The Great Witcher Schools Debate: Author Dismisses Core Game Lore as an Error

The Witcher universe has exploded in popularity thanks to CD Projekt Red’s acclaimed RPG games, with elements like Geralt’s School of the Wolf and the various other Witcher Schools (Gryphon, Cat, Viper, etc.) becoming indelible parts of the world’s fabric. However, the original creator of the world, author Andrzej Sapkowski, has recently dismissed this entire organizational structure as a mistake that was “clung to” by game adaptors.

In a rare public statement, Sapkowski explained the genesis of the concept, tracing the origins of what is now a multi-school system to a single, unfortunate line in his first short story collection, The Last Wish.

He stated:

• “A single sentence about some ‘school of the Wolf’ mysteriously made its way into The Last Wish.”
• “I later deemed it unworthy of development and narratively incorrect, even detrimental to the plot.”
• “Therefore, later I never included or referenced any Witcher Gryffindors or Slytherins again. Never.”

This admission directly challenges one of the most visible and mechanically important aspects of the gaming trilogy and the announced sequel, The Witcher 4, which was teased with a Lynx School medallion.

The Impact on The Witcher Franchise and Future Games

The multiple Witcher Schools are more than just cosmetic detail in the games. They are integral to:

• Player Identity: Geralt’s entire training and personal history is tied to Kaer Morhen and the Wolf School.
• Gear and Builds: The games, particularly The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, feature entire gear sets (armor, swords) and playstyles categorized under the various Schools (Bear School for heavy defense, Cat School for fast attacks).
• The Future of the Saga: The announcement image for the next major installment in the series, often dubbed The Witcher 4, centered on a Lynx medallion, leading to widespread fan speculation that the game would focus on a new hero, potentially Ciri, and the creation or revival of a new school.

Sapkowski’s comments, however, suggest that the proliferation of these schools by “videogame people” was “completely unnecessary.” This reaffirms his long-standing position that the games are non-canon—a fan-fiction or adaptation that exists separately from his literary works. For the global gaming audience, however, the schools are an unshakeable piece of Witcher lore.

What Now for Canon? Sapkowski’s Dilemma

The author is now faced with a decision regarding the errant line in The Last Wish that accidentally spawned a multi-billion dollar franchise’s core concept. Sapkowski noted two possible paths:

• The “path of least resistance” would be to simply remove the single sentence from future editions of the book. This would definitively erase the concept from the literary canon.
• Alternatively, he could “expand and clarify the matter” in subsequent books, potentially exploring the true significance of the Witcher medallions and their relationship to individuals, rather than institutions.

Regardless of his choice, the high-quality content and immense popularity of the games have entrenched the multiple Witcher Schools in the minds of millions of players worldwide. The games are a commercially successful continuation of the story that fans have embraced, creating a complex, dual-layered Witcher universe where the author’s vision and the developer’s adaptation exist in perpetual, yet fascinating, conflict.

This discussion highlights the ongoing tension between original creators and successful adaptors, a common theme in the entertainment industry—especially when the adaptation achieves a global reach that surpasses the source material. It remains to be seen how CD Projekt Red will address the Lynx School in their upcoming project, but the Witcher gaming community will likely continue to embrace the rich, multi-school lore that Sapkowski inadvertently created.