Epic Games and CD Projekt Red unveiled an early development tech demo for The Witcher 4, utilizing Unreal Engine 5. The nearly ten-minute presentation, featured during the State of Unreal event on Tuesday, showcased impressive environments, a detailed open world, and various cutting-edge technical features. CD Projekt noted that the demo was running on a base PlayStation 5 at 60 frames per second with ray tracing enabled.
The Witcher 4 Tech Demo
The tech demo not only introduced viewers to the world of The Witcher 4 but also highlighted Kovir, a previously uncharted northern region in the series. CD Projekt emphasized that the demo does not represent actual gameplay but serves as an exploration of the technological foundations for the upcoming installment in the Witcher saga. As such, the final product may differ from what was presented.
Despite being an early look, the demo was captivating, featuring sharp character models for the protagonist Ciri and her horse, Kelpie. Dense vegetation, vibrant towns filled with NPCs, and a showcase of Unreal Engine 5 features contributed to the overall visual splendor.
In an update on its website, CD Projekt stated that since their strategic partnership with Epic Games initiated in 2022, they have been collaboratively improving tools and enhancing existing features in Unreal Engine 5. This work is aimed at expanding the engine’s open-world development capabilities and establishing specialized tools tailored to CD PROJEKT RED’s design philosophies.
The demo opens with Ciri traveling down a mountain in Kovir, tracking a monster, and eventually mounting her horse, Kelpie, to ride to the bustling port town of Valdrest.
As the showcase continues, viewers are treated to the wilderness of The Witcher 4, where rugged snow-capped mountains and dense forests come alive through Unreal’s advanced Nanite Foliage rendering technology. The scene transitions back to Valdrest, displaying Ciri interacting with NPCs engaged in daily activities, including a moment where more than 300 animated NPCs populate a single scene.
CD Projekt Red has claimed that The Witcher 4 aims to be “the most immersive and ambitious open-world Witcher game ever.” The presentation concluded with a sneak peek at Lan Exeter, the winter capital and a significant port city within Kovir.
A view of the port town of Valdrest in The Witcher 4 tech demo
Photo Credit: CD Projekt Red
According to both CD Projekt and Epic, the tools and technologies showcased in the demo will eventually be accessible to all Unreal Engine developers, commencing with the release of Unreal Engine 5.6 on Tuesday.
Joint-CEO of CD Projekt Red, Michał Nowakowski, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership’s potential to advance open-world game technology. “Presenting this early look at our work with Unreal Engine running at 60 FPS on PlayStation 5 marks a significant milestone and highlights the fruitful collaboration between our teams,” he stated. “While we have achieved much, there is still more to come. I look forward to the continued advancements and inspiring technology from this partnership as The Witcher 4’s development progresses.”
The Witcher 4 was first announced at The Game Awards 2024, featuring a cinematic trailer that introduced Ciri as the central character of this new saga. CD Projekt has yet to reveal any gameplay for the anticipated RPG, and the demo does not reflect the final product. Although there is currently no confirmed release date for The Witcher 4, the developer indicated during its FY 2024 earnings conference in March that the game is expected to launch no earlier than 2027.
