A 3rd Witcher 3 enlargement, Songs of the Previous, was solely introduced yesterday, nevertheless it seems we have seen the sword Geralt unsheaths within the paintings earlier than.
Roughly a month in the past, on thirtieth April, CD Projekt Crimson shared paintings and a poem celebrating the Gaelic pageant of Beltane, or Belleteyn as the corporate referred to as it – a pageant which marks the start of summer season. Within the image, we see the eponymous witcher Geralt sitting, leant in opposition to a tree, whereas his bardic pal Dandelion serenades close by nighttime revellers.
CD Projekt Crimson’s ‘Belleteyn’ paintings. Observe the swords by Geralt’s facet within the backside left. | Picture credit score: CD Projekt Crimson
On first inspection there’s not way more to see, however look nearer within the backside left of the picture, by Geralt’s facet and beneath the phrases “Have a magical Belleteyn”, and you may see two sheathed swords, and considered one of these has an unusually ornate crossguard, seen even on this space of painted darkish.
The sword has a multilayered crossguard. There is a extra practical and sturdy V-shaped crossguard overlaid by a golden, swooping, swirling ornament of types. It is a design that like-for-like matches the sword Geralt holds within the Songs of the Previous enlargement paintings. Reddit consumer Kasavir created a useful overlay picture for side-by-side comparability.
Reddit consumer Kasavir’s useful comparability picture. | Picture credit score: Kasavir / CD Projekt Crimson
Given the outlandish and distinctive design of the sword, the possibilities of this being a coincidence are extraordinarily small. That is backed up by realising this piece of ‘Belleteyn’ paintings was produced barely a month earlier than the enlargement’s official announcement, so the artists concerned would have been nicely conscious of its significance. However is there something greater than an a-ha ‘we hid it in plain sight’ Easter egg occurring right here?
There might be. There’s some hypothesis whirring round that Songs of the Previous takes place within the coastal kingdom of Cidaris, which is beneath Redania and near Skelige – areas from the bottom Witcher 3 sport. Cidaris can be a area the place Dandelion (often known as Jaskier within the books) is assumed to return from, so ought to the “Songs” within the Songs of the Previous title seek advice from him, as a bard, then perhaps this beforehand issued paintings gives us a snapshot of what is to return.
All the things else is dependent upon the importance of the sword itself, and far has been manufactured from it after the enlargement announcement as a result of, nicely, there’s not a lot else to go on. The overwhelming thought appears to be Geralt is holding Ciri’s Witcher 4 sword, however whereas there’s a shut resemblance, I’ve studied the current Witcher 4 trailers and might confidently say they are not the identical weapon.
CD Projekt Crimson has even launched stills from The Witcher 4 announcement trailer that present Ciri’s blade intimately, so you’ll be able to clearly see the variations.
You’ll be able to clearly see in The Witcher 4 announcement trailer that the hilts are totally different, and that the blade itself, whereas equally notched, is totally different as nicely. Ciri’s precise sword has three curved-notches whereas there are solely two within the Songs of the Previous paintings, and her sword has an space on the base of the blade reduce out, whereas the sword within the Songs of the Previous paintings doesn’t. The Unreal demo of Witcher 4 from final summer season additionally reveals the hilt, maybe extra clearly, the place you’ll be able to see the variations. Ciri doesn’t draw the blade on this demonstration, although.
If not Ciri’s sword, then, what is the significance of it? There are some individuals who’ve advised the sword is already in The Witcher 3 sport, as Gesheft, a strong silver sword. The blades are definitely very comparable. Maybe, then, the sword is not vital in any respect. In spite of everything, it would not be the primary time Geralt has held a sword in Witcher 3 enlargement paintings – he did it for each Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine.
Facet be aware: it have to be greater than coincidence that the variety of swords on Geralt’s individual in Witcher 3 enlargement paintings has grown equivalent to the sequential variety of the expansions themselves. Within the first enlargement’s paintings Hearts of Stone, for instance, Geralt has one sword. It is two for Blood and Wine and three for Songs of the Previous. That is a intelligent contact, assuming it is supposed.
Rely the swords in every image. They correspond to the sequential order of the sport’s expansions. Coincidence? | Picture credit score: Plenty_Shift_551 / CD Projekt Crimson
Precisely how teasing CD Projekt Crimson is being right here, then, it is onerous to inform with out all the particulars, and with Songs of the Overdue subsequent yr, there is a lengthy advertising marketing campaign nonetheless to return. The following beat of that, by the way, can be late summer season, so maybe some questions can be answered then. We’re additionally anticipating to see extra of The Witcher 4 at Unreal Fest later in June.
