiration from.

Season 3 is largely pulled from The Time of Contempt, the fifth novel in the Witcher's book series. However, volume 2 also dipped into Baptism of Fire (the sixth novel), and it's likely the show's fourth season will be primarily influenced by that book.

It's also possible that The Tower of the Swallow, i.e. book seven, could be adapted in some instances, particularly if The Witcher season 4 also follows Ciri's adventures with the Rats. That depends on whether the Rats' reported spin-off show is a prequel series or not. If it isn't, this TV show could follow events in The Tower of the Swallow instead.

So, when will The Witcher season 4 be released? Nobody knows. The writers' strike, coupled with the actors' strike, means production has stalled on the show's next entry. Until resolutions are found between all parties, season 4 won't start filming.

For more Witcher-based coverage, read our season 3 cast feature. Alternatively, see which other TV series join The Witcher in our best Netflix shows list.

Spoilers follow for The Witcher season 3 volume 1.

Netflix has released the official trailer for The Witcher season 3 part 2 – and it looks like Henry Cavill's Geralt is ready to make his last, heart-wrenching stand.

The two-minute-long teaser, which you can watch below, is packed to the rafters with large-scale battles, thrilling moments, and even the appearance of a unicorn (long-time fans will know the significance of this scene). 

But it's the impending departure of Cavill's Geralt, who's leaving The Witcher TV series after the third season ends, that takes center stage in this emotionally-charged trailer. And, even though we know that Liam Hemsworth will replace Cavill as the titular character from season 4 onwards, it appears as though Cavill's Geralt will give his life to keep surrogate daughter Ciri safe from the Continent's evil forces.

Netflix hasn't released a new plot synopsis for the second part of The Witcher's third season – although that isn't surprising, as there will be some viewers who haven't watched season 3 volume 1 yet. So, to preserve the mystery of what happened in this season's first five episodes – if you haven't read about them online yet – the world's best streaming service declined to provide an updated story synopsis heading into volume 2. 

We're about to enter full spoiler territory for season 3 volume 1, though, so turn back now if you're not caught up with the show's latest episodes.

Still, there's enough for fans of the high-fantasy series, and of Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher books (which Netflix's adaptation is based upon), to glean from the latest footage. 

Viewers can expect an almighty showdown at Aretuza, the Thanedd Island-based academy for mages, between Tissaia's forces and what appears to Francesca's Scoai'tael. Remember, in volume 1, Emperor Emhyr – Ciri's father – teamed up with Francesca's elves to find Ciri and bring her to Nilfgaard so they can use her powers for nefarious means. As the above teaser shows, though, that they'll have to get past Geralt, Yennefer, and the trio's allies before that happens. 

There are plenty of other big teases for what's to come in season 3 part 2, too. We see Ciri trapped in a desert (alongside the aforementioned white unicorn) after she inadvertently portals herself there. Additionally, we see Geralt fighting elves and Nilfgaardian forces in what appears to be Brokilon Forest – again, diehard Witcher fans know the context of this sequence of events. He's also shown to be preparing for a potential showdown with Vilgefortz, who was revealed as the brains behind the operation to kidnap Ciri for Nilfgaard if she sought shelter at Aretuza.

Whatever happens in volume 2, it's sure to be a very emotional end for Cavill's run as Geralt. We see the lead character crying as he lies – presumably incapacitated – on a beach before he's later shown falling into a river or ocean. Is this how Cavill's Geralt dies, only to be reborn as Hemsworth's take on the character? We'll have to wait and see.

What we're all hoping for – aside from a fitting send-off for Cavill – is a better second half to the show's latest installment. In our review of The Witcher season 3, we said one of the best Netflix shows of all-time was "losing its magical touch" and that "a show of The Witcher’s scale, scope, and caliber needs to aim much higher than just 'doing enough'". Based on the volume 2 trailer, though, it's possible that season 3's final episodes might deliver a grandstand and emotive end to a divisive entry in the series' history.

For more Witcher-based coverage, read our exclusive chat with the season 3 cast on how their characters personify the series' growing pains. Then, find out why showrunner Lauren Hissrich says she "fully understands" why fans are concerned over Cavill's forthcoming departure.

The Witcher season 3 volume 2, which consists of the final three entries, will launch on Netflix on Thursday, July 27. 

The Witcher season three is topping the Netflix streaming charts this week, but the must-watch show according to critics is at number five on the list. Our Planet II, the equally stunning sequel to the highly rated nature documentary, has a full 100% critic score and an equally impressive 91% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and it's already racked up nearly 10 million viewing hours and nearly three million views.

According to The Guardian, "so much of Our Planet II is astonishing" – but it's also a warning about the species we're endangering and the damage we're doing. The Financial Times says that "the effects of climate change and ecological degradation are noted throughout", while The AV Club says "some things will shock you and burn you out, but nature does that". 

Who's getting all the Netflix eyeballs this week?

There aren't many other surprises to Netflix's most-watched shows this week. Black Mirror season six spends its third week in the streaming chart and currently sits at number two, while season three of Catching Killers is in at number three. The first season of Glamorous is in at number four, followed by the critics' favorite Our Planet II and the latest season of the hit drama Never Have I Ever.

At number seven there's Suits, spending its second week in the top 10 chart, and it's followed by two new entries. In at number eight, the limited series Muscles & Mayhem: An Authorised Story of American Gladiators is thankfully more fast-paced than its title.

At number nine there's the Batman spin-off Titans, which focuses on the young Dick Grayson and looks like it'll be a lot of fun of the "Bam! Pow! Biff!" variety. And last but not least there's season one of The Witcher in at number 10 as viewers new to the show start their epic voyage through the seasons.

If you're looking for more things to watch on the world's best streaming service then check out our guides, including the 50 best Netflix series to watch in July and the best Netflix movies guides. 

Change is a valuable and necessary commodity in the entertainment industry, and The Witcher season 3 knows it. Like any good TV show, the popular Netflix fantasy series has to evolve – through its story, cast, themes, or a combination of all three – to remain relevant in the ruthless streaming world.

The Witcher season 3’s transitory period, though, is more disruptive than most. Lead actor Henry Cavill won’t be back as Geralt of Rivia for The Witcher season 4 and subsequent entries. The TV show has pivoted towards following the book series’ plot more closely – a welcome albeit puzzling adjustment when its predecessors eschewed that opportunity. If The Witcher were a person, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say it’s suffering a bout of existentialism.

It’s fitting, then, that season 3’s main and supporting cast are grappling with their own identity crises. And, for some of The Witcher’s most beloved characters, those journeys embody the series’ growing pains down to a tee.

“This is the biggest shift we’re going to see for some of these characters,” Freya Allen, who plays Ciri, tells TechRadar. “We see them go to some very dark places throughout, and especially near the end of, this season. And those are going to be very interesting places to go to and explore.”

