CD Projekt has detailed its decision to prioritize console development for the highly anticipated Witcher 4, marking a shift from its previous PC-first strategy.
This month, CD Projekt showcased an impressive Witcher 4 tech demo built with Unreal Engine 5, offering fans their first glimpse of the game's potential.
The PlayStation 5 demo, running at 60fps, follows Ciri through the unexplored region of Kovir as she undertakes a monster-hunting contract.
The demo reveals unprecedented detail, featuring fluid animations surpassing current-gen console capabilities. Ciri and her horse Kelpie display remarkably lifelike movements and interactions with NPCs while traversing Kovir's mountains toward Valdrest's bustling port. Notably, a market scene briefly populated with 300 animated NPCs precedes the reveal of Lan Exeter - Kovir's frosty capital and major trade hub.
CDPR VP of Technology Charles Tremblay explained the console-first strategy to Digital Foundry, stating it addresses past development challenges.
"Previously we'd develop for PC and scale down," he noted. "After encountering numerous issues, we're adopting a console-first methodology this time."
This acknowledges Cyberpunk 2077's disastrous 2020 console launch, which prompted Sony to remove it from PlayStation Store and issue refunds. CD Projekt later admitted failing to optimize adequately for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
The studio has since recovered through extensive patches, transforming Cyberpunk 2077 into a successful title that even launched on Nintendo Switch 2.
The Witcher 4 Unreal Engine 5 Tech Demo Screenshots
View 13 Images
With The Witcher 4 not expected until 2027 at earliest, CD Projekt aims to avoid past mistakes. Global Art Director Jakub Knapik explained their rationale for scaling up from consoles.
"We're establishing core foundations first," he said. "Scaling upward proves more efficient than downgrading from PC specifications."
Tremblay assured PC players they'll still receive premium experiences, noting CDPR's origins as a PC developer.
"We remain committed to delivering