Highlights

  • Polaris, Sirius, and Canis Majoris should each offer a fresh take on The Witcher universe with unique gameplay elements.
  • Canis Majoris will be a modern remake of the original The Witcher, rebuilding gameplay pillars with new visuals and design.
  • Sirius will introduce multiplayer features, potentially creating a new type of Witcher experience while maintaining RPG mechanics.

CD Projekt Red is developing a number of different games set in the universe of The Witcher, and they seem rather promising. Based on what is known about the new Witcher titles, codenamed Polaris, Sirius, and Canis Majoris, they have the potential to all offer unique and distinct takes on Andrzej Sapkowski's bold fantasy world.

Polaris is the game that most people are referring to when they discuss The Witcher 4, as it seems to be the most direct continuation of the mainline Witcher series, although CDPR has been clear about it being a new saga. Canis Majoris and Sirius, on the other hand, are more like spin-off games, with the former being a from-the-ground-up remake of the first Witcher title and the latter being a multiplayer game. Given these three broad frameworks, CD Projekt Red has a lot of opportunities to expand and differentiate the fantasy RPG franchise.

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Polaris, Sirius, and Canis Majoris Can All Be New Kinds of Witcher Games

Canis Majoris Could Be Most Like The Witcher 3

Canis Majoris, as a remake, will likely be considerably different from the original The Witcher, as CDPR has been upfront about the fact that Majoris is a "modern reimagining" of the 2007 original. It would appear that Majoris will be more of a kind with modern game remakes like Final Fantasy 7 Remake or the Resident Evil remakes, reconstructing gameplay pillars and implementing all-new visuals. In essence, it will strip the game down, rebuilding it with contemporary technology and design conventions.

Considering that a line can be drawn from 2007's The Witcher to The Witcher 3, and the fact that both games star the same protagonist, it seems likely that developer Fool's Theory will retroactively adapt some elements from Geralt's third adventure. The Witcher remake going open-world is evidence that this might be the case, but Fool's Theory could take it further by drawing from The Witcher 3's combat, quest design, and more.

Sirius' Multiplayer Features Could Make for a Very Different Witcher Experience

The most crucial piece of information available about Sirius is that it will have a multiplayer component. CDPR has stated that it can still be played as a single-player game, but the multiplayer side of the equation seems to be central to the overall experience. Additional comments from CDPR, along with job listings from The Molasses Flood, reveal that the game will not be open-world, but will feature core RPG mechanics like leveling and combat scaling.

So, while it's not clear what a multiplayer Witcher game will look like, it seems like Sirius won't be an MMO, as it's not open-world, nor will it be solely built around PvP, as it is still being considered an RPG with a single-player focus. Sirius could be a roguelike, a co-op survival game, or a story-focused adventure, but regardless, it may wind up being the most different of the three in-development Witcher games, thanks to its multiplayer.

Polaris Should Be An Evolution of The Witcher

As the start of the next Witcher saga, Polaris has more riding on it than Sirius and Canis Majoris. Fans have speculated about what Polaris will look like, whether it will be set in the far future or distant past (relative to Geralt's journey), and if it will star a supporting character like Ciri. Whatever general approach CDPR takes with Polaris, the developer should seize the opportunity to make it a wholly different experience, perhaps leaning more into RPG elements and de-emphasizing things like combat or open-world exploration.

Polaris may have some elements from past Witcher games, but to stand out from the original trilogy, as well as from Sirius and Canis Majoris, it should prioritize significant, fundamental changes. Really, all three new The Witcher games should aim to provide a distinct experience, as this will help the franchise move into its next era while surprising and exciting fans.