Race across the Continent 

With the Continent’s various kingdoms vying for control of Ciri and her potent Elven Blood abilities, the heir to Cintra’s throne goes into hiding with protectors-cum-surrogate-parents Geralt (Cavill) and Yennefer (Anya Chalotra). Pursued for months and forced to relocate whenver they’re discovered, the trio agrees to seek refuge at Aretuza, the magic-bound fortress where Yennefer trained to be a mage.

Instead of finding safety, though, they soon realize Aretuza has become a politically-charged battlefield where corruption and treachery reign supreme. If they’re to survive their most dangerous ordeal yet, Geralt, Yennefer, Ciri, and everyone’s favorite bard Jaskier (Joey Batey) are forced to stand and fight, even if it means they might lose everything they’ve worked so hard to build and protect.

For Yennefer, the potential loss of true happiness and her surrogate family is what drives her to battle against the odds. It’s a deeply personal crusade that showcases Yennefer’s emotional maturation since season 1, which positioned her as a selfish sorceress who craved power above all else.

“For the first time, there’s something bigger than her to care about,” Chalotra says. “She’s more politically aware, and that helps her fight for Ciri and a better world. Yennefer knows how powerful and important Ciri is, so Yennefer has to teach her how to not only survive in this world but to make changes that serve the next generation. That makes Yennefer incredibly selfless, in my view.”

It’s Yennefer’s nurturing, motherly instinct, coupled with Geralt’s fatherly intuition, that will guide Ciri down a path toward being the Continent’s savior rather than its destroyer. However, given the level of expectation thrust upon her, and the threat of those wishing to use her powers for evil, Ciri’s journey is far from straightforward. As Allen alludes to, the pressure Ciri carries on her young shoulders – and the perpetual perils around every corner – comes with its own inter- and intrapersonal conflicts.

“There’s a running theme throughout this season of Ciri confronting her past and the different options for her powers,” Allen explains. “It’s always there, whether it’s physical or mental, and the character-defining moments and environments based around that theme are going to pivot her as a person. They take a physical and psychological toll on her, and that takes her to some dark places.”

Brewing a bewitching civil war 

Ironically – and unbeknownst to the trio until their arrival – Aretuza turns out to be one of those shadowy locations, albeit from a physical viewpoint, Allen refers to.

The magical academy has become a more expansive battleground of political posturing and infighting between members of the Brotherhood of Sorcerers since viewers last visited. For Tissaia de Vries (MyAnna Buring), rectoress of Aretuza, maintaining a fragile peace via diplomatic means is crucial to the fate of the Continent and those who inhabit it. As the powerful sorceress soon learns, though, putting your faith in the wrong people – and the emotionally crippling events born out of that misplaced trust – can damage a person’s idea of who they are.

“When you hold a position of power and have to walk a political tightrope, you’re in a constant state of worry,” Buring reveals. “You have to be ready for anything. But you can let your guard down with those few individuals in your inner circle, and you have to be very careful about who you let into that. Unfortunately for Tissaia, she makes an incredibly fatal choice to include someone she shouldn’t, which has a huge impact on her.”

While Tissaia reckons with her own sense of self, another Aretuza-based mage – Sabrina Glevissig (Therica Wilson-Read) – is unapologetic about who she is. A flirtatious sorceress whose rivalry with Yennefer is well documented, Sabrina is equally loyal with a high degree of integrity. Amid the growing discontent within the Brotherhood’s ranks and the Continent’s race to find Ciri, Sabrina is an honorable ally of Yennefer and Geralt who does whatever it takes to help conceal Ciri from her pursuers.

“I think you see her strong morals in this season when Marty suggests she romantically goes after Geralt,” Reid explains. “She replies that would be going too far. So yes, she’s provocative. She emotionally roughs people up. She’s power hungry and wants to be the best. But, in the end, she puts her life on the line to fight for those she loves. She does what she thinks is right, and she’ll fight tooth and nail for that.”

Spying an opportunity 

Indeed, one of the kingdom’s Sabrina battles (when she’s not subversively joining forces with them) to keep Ciri safe from is Redania. The wealthy Northern realm might be ruled by King Vizimir, but the bumbling monarch’s principality is actually kept afloat by spymaster Sigismund Dijkstra (Graham McTavish) and Aretuza alumnus Philippa Eilhart (Cassie Clare).

Together, the machiavellian duo uses their extensive spy network and manipulative personalities to try to persuade Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri to join their side of the fight. It’s this devilish dynamic that makes Dijkstra and Philippa’s partnership, which was initially teased in The Witcher season 2, so formidable.

“Dijkstra and Philippa’s ambitions may differ slightly, but they look out for each other,” McTavish says. “Cassie and I do likewise on the set, too. I think that feeds into the performances and what audiences see play out in front of them on the screen. It’s a dynamic that’s key to Redania’s survival. They’ll do whatever it takes to maintain what they’ve built and continue building on that, whether it’s with Ciri’s abilities or not.”

“I always felt I could go to Graham for guidance,” Clare adds. “And he would help lead me through certain scenes, which made me feel safe. And I think that translates into what Dijkstra and Philippa have. They won’t admit it, but they care for each other’s welfare and know where the other stands.”

As Redania’s puppet masters, Philippa and Dijkstra are comfortable using other people for their own gain. Step forward Prince Radovid (Hugh Skinner), the younger brother of Vizimir who becomes entangled in Dijkstra and Philippa’s Redanian Intelligence network, and is used to romantically curry favor with Jaskier and lay the foundations for Ciri to join Redania’s cause. A playboy at heart, Radovid’s sense of self is upended when he finds himself falling for Jaskier, setting events in motion that have him questioning his role in the Continent’s fate.

“He gets embroiled with Philippa and Dijkstra against his will,” Skinner says. “That’s very much the situation socially as well. He doesn’t really want to be involved in the political side of things, but he’s quite excited to meet Jaskier and becomes captivated by him. That leads Radovid to get more and more out of his depth, which throws his sense of identity off.”

 The complexity of the situation is equally felt by Jaskier, whose allegiance to Geralt and company is somewhat muddied by a deal he made with Phillipa in season 2. And, while Jaskier’s strong moral compass wins out in the end, exploring this newfound sense of ambiguity, in Batey’s mind, typifies season 3’s overarching theme of who you are and what you fight for.

“That’s something I’ve been trying to examine since day one,” Batey reveals. “It takes time to fall in love with these characters and discover them through the years. I’m just thankful [showrunner] Lauren [Hissrich] and the writers allowed me to bring Jaskier down a bit, and explore the vulnerability and curiosity within him. Moving forward, I don’t know where he’s going to go, but I want to find different corners of his heart and reveal them as best as I can.”

