Exciting times ahead for fans of the franchise! A gameplay-based tech demo for The Witcher 4 was recently unveiled during an Unreal Engine showcase, giving a thrilling glimpse of what’s to come.
The State of Unreal presentation kicked off with developers from CD Projekt Red showcasing a “technological showcase set in the world of Witcher 4,†running on a PS5 with ray-tracing enabled. This ambitious demonstration highlighted impressive new features and capabilities.
Update3rd Jun 2025 / 4:30 pm
“It showcases the powerful foundation we’re building in close collaboration with Epic Games to push open-world design further than ever before and the core systems and features we’re developing using Unreal Engine 5.â€Â
CD Projekt Red is excited to offer fans a sneak peek at some cool tech, like UAF, Nanite Foliage, Smart Objects, ML Deformer, and FastGeo Streaming, shaping the future of The Witcher.
While it wasn’t confirmed that what was shown was actual gameplay, the demo presented a promising look at the potential on the standard PlayStation 5 console. Fans witnessed Ciri, the game’s protagonist, exploring a town in the newly confirmed setting of Kovir, interacting with NPCs in her quest.
The power of Unreal Engine 5 shone through, with the demo illustrating its capacity to render more complex scenes while being less demanding on hardware. The intricate market scene, filled with detailed stalls and objects for players to explore, set a new standard for open-world environments.
Moreover, Epic showcased a redesigned animation system, bringing Ciri’s movements to lifeâ€â€such as mounting her horseâ€â€with bespoke animations that adapt seamlessly based on player approach. No more stiff character models; this is all about immersion!
CD Projekt Red co-CEO Michał Nowakowski emphasized the significance of this partnership with Epic Games, saying, “To show this early look at the work we’ve been doing using Unreal Engine running at 60 FPS on PlayStation 5 is a significant milestone.†He hinted that they’re just scratching the surface and hinted at more advancements on the horizon.
The first trailer for The Witcher 4 premiered at The Game Awards in December 2024, revealing a shift in focusâ€â€Ciri takes center stage this time, following her last appearance in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
Amid some fan skepticism regarding this transition, Weber acknowledged the concern of those who cherished playing Geralt. He reassured fans that the choice to make Ciri the protagonist is a thoughtful, long-planned decision aimed at providing a rich experience worth exploring.
With a new protagonist and groundbreaking technology, The Witcher 4 is already setting the bar high for what to expect in modern gaming.