Cyberpunk 2077 players discover a new reference to Ciri in Night City

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Ciri appears for the second time

The Witcher 3
(Image credit: CD Projekt)

Cyberpunk 2077 players think they've found a new reference to The Witcher 3's Ciri in Night City.

As first picked up on by Nintendo Smash, there's a particular quest in Cyberpunk 2077 which involves protagonist V waking up near the top of the Badlands Dam, and seeing what looks like a swallow resting near them. Seasoned Witcher fans might already know that Ciri's elven name of Zireael roughly translates to Swallow in English (and is also the name of the sword gifted to her by Geralt).

However, IGN points out that according to Cyberpunk 2077's in-game lore, all birds have been exterminated from the world that Night City is a part of. The 'Avian Extermination Act', detailed in a text log, was responsible for the destruction of all birdlife within an 18-mile radius of Night City due to infection, so it's extremely notable that this swallow-like bird is the only bird whatsoever that you see in CD Projekt's game.

Of course, this actually isn't the first time that Ciri has been alluded to in Night City. At the very beginning of Cyberpunk 2077, you can find a magazine in the Corpo life path which depicts the character from The Witcher 3 on the front cover as an illustration. This easter egg was unearthed shortly after Cyberpunk 2077 launched in December, making this new easter egg the second reference to the character in the game.

If you're wondering why everyone's so eager to find Ciri in Cyberpunk 2077, it's because the character seems to hint at the world of Night City in The Witcher 3. Near the conclusion of Geralt's adventure, Ciri makes mention of having been to a futuristic city while hopping through worlds, sparking speculation from players expecting Ciri to appear in CD Projekt's new game.

Hirun Cryer
Hirun Cryer
Freelance Writer

Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.