Aside from Cavill’s departure and confirmation that a fourth season is in development, it’s unclear what the future holds for The Witcher on Netflix. In our Witcher season 3 volume 1 review, we suggested the series was starting to lose its magical touch. Like the characters inhabiting its world, then, The Witcher is in the midst of an identity crisis. If it can emerge on the other side knowing what kind of show it truly wants to be, it’ll be fine. Unless season 3 volume 2 and/or season 4 hit the ground running, though, one of the best Netflix shows might be on borrowed time.

The Witcher season 3 volume 1 is available now on Netflix. Season 3 volume 2 arrives on Thursday, July 27.

The Witcher finds itself at a tantalizing crossroads ahead of its third season’s debut. The popular Netflix fantasy series will lose lead actor Henry Cavill, who has played Geralt of Rivia since the show’s beginning, once this season ends. Meanwhile, reactions to the franchise’s last two installments – The Witcher season 2 and prequel spin-off The Witcher: Blood Origin – have been decidedly mixed.

The pressure on The Witcher season 3, then, is two-fold: give Cavill a worthy send-off and put the Netflix show on a firm footing that promises an exciting future for the high-fantasy franchise.

Based on its five-episode-strong first volume, which launches on June 29, The Witcher season 3 only sticks one of those landings. It gives Cavill’s Geralt a grander, more expansive, and emotional arc befitting the titular character in Andrezj Sapkowski’s book series. There are other exciting and suspense-fuelled story beats – especially ones pulled right from Sapkowski’s novels – that’ll please long time Witcher fans. However, The Witcher season 3 also suffers from the same glaring errors that plagued its predecessors, which hinder its pacing and regularly frustrated me.

Band on the run

The Witcher season 3 opens with Geralt and Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) attempting to keep Ciri (Freya Allen) safe from those who wish to use her abilities for nefarious purposes. The trio has spent months constantly relocating to keep Ciri from prying eyes. Inevitably, though, they’re discovered, leading the group to find somewhere new to lay low.

Growing tired of always being on the move, the trio agrees to seek refuge at Aretuza, the magic-protected fortress where Yennefer trained to be a mage. Unbeknownst to them, however, Aretuza has become a viper’s nest of political backstabbing, corruption, dark magic, and deceit. The battle for Ciri and her Elven Blood-based powers has begun and, if the group is to survive, they’ll have to fully put their wayward trust in one another.

Instantly, The Witcher benefits from this newly formed surrogate family. Season 2 provided the briefest of glimpses into how the trio’s personalities, worldviews, and abilities would work in tandem and/or clash if they were thrust together for the long haul. And, with the season 2 finale revealing that Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri would be spending more time in each other’s company, I found it satisfying to watch them unite and emotionally connect in new ways. 

The burgeoning maternal bond between Yennefer (now wiser than before but still seeking redemption for her mistakes) and Ciri brings its own slice of familial drama and levity to the fore. Allen’s Ciri, too, assumes an expanded role as her importance to the TV show’s story grows. Hers is a character evolution wrought with inner turmoil, though, as the weight of expectation over her world-saving (or world-ending) abilities begins to take its emotional toll.

Geralt and Ciri’s father-daughter connection also receives a flourish of light-heartedness and education-based intimacy – welcome relationship upgrades to their archetypal protector-protégé bond. The latter imbues Geralt with a vulnerability I’ve not witnessed before and gives Cavill scope to reshape Geralt as a three-dimensional character. He’s no longer a one-tone, gruff, unsympathetic monster killer but a caring, tough father figure with more fascinating edges to his persona.  

There remains, though, a simmering level of tension between the trio, particularly between Geralt and Yennefer. Ciri’s idealistic and rebellious nature also threatens to undermine the pair’s attempts to keep her safe and puts a strain on her burgeoning relationship with Yennefer. These stresses add a pleasing level of dramatic anticipation to the group’s dynamics and ensure that, when said frustrations erupt and ignite verbal confrontations, they’re fiery and tempestuous.

It’s annoying, then, that season 3 splits the party up after its opening episode, even though their separation is necessitated by the plot. It also makes things interesting from a buddy cop perspective, with Yennefer and Ciri departing for Aretuza, while Geralt reunites with Jaskier (Joey Batey) – who assumes a more morally complex role this season, even if his reasons for doing so are well-intentioned – to undertake an important side mission. Their reunification later in the season might make this particular criticism of mine seem superfluous, too. 

Still, their reunion at the end of season 2, and subsequent travels here, ring slightly hollow when they’re broken up. The Witcher thrives when its core cast are collaborating, ribbing, and fighting alongside (or with) each other. I’ve waited a long time to see Geralt and company share the screen for prolonged periods, so it’s a grave disappointment to see it end so suddenly.

The Wild Hunt 

With the race to capture Ciri in full flow, The Witcher season 3 should have plenty of traction, intriguing and politically charged subplots, and warring factions to use and expand upon.

Unfortunately, The Witcher’s latest season feels pretty listless from a narrative standpoint, with the show flitting between nations, characters, and storylines with alarming regularity. That’s necessary to keep viewers engaged in its multiple plot lines, but it leaves little room to fully establish new characters, including Prince Radovid of Redania (Hugh Skinner), and world regions, such as Shaerrawedd.

It also means vital individuals and their respective kingdoms, such as Emperor Emhyr (Bart Edwards) of Nilfgaard, and Sijmund Dijkstra (Graham McTavish) and Philippa Eilhart (Cassie Clare) of Redania, aren’t utilized to their full potential. These are key players in season 3’s plot and the series’ wider narrative, yet their inclusions and side stories don’t feel engaging or interesting enough until volume 1’s thrilling final episode (more on this later). As I noted in my review of The Witcher: Blood Origin, Netflix’s live-action Witcher-Verse has the air of a lite version of Game of Thrones, with its political machinations and character betrayals lacking the suspense and emotion-laden gravitas of HBO’s TV phenomenon. 

The Witcher season 3 suffers from similarly thin characterizations and sloppy writing. Most of its humor fails to strike a chord, while its penchant for plot armor – Geralt saving Ciri from the spectral Wild Hunt in episode 3, for instance – is frustratingly obvious in its utilization. Throw in wholly superfluous subplots, like Fringilla’s (Mimi Ndiweni) Nilfgaardian prison escape, and there’s some extraneous plot padding to wade through, too.

Actions and consequences 

That said, there are benefits to The Witcher season 3’s multiple storylines, character evolutions, and thematic threads.

The Witcher’s latest batch of episodes follow the book it’s based on – The Time of Contempt – more closely than its predecessors did with their source material. Story and character arcs – ones I can’t comment on as they’re major spoilers – are ripped right out of the novel’s pages and executed effectively in live-action. The addition of important lore, such as Geralt teaching Ciri about the Roses of Aelirenn, also helps to further flesh out the universe and cement Ciri’s growing significance to the overarching story. Viewers who previously bristled at Netflix’s creative deviations from Sapkowski’s works are sure to be appeased by these course corrections.

