CD Projekt Red is expanding its relationship with Blizzard by bringing The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 to Battle.net. The crossover also introduces Geralt of Rivia as a cosmetic skin for the Barbarian class in Diablo 4.
There is, however, a significant condition attached: players must pre-order The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past on Battle.net to unlock the Geralt cosmetic. That requirement has quickly become the most controversial part of the collaboration.
Geralt arrives in the Diablo universe
The details were presented during a 30 Years of Battle.net panel at BlizzCon 2026. Alongside the Geralt reveal, CD Projekt Red confirmed that Cyberpunk 2077 and its Phantom Liberty expansion will be added to Blizzard’s storefront later this year.
The panel also offered a closer look at the Diablo 4 cosmetic and explained how it will be obtained. The promotion may appeal to players who already use Battle.net for most of their PC gaming, but it is less convenient for anyone who normally plays on Steam or console.
Players who already own The Witcher 3 may also need to purchase it again on Battle.net if they want to pre-order and play Songs of the Past through that platform. For more gaming news and industry updates, explore the RETROCADE Arcade Blog.
Why players are unhappy
The complaints extend beyond the platform-exclusive unlock method. Some fans have criticised the skin’s appearance, particularly its bulkier interpretation of Geralt.
“What did they do to my boy?” shared one player.
Another player asked why Geralt had been made to look like a “meathead”. A separate reaction described the Battle.net restriction as “diabolical”.
Further criticism focused on the timing. Blizzard recently confirmed that Diablo 4 will not receive any more expansions before the series moves towards Diablo 5. That prompted one player to question the appeal of buying cosmetics for a game that has been confirmed to be finished with major content updates.
Why Geralt looks different
The design also reflects the technical limits of adding a guest character to Diablo 4. The cosmetic must work with the Barbarian’s existing hitbox and animations, so it cannot simply reproduce Geralt’s proportions and movement from The Witcher 3.
The Witcher 3 level design lead Miles Tost said the armour draws heavily from Geralt’s recognisable Kaer Morhen outfit, with Barbarian elements layered over it, including extra fur. He explained that the teams aimed to create a design that suited both franchises and felt believable within Sanctuary.
That context may explain the character’s broader silhouette, although it is unlikely to settle the visual debate. As with any crossover cosmetic, the result has to balance fidelity to the guest character with the rules of the game receiving them.
Could the skin be sold separately?
The collaboration would be easier to access if ownership of Diablo 4 combined with a Songs of the Past pre-order were enough to qualify, regardless of platform. At present, the Battle.net requirement leaves Steam and console players outside the promotion and may require existing owners to buy The Witcher 3 again.
CD Projekt Red and Blizzard may eventually offer the Geralt skin as a standalone purchase for Diablo 4 players. No such option has been confirmed, but it would give more fans a way to obtain the crossover cosmetic. Until then, the debate is likely to continue over both the character’s design and the price of access.
For readers interested in dedicated gaming setups beyond online storefronts, RETROCADE also covers arcade machines and practical advice in its arcade machine buying guide.
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