The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's second playable character has been revealed as Ciri.

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The Witcher 3: Ciri Screenshots 2 IMAGES

CD Projekt Red has confirmed you won't be able to switch between her and Geralt at will, but rather at certain moments in the plot you'll assume control of her. These moments will, by the way, be very significant in terms of the story.Described as an ashen-haired girl from ancient prophecy, Ciri is a descendant of a long lost elven blood lineage and star of the recently released Elder Blood trailer. Emotionally connected to Geralt, Ciri is pursued by the titular Wild Hunt, a cavalcade of riders capable of huge destruction, as well as the Nilfgaard Empire. Though details about how she'll play are thin on the ground, we've been told she'll be fast and agile, and will also be able to blink. A mythical power is also teased."Ciri is playable only during certain moments in the game – we introduce her to give gamers another perspective in the story to make it even more engaging," explains the studio's Robert Malinowski. "You won’t play as her for long periods of time, but since she’s crucial to the plot, we thought that additional insight will allow gamers to better bond with this cool character."We introduce Ciri as supportive narrative tool and not because of gameplay mechanics. The Witcher was always about Geralt and that has not changed, but that handful of moments when you play as Ciri provide us with glimpses of how the story feels from the other side."She’s a living weapon… and everyone wants to control her. This, plus she also has her own will and agenda, so it’s not just finding her that counts. I think that is the most important aspect of this character. Geralt knows Ciri since she was a child. She’s Geralt’s apprentice and they have a close emotional bond – he trained her so she could become a witcheress."Earlier this week it was announced the upcoming RPG has been delayed until May next year to allow for extra polish. Seeing as the upcoming RPG will have over 100 hours of content along with an all-star cast , it isn't surprising that CD Projekt Red is taking its time to make sure the game is all it can be.While the wait just got longer, we've plenty of coverage to keep you busy, from how the developer is focusing on fostering a sense of mysticism rather than bombastic effects , to the latest details that convince us this is one title that's well worth the wait

Luke Karmali is IGN's UK News Editor. You too can revel in mediocrity by following him on Twitter