Superficial though the politicking in season 3 is, it’s intriguing to see the Continent’s chess piece-styled factions move into position before they make their play for Ciri. The fractious, uneasy alliances between kingdoms, and even between characters in each realm, make for engrossing viewing. Often, I wasn’t always acutely aware of who I should believe or side with. Diehard Witcher fans who know Sapkowski’s books inside out, however, won’t have the wool so easily pulled over their eyes.

All of this political and self-serving campaigning builds towards a truly captivating fifth episode, a grandiose spectacle that’s easily the season’s best entry so far (three more episodes are coming in volume 2 on July 27). No spoilers, but what transpires is a delicately poised situation (one that positions Geralt as a fish out of water in amusing and suspense-filled fashion) that slowly ratchets up the tension in surprising ways. 

Even more unexpectedly, episode 5 employs season 1’s nonlinear storytelling approach, which was criticized for confusing audiences. Here, though, it’s a pleasing creative diversion from the linear plot that The Witcher told in season 2 and season 3’s first four entries. Its innovatively structured outline lets scenes play out from multiple perspectives, steadily filling in the obligatory gaps and building suspense before its (and volume 1’s) climactic ending.

The Witcher season 3’s action doesn’t take a backseat to its drama or fantasy, mind you. Its physical set-pieces are as frenetic, bloody, and brutal as expected, with intricate and relentless swordplay offering welcome and gratuitously violent breaks from the slow-burning diplomatic and partisan plot threads. If there’s a criticism about its action sequences, though, it’s that the monster-based battles are lacking in spectacle and appear shoehorned in as mere plot devices.

My verdict

The Witcher season 3 volume 1 is a classic catch-22 situation that Netflix needs to solve in volume 2 and/or season 4. On one side, it’s a riveting, high-fantasy series that finally does right by the beloved source material it’s based on. On the other hand, its stubborn refusal to fix its obtrusive problems, including lazy writing, weird tonal shifts, and careless scene editing, will continue to hold it back. If The Witcher doesn’t overcome them, its position as one of the best Netflix shows will be under threat.

There’s enough to like here – satisfying improvements to character arcs, endeavoring to follow Sapkowski’s books more closely, and lore and world-building, to name just three. But a show of The Witcher’s scale, scope, and caliber needs to aim much higher than just "doing enough". The Witcher season 3 volume 1 suggests the show has enough magic left to be able to survive without Cavill’s Geralt (Liam Hemsworth takes over from Cavill from season 4 onwards). Fail to right its wrongs in The Witcher season 3 volume 2 or its successor, though, and showrunner Lauren Hissrich and company will have more fan concerns to deal with than just Cavill’s shock departure.

The Witcher season 3 volume 1 is available to stream exclusively on Netflix now. Season 3 volume 2 arrives on Thursday, July 27.

The first extended clip for The Witcher season 3 has been released online, and it seems everyone's favorite trio of heroes will see their fair share of action when the hit show returns.

Released during Tudum 2023, the latest installment of Netflix's global fan event, the two-minute-long video pits Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer against the fire-wielding Rience and other elves who have come to kidnap Ciri for their own nefarious means.

Unsurprisingly, Geralt and Yennefer won't give up Ciri without a fight. And, after undergoing all that training at Kaer Morhen in The Witcher season 2, Ciri won't simply let Rience and company take her back to Redania, or the elves to one of their few strongholds.

Take a look at the first graphically violent footage from The Witcher's next season below:

Fans familiar with Andrzek Sapkoswki's high fantasy book series will immediately recognize the location that Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer (with a little help from Yarpen Zigrin's traveling dwarf continent) face their foes down in. 

For the uninitiated: it's Shaerraward, an ancient elven palace that's fallen into disrepair. During the height of the elven empire, however, it was ruled by the family of infamous elf Aelirenn, who led the elves' final (and unsuccessful) last fight against the encroaching humans in the 1060s. Remember, humans only arrived on The Continent when the Conjunction of the Spheres, a cataclysmic event that affected the multiverse and trapped humans and monsters in this realm, which was brought to life in The Witcher: Blood Origin miniseries on Netflix in December 2022.

The Witcher's second season, which was based on the first of Sapkowski's novels – 'Blood of Elves' – didn't cover Aelirenn's backstory (otherwise known as the roses of Aelirenn). The forthcoming season, then, will include that vital storyline to reveal more about Ciri's heritage, which casual Witcher fans will need to know more about moving forward.

Regardless, viewers can look forward to more in the way of bloodthirsty and magical battles in The Witcher's next outing. If they're all as well choreographed as the footage above, we'll be in for a real treat when season 3 part 1 debuts on Netflix on June 29. Why only part 1? Because The Witcher season 3 is being split into two parts, with the second batch of episodes landing a month later on July 27.

You better make the most of its eight episodes, too, as this is the final time we'll see Henry Cavill portray Geralt of Rivia in one of the best Netflix shows. As we reported in October 2022, Cavill won't be back for The Witcher season 4 for as-yet-revealed reasons. He's being replaced by Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games), and showrunner Lauren Hissrich has already said she "fully understands" why fans are concerned about Cavill's impending departure.

For more Netflix-based coverage, find out how to sign up to Netflix. Alternatively, read up on the best Netflix movies, best Netflix documentaries, and new Netflix movies on the service.

And, if you're looking for more Tudum 2023-based news, check out our story on 3 Body Problem, a new mind-bending sci-fi series from those behind Game of Thrones' TV adaptation.

It's almost for the 2023 edition of Netflix Tudum, everyone. The streaming giant's annual global fan event, which began in January 2020, is back for its fifth outing (and for its first live event in three years). For those wanting to know when it'll take place – without scrolling through this guide – it's happening on Saturday, June 17.

If you're anything like us, you'll be besides yourself about what'll be revealed to be coming to the world's best streaming service between now and early 2024. So, we imagine you'll want to know all of the most important details about Netflix Tudum 2023. 

Below, we've compiled a list of all the biggest details about the streamer's next big event. That includes its start date and time, where you can watch Tudum 2023's livestream, how many of the best Netflix shows will be part of what's shown, all of the new Netflix movies that are coming to the platform, and so much more.

So, whether you're planning to tune in and out throughout the day (or evening, based on where you are in the world) or if you'll be watching the whole thing in-person or online, here's everything you need to know about Netflix Tudum 2023.

What is Netflix Tudum?

For the uninitiated, Netflix Tudum is an annual, global pop culture fan event celebrating all things, well, Netflix. During each event, the streaming giant reveals more about its slate of new original films and TV series that are set to debut (or return, in the case of some of its most popular shows) in the coming months and years. 

Last year, we received confirmation of the release dates for The Witcher: Blood Origin, You season 4, Outer Banks season 3, and The Crown season 5. We were also treated to exclusive clips of Wednesday's first season and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, as well as plenty of other surprises. You can read a full round-up of every announcement in our Netflix Tudum 2022 live blog.

Netflix Tudum's first event was held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in January 2020. However, future in-person events were scuppered by the Covid-19 pandemic, which meant the next three editions were exclusively held online. This year's celebration is the first that'll be conducted with a live audience again since Tudum's inaugural event, and it's being held in Sao Paulo again. Outer Banks' Chase Stokes, Never Have I Ever's Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, and Back to 15's Maisa will be the this year's main hosts.

What time does Netflix Tudum 2023 start?

Tudum 2023 will officially begin on Saturday, June 17 at 5:30pm BRT / 1:30pm PT / 4:30pm ET / 9:30pm BST. Australian viewers can tune in at 6:30am AEST on Sunday, June 18. The event is expected to last for two hours, according to Netflix's press website. However, this being a live event, it could overrun, so make sure you have plenty of snacks with you.

Where can I watch Netflix Tudum 2023?

The 2023 edition of Netflix Tudum will be available to watch on Netflix's YouTube channel (or via the YouTube link above), the streamer's own app, and its Facebook and Twitter pages. It's also possible that Netflix will livestream the event on its Twitch channel, too, but it hasn't confirmed this yet.

For anyone who might be worried about the livestream being stuck behind a paywall: don't be. Netflix Tudum will be free to watch anywhere in the world, and in multiple languages, too. No matter where you're tuning in from, then, you'll be able to stream it as long as you have an internet connection. Well, unless you're one of the lucky few to attend the event in-person. We're not jealous, honest...

What Netflix movies will be shown at Tudum 2023?

Netflix hasn't confirmed the full line-up of films that'll be shown at this year's Tudum. However, while the streamer is holding back some surprises for the event itself, we have confirmation of some of the new movies that'll be shown off. Whisper it quietly, some of them might even be good enough to make it onto our best Netflix movies guide in the future, too.

For a rundown of the films that'll be present at Netflix Tudum 2023, plus the cast and crew who will be in attendance for these flicks, check out the list below:

• Extraction 2 (Chris Hemsworth, Sam Hargrave)
• Heart of Stone (Gal Gadot, Jamie Dornan, Alia Bhatt)
• Lift (Kevin Hart, Gugu Mbatha-Raw)
• Rebel Moon (Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Sofia Boutella)
• They Cloned Tyrone (John Boyega, Teyonah Parris)
• Through My Window: Across the Sea (Clara Galle, Julio Peña Fernández)

What TV shows will be present at Netflix Tudum 2023?

Netflix Tudum 2023's movie line-up is looking like it'll be on the small side. Will the streaming company make up for the lack of big-budget films with a sizeable TV series line-up, then?

It seems that way, yes. Here's a long list of the Netflix original shows that'll be present at this year's global fan event. That includes big hitters like Stranger Things season 5, Wednesday season 2, and The Witcher season 3, as well its forthcoming live-action adaptations of some of the best anime around:

• 3 Body Problem (Jess Hong, Benedict Wong, Jovan Adepo, Alex Sharp, John Bradley)
• All The Light We Cannot See (Aria Mia Loberti, Louis Hofmann)
• Avatar: The Last Airbender (Gordon Cormier, Kiawentiio, Ian Ousley, Dallas Liu)
• Back to 15 (Maisa)
• Bridgerton (Nicola Coughlan, Golda Rosheuvel)
• Cobra Kai (Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, other cast members)
• Elite (André Lamoglia, Valentina Zenere)
• Emily in Paris (Lily Collins)
• Fubar (Arnold Schwarzenegger)
• Heartstopper (Corinna Brown, Kizzy Edgell)
• Love Is Blind (Nick and Vanessa Lachey)
• Lupin (Omar Sy)
• Money Heist: Berlin (Pedro Alonso)
• Never Have I Ever (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Jaren Lewison, Darren Barnet)
• One Piece (Inaki Godoy, Mackenyu, Emily Rudd, Jacob Romero Gibson, Taz Skylar)
• Outer Banks (Chase Stokes)
• Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (India Amarteifio, Corey Mylchreest)
• Sintonia (Christian Malheiros, Jottapê, Bruna Mascarenhas)
• Squid Game (cast/crew TBC)
• Squid Game: The Challenge (cast/crew TBC)
• Stranger Things (cast/crew TBC)
• The Archies (Mihir Ahuja, Dot, Khushi Kapoor, Suhana Khan, Yuvraj Menda, Agastya Nanda and Vedang Raina)
• The Chosen One (Dianna Agron, Tenoch Huerta, Bobby Luhnow)
• The Witcher (Henry Cavill, Anya Charlotra, Freya Allan, Joey Batey)
• Too Hot To Handle (Chloe Veitch)
• Wednesday (Jenna Ortega, Hunter Doohan, Emma Myers, Joy Sunday)
• You (Penn Badgley)

You can expect Netflix Games to have a presence at the event, too. It'll be small compared to the streamer's films and TV show line-up. But, if the entertainment behemoth truly wants to break into the mainstream gaming industry, it'll have to show off some of its new gaming titles.

For more Netflix coverage, find out how to sign up to Netflix. Alternatively, learn more about why Netflix's password sharing crackdown plan is actually working, or get the lowdown on how to cancel your Netflix account if you're boycotting the service.

The official trailer for The Witcher season 3 has been released online – and it hints at how the hit Netflix series could have survived without Geralt of Rivia sticking around.

Netflix released the latest teaser for its hit high fantasy series today (June 8). The two-and-a-half minute long trailer, which you can watch below, is packed with storylines and references that diehard fans of The Witcher will immediately recognize.

More importantly than that, though, The Witcher season 3's latest trailer proves that one of the best Netflix shows could have continued without Geralt – portrayed by Henry Cavill or otherwise – as its star attraction. Before we explain why, check out the new trailer first:

As the teaser, well, teases, Freya Allan's Princess Ciri of Cintra appears to be taking on a bigger role in the popular TV show's story. 

That won't come as a surprise to fans of Andrzej Sapkowski's fantasy book series, which Netflix's Witcher franchise is based on, or the videogame series of the same name. In both Sapkowski's source material and the games, Ciri's role in helping decide the fate of The Continent is well-known. After all, you don't get labeled the Child of Destiny if you're not key to your universe's survival.

As The Witcher's third season's trailer suggests, Ciri will continue to grow her sword-wielding skills, increase the power of her abilities (as shown by her being tutored by Anya Chalotra's Yennefer of Vengerburg), and assume a leadership role in the surrogate family she shares with Yennefer and Henry Cavill's Geralt.

And that's vital for the future of the hit Netflix series. As viewers already know, Henry Cavill won't be back for The Witcher season 4, or any future installments in the franchise. He's departing the Netflix show once its third season – which is being released in two parts in late June and late July – airs. No reason has been given for Cavill's departure yet but, rest assured, we'll learn more once the dust settles on the series' next outing.

