Andrzej Sapkowski, the renowned creator of the fantasy saga The Witcher, has expressed his disagreement with the way CD Projekt RED has interpreted his work, especially regarding the expansion of the concept of “witcher schools”. During a Q&A session on Reddit, Sapkowski described these additions as “unnecessary” and stemming from a misinterpretation of his original material.
A retroactive change to make everything fit
Witcher schools, which in video games function as academies where young people are trained to become expert monster hunters, develop through various philosophies and combat styles. However, Sapkowski emphasized that in his literary work, the only reference to a “Wolf school” appears in a brief mention in The Last Wish, and he does not consider that reference worthy of narrative development. “Later I deemed it unworthy and narratively incorrect,” the author stated.
The Polish author criticized the interpretation that CD Projekt has given to his universe, suggesting that, comparatively, it resembles “dividing the witches into Gryffindor or Slytherin,” referring to the houses of Hogwarts in Harry Potter. He added that the popularity of this idea has led to the creation of new schools, such as the Viper, the Bear, or the Manticore, considering them excessive and harmful to the original narrative.
In case of correcting this situation, Sapkowski proposed two possibilities: to remove the reference to the “Wolf School” from future editions, or to explore more deeply the meaning of the witcher medallions. Despite the controversy, the writer reiterated that his literary work and the adaptations in video games are independent entities, each with its own value, and concluded: “the original stands on its own, and each adaptation does too.”