For her part, showrunner Lauren Hissrich exclusively told TechRadar that she "fully understands" why fans were left concerned and angry by the announcement over Cavill's impending departure. Cavill has been a leading light in the show and, while his replacement – Liam Hemsworth – might end up being as good a Geralt as his predecessor, fans are still upset to see Cavill (a big Witcher fan in his own right) walk away from the role that seems tailormade for him.

Still, The Witcher season 3's latest trailer suggests that the series could've managed without Cavill's Geralt in the picture, especially if it starts leaning more heavily in the direction of Allan's Ciri becoming its main star.

Hissrich previously told Total Film (via GamesRadar) that, without Cavill, the show's creative team considered ending after three seasons, but opted against doing that. Hisrrich also told Entertainment Weekly that Cavill's Geralt will get a deservedly heroic send-off before he rides off into the sunset.

So, the possibility of The Witcher moving forward without Geralt must have been proposed at some stage. If it was – and with Ciri's increasingly central role, at least based on the latest footage – then The Witcher's TV adaptation may have been fine with Hemsworth assuming the mantle of Geralt. 

We'll never know if that was possible – two more seasons of The Witcher are in production, with Hemsworth's Geralt likely to feature heavily in both. Still, the newest trailer seems to prove that, with or without Geralt, Netflix's The Witcher would have been in safe hands with Ciri (and potentially Yennefer) leading it into a bright new future. It wouldn't even need a name change, either – Ciri saying that she considers herself to be a Witcher in the latest teaser. Anyway, we guess Netflix is leaving it up to Polaris, the next Witcher game from developer CD Projekt Red, to show if that is ultimately possible.

For more Witcher-based coverage, read our review of prequel series The Witcher: Blood Origin. Alternatively, check out these six new Netflix Originals, including The Witcher, that are worth streaming in June 2023.

The best PC games are those that make the most of the powerful hardware they're available on, and the vast and varied library that can be downloaded. Because of this, you never really know where you'll end up, whether it's amidst quirky indies, mind-churning strategy games, or just ports of the latest and greatest launches. There's a lot to love, and a lot of routes PC gaming can offer.

For fans of using a keyboard and mouse, PC Gaming just clicks. Whether that's due to the technical advantages that the best graphics cards can offer, or a love of some of the weirder and more esoteric games on the market, there's no denying the PC is a strong choice for a primary platform. Especially now you can play most of these games on the Steam Deck or just plug in one of the best PC controllers and play games with higher framerates, resolutions, and features such as ray-tracing, DLSS, and HDR.

So whether you have a tricked-out PC gaming setup or looking for games to play on your productivity laptop, we’ve put together a list of the best PC games you can play right now. Of course, not every game is for every person, but there are definitely at least one or two titles on this list for you.

Best PC games

Mewgenics, the latest game from the creator of The Binding of Isaac, is a hit and just has hard to put down at its predecessor. This cat breeding simulator has you creating your own army of pussycats to put up against legions of grotesque foes in tense tactical combat.

It’s a surprisingly compelling and complex game, offering ample collectible items, a healthy number of achievements, and plenty of replayability thanks to more than 200 enemies. This makes it an excellent fit for Steam Deck, with which it's fully compatible.

There are moments where it can start to drag, and the raunchy humor definitely won't be to everyone's tastes, but it is still a great reminder of indie gaming excellence.

Hollow Knight: Silksong arrives with the weight of the world upon it. Somehow, Team Cherry has managed to follow up what is considered to be one of the best games ever made, with another stone cold masterpiece. It's a wildly different experience when compared to Hollow Knight, with a tighter focus on map design, and an increase in immediate difficultly. As you journey through Pharloom you'll face down some of the best bosses I've ever played in any game. There's surprises too, including smaller story moments that leverage Silksong's new protagonist to great effect.

While Silksong is indeed a very challenging game, you do have plenty of tools to rise above even the hardest battles. There's an emphasis on exploration, with multiple areas offered up as optional ways for players to unlock upgrades that can be used to lessen the threat of enemies. Definitely one to check out, though if you're on PC you may want to opt for a controller.

There have been heaps of Soulslike games released over the last decade or so, each attempting to mimic the development and design styles of FromSoftware. Many have gotten a lot right, like 2023's Lies of P, though Wuchang: Fallen Feathers might just be even better. This one takes the core of games like Sekiro and Dark Souls, but manages to carve out a distinct path of its own.

A dark take on the Ming Dynasty era of Chinese history, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers tells a shockingly grim tale, replete with themes of cyclical violence, abduction, forced marriage, and no shortage of grotesque body horror. Combat favors quick evades, making for a potent mix of action and exploration that's really brilliant to behold. Check this one out if you're itching for a new Soulslike in 2025.

Doom: The Dark Ages takes things to a fantasy Medieval setting, slowing down traversal while adding a bunch of new ways to fight. The shield is a real game-changer, opening up a parry system that instantly grounds combat. There's chains, a rideable dragon, and a gun that shoots bone shards to brilliantly gory effect. Combat-wise, this is the best Doom has ever felt, matching the more tacky feel of the 2016 reboot.

Visuals continue to amaze, especially on PC, with blood effects and the shiny, tarnished metal armor that enemies way being real standouts. By focusing entirely on singe player, the devs have given it their all to put together an exciting campaign that makes great use of the new setting.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the biggest surprises of 2025, with excellent combat that uses classic JRPG mechanics as a springboard to something that's equal parts innovative and dynamic. You see, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a turn-based RPG, but one that weaves parries and dodges into its action. This immediately sets it apart, adding an extra layer of energy to proceedings.

There's a brilliant story to enjoy here as well, with best-in-class performances by a seriously talented cast. There's Daredevil's Charlie Cox, Baldur's Gate 3's Jennifer English, as well as Final Fantasy 16's Ben Starr. Pair all of this with some of the most gorgeous environments we've ever seen in a game and you've got something truly special. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will definitely be in the conversation for Game of The Year awards come December.

Assassin's Creed Shadows finally brings the long-running action-stealth franchise to Japan. The open world is predictably giant, but is also easily the prettiest one we've seen yet in an Assassin's Creed game. There's two protagonists this time too, with very different play styles. Yasuke is a towering samurai, who prefers to take on battles head on. Naoe is more of your traditional assassin, using tools and the environment to take down enemies silently.

We absolutely loved our time with Assassin's Creed Shadows, especially exploring the world. There's a neat Scouting mechanic that helps you to narrow down your objective, without holding your hand too much. This encourages you to pay attention to the world around you, turning even simple fetch quests into adventures that feel unique.

Monster Hunter Wilds is a brand new direction for the series, opening up hunts for more players than ever. In many ways, this is a natural progression from the groundwork that Monster Hunter World laid down many years ago. There's a seamless open world to explore, made up of interconnected regions, each with its own collection of fauna, flora and materials. As you hunt, you'll slowly build up an arsenal of weapons, and craft better and better armor sets that in turn allow you to hunt more dangerous monsters.

With the help of the newly introduced NPC hunters, you can play Monster Hunter Wilds on your own if you wish, though it's undoubtedly a better time with a group of friends. Choosing your loadout based on your squad's composition adds a great layer of tactics into the mix, and you can even switch weapons while out on hunts now.

Civ 7 is probably the most radical departure from the series' long-tried and tested formula in a very long time. In particular, the decision to separate Leaders and Civs is a bold one, opening the door to a whole level of planning. Employed aptly, swapping between Civs allows you to pivot your strategy on the fly, helping to prevent those painful, protracted losses that were once almost guaranteed to occur if you were unlucky enough to mess up early on.

There are multiple new progression systems in Sid Meier's Civilization 7, including one that gives you useful buffs you can take into future games. In short, this is a different game to Civ 6, and it's well worth trying out whether you're a veteran Civ fan, or a newcomer.

Marvel Rivals is the new kid on the block, having already won the hearts of gamers and critics alike. An extremely solid launch boasted 33 Heroes, each with their own play style and cosmetics, and since then, additional comic-book icons have been added. What sets Marvel Rivals apart from its competitors is just how fun it is to play, even if you're not interested in anything more than a casual experience. If you do want to dig deeper, there's plenty of skill required to climb the ranks in Competitive Mode, and given the number of Heroes on offer, there's very likely to be something for everyone to try out.

Whether you wish to play a third-person shooter by selecting The Punisher, or a melee-focused 3D fighter by choosing Iron Fist, there's a lot of depth to be found in each Hero. As you level up, you'll unlock new emotes, sprays and more. The in-game Battle Pass offers more, with Skins and premium currency available as rewards. It's early days, but it looks as though the future is very bright indeed for Marvel Rivals.

The Call of Duty franchise has had its highs and lows, with last year's Modern Warfare 3 undoubtedly one of the lowest points so far. It's refreshing then, that Black Ops 6 launched to such acclaim, and continues to bring players back with each seasonal update. Much of the game's success comes from the excellent weapon balancing present in the main Multiplayer modes. Maps are varied, but they are at least all new, with some real standouts like Skyline and Hideout.

Zombies is back with a bang too, and there's now multiple maps to play across. By simplifying the formula, Black Ops 6 has breathed new life into waining systems like Prestige and levelling. While it may not be everyone's cup of tea, the new omnimovement is extremely fun, adding some much needed flair to the action.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is the latest from Atlus, the team behind the Persona series. It's distinctly more of a fantasy game, however, which may seem like a tougher sell at first blush. Rest assured, if you like Persona, you'll find a heck of a lot to love here, with an overhauled combat system standing out as the main reason to give Metaphor: ReFantazio a try. The story is epic, the characters are complex, and there's an overall darker theme to proceedings when compared to Atlus' recent games.

The social aspect of the Persona series is tweaked slightly here, as you'll build relationships with Followers, over the course of four months. Time still advances day by day however, meaning you'll need to make the most of your time as the story unfolds. In short, Metaphor: ReFantazio is familiar, yet different, offering up a new take on the fantasy RPG genre, while staying true to its roots.

Frostpunk 2 is a very different kind of city-builder than you're probably used to. While others focus on giving the player escalating tools and resources to help them thrive, Frostpunk 2 is all about surviving by the skin of your teeth. The game is filled with difficult choices, be that whether or not to let a family out of quarantine, or how to divert your resources to best serve the greater population. It's a bleak, brutal but utterly compelling time, one that keeps you coming back for more, even after you've just lost everything.

Thankfully, there's a whole host of difficulty settings to help tailor your experience. You can crank up the challenge, making every single choice you make feel like life or death. Conversely, you can stack the deck in your favor somewhat, giving you the space to take in the narrative, and better learn the game's many interconnected systems.

Final Fantasy 14 has gone through one heck of a glow up since it launched. After a very shaky initial release, the game was retooled into Final Fantasy 14: Realm Reborn, and the game has gone from strength to strength ever since. The most recent expansion, Dawntrail added an excellent main scenario, as well as some truly engaging and challenging encounters.

If you didn't know, Final Fantasy 14 is the MMO entry in the series, and is an ongoing project at Square Enix. With each major expansion, the game is bolstered with new soundtracks, new jobs, and sometimes full story arcs that psh the overall narrative moving forward. There's a reason this one has lasted as long as it has, with players consistently rewarded for returning, and the developer continuing to deliver with each new release. Definitely one to check out if you're looking for an online game for you and your friends to dive into.

Disco Elysium is a must play for RPG fans on PC. It puts you into the rather incompetent shoes of Harry Du Bois, a detective who's on the hunt for a murderer in the city of Revachol. The game plays out like a TTRPG, in that many of your actions are determined by dice rolls and skill points. You get to decide how you approach tasks, and in how you want the game to end.

With its striking art-style and best-in-class writing, Disco Elysium stands head and shoulders above its competition, offering up a heady, philosophical story filled with mystery, debauchery and plenty of kooky characters. This one is definitely for fans of pen and paper RPGs, tabletop games, and games that elevate narrative design above all else.

Dragon's Dogma 2 is something of an oddity, serving as both a sequel to the beloved 2012 fantasy RPG, and a sort of remake. It places players into the shoes of the Arisen, a powerful warrior motivated by prophecy, one that must slay the great dragon, or die trying. As you adventure across the massive open world map, you'll recruit Pawns to assist you in battle. Over time, these Pawns can be upgraded, able to propel you into the air to strike from above, buff you with elemental magics, and even catch you when falling from a great height.

It's the Pawn system that really helps Dragon's Dogma 2 stand out from its competition. Each Pawn is unique, and many of them have been designed by other players. By combining different types, you'll completely change the combat style of your party, and the kinds of interactions you'll have with NPCs around the world. Combat is also quite unique, landing somewhere between DragonAge and Monster Hunter. You can climb on just about any enemy, as you edge closer and closer to weak spots before diving off to move in for the final blow.

If you're a fan of emergent RPG gameplay, Dragon's Dogma 2 will consistently surprise you. Battles are hard fought, but as you make your way through the several classes available to you, you'll work out the best strategies to fell everything from Dragon's to charging minotaur enemies. All of this is wrapped up in a truly epic story, one which has multiple endings, and different ways to complete main quests. Become the Arisen and slay the dragon, while having an absolute blast along the way.

Alan Wake 2 is absolutely terrifying. Remedy returns to the horror franchise it created after 13 years away, except while Alan Wake was an action thriller, Alan Wake 2 is a terrifying dive into survival horror, with several situations that will make your skin crawl.

A beautiful game with a fascinating story, in addition to some rock hard puzzles. The well-written characters and reality-bending cutscenes should give you more than enough reason to play through the game, but the tense combat also makes this a compelling entry into the stealth genre.

One of the best RPGs in recent years, Baldur's Gate 3 invites you to explore a rich fantasy world full of a mind-boggling array of possibilities. A traditional RPG in the mold of Dragon Age: Origins, and the original Baldur's Gate series, Baldur's Gate 3 has you control a group of adventurers, stopping for occasional bouts of turn-based combat as you make your way through the bright and often wacky world.

The game boasts hours of cinematics, offering a level of directorial ambition that rivals many of the other entries on this list. The main story is an immersive, high-fantasy adventure worthy of even the best Dungeons and Dragons campaign, while the combat mechanics give even the best PC strategy games a run for their money.

Tekken 8 is a drastic step up in a well-established fighting game series, and with new mechanics, visuals, and characters, there is a huge amount to mark this game as one of the best PC games currently available. Although fighting games can be a bit of a mixed bag on PC, anyone looking to get into them should start here, and you won't look back.

Visually, Tekken 8 is an incredibly impressive game, and you're bound to be pulled in by its incredible animations and detailed environments. In addition to this, practice and online mode has never felt so accessible, opening up the doors to all willing players regardless of any past experience with the series. Both story modes, The Dark Awakens and Arcade Quest, will get you up to speed with the history of the game and the mechanics you'll need to master to get set up online too.

Supergiant Games made a name for itself thanks to the great reception that Pyre, Transistor, and Bastion received. Now, fans of the studio have a new entry to add to the studio’s pantheon of great games: Hades. Hades uses the same isometric view of the other games and tells the story of Hades’ son, Zagreus, as he tries to escape the underworld.

This roguelike dungeon crawler has a few new features up its sleeve. Not only can you romance some characters for extra bonuses, but dying in the game doesn’t start you at the last checkpoint. When you die, you might start at the beginning but you’re not starting over. You’re able to upgrade your character and weapons to improve your chances of escaping with each subsequent death. This leads to a sense of progression that makes for a very addictive game.

Forza Motorsport sees developer Turn 10 Studios bring the sim-racing series back into the spotlight, six years after the previous entry launched. Now that the eighth entry in the Motorsport line-up is finally here, it’s providing a refreshing change of pace from the Horizon subseries.

Forza Motorsport offers a racing model that’s easy to pick up and accessible to all players, while offering a huge range of difficulty options, assists and accessibility settings to help you tailor an experience that’s all yours. It’s also one of the most visually striking sim racers to date, providing players with a game that’s as pretty as it is fun to play.

There's a chunk of authentic-feeling real-world tracks, a ton of cars and more car customizing than you can shake a wrench at. If you're a petrolhead or just supercar-curious, this is probably the best racing game for you.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the newest addition to the incredibly well-loved series, and frankly, even if you've never played a Yakuza or Like a Dragon game before, you should start now. Infinite Wealth does offer a lot of "for the fans" content, which you'd expect from a story that has been essentially 20 years in the making, but there's also a lot to get new players up to speed and feeling like they've been part of the series the whole time.

In addition to its bulky main story, Infinite Wealth boasts an huge amount of side content. So, there's more than enough to sink your teeth into if you're looking for a decently sized PC game to occupy your time. Be warned though, getting into Yakuza and Like a Dragon is a slippery slope, and once you've finished this game you may find yourself circling back to see what all the hype was about in the first place.

Doom Eternal takes everything from the Doom (2016) and turns it up to 11. The game is intense; visually, and sonically overwhelming, and is exactly what you would expect a fever dream inspired by Doom would feel like.

The game offers a seamless first-person shooter where you trek into hell to battle an assortment of never-ending demons and reclaim an overrun earth. Refilling your health sometimes requires quite literally tearing monsters apart, and there is some need to be creative with your weapon choice, depending on what demon you’re facing. However, this game is all about creating havoc and rushing into battle as loud and as brash as possible.

Not only is Doom: Eternal a hell of a ride, but it’s also a gorgeous-looking game that takes advantage of the newest hardware. And, it’s a 2v1 multiplayer mode where one player takes control of the “slayer” and faces off against two more player-controlled demons.

Hades 2 follows up an absolute masterpiece, and somehow manages to do everything just a bit better. You play as Melinoe this time around, and she's a very different kind of fighter when compared to Zagreus. She has a Cast ability that throws down a ring that slows down enemies that step inside of it. This is great for controlling crowds of enemies, and can be beefed up with magic to deal high damage when it expires. Being a witch, Melinoe used magic to switch up her attacks. This really changes the pace of fights, allowing for a more tactical and slower kind of play.

Having spent a year in early access, the team at Supergiant Games has tweaked and retooled Hades 2 extensively before the full release. There's a dizzying amount of stuff to do, including a wide variety of unique weapons to try out. Every run unlocks something useful, even the ones that don't feel particularly successful at first. As you dive deeper into the Underworld, you'll slowly build out a suite of upgrades that can be used in new runs to gain an edge on the enemy.

Helldivers 2 wowed players when it launched last year, and has further solidified its blockbuster status with some excellent updates post-launch. Helldivers 2 send squads of four to hostile planets filled with either bile-spewing bugs or laser-eyed robots. You'll deploy powerful super weapons as you move from objective to objective, dying a whole lot in the process.

There are many reasons why Helldivers 2 has taken the gaming world by storm this year. It has excellent third-person shooting, hilarious friendly fire mechanics as well as a progression system that rewards players for completing missions on increasingly nightmarish difficulties. Thanks to this wide difficulty system, Helldivers 2 isn't as brutal as it might seem at first blush. By learning how to play as a team, you'll quickly rise through the ranks, employing everything from space lasers to hulking mechs.

You can enable crossplay to join PS5 players, or stick to PC if you'd prefer. We recommend playing with a controller, given how the special abilities are triggered, making them much easier, and faster to deploy using a d-pad. Regardless of how or where you play Helldivers 2, you and your pals will be in for a very good time indeed.

Elden Ring took the gaming world by storm when it first arrived, and for good reason. FromSoftware's latest punishment simulator has all the familiar touchstones of a soulslike, but expanded out into an open world with a story crafted by Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin, so you know it's not going to pull any punches.

The PC version of Elden Ring is now stable, and seriously impresses in its visuals and performance. Now that some of the initial bugs and wrinkles have been squashed and ironed out, it's unquestionably one of the best games, if not the best, that the studio has ever put out.

As devoted fans of the studio's work since the original Demons' Souls on the PS3, we don't offer that kind of praise lightly, but like the Souls-like genre itself, you gotta earn it, and FromSoftware unquestionably does with Elden Ring.

How we made our best PC games list

The team behind TechRadar Gaming has spent thousands of hours testing out the best PC games, so we know exactly which titles are worth recommending, and which titles are worth giving a miss. Between us, we have interests in almost all genres, so any title you're considering picking up has more than likely been played by a member of the team at some point.

Because of just how long we've spent jumping in and out of games of all kinds, we've got opinions you can trust. Our experience means our picks have been carefully considered, so there's bound to be something you enjoy within one of our best lists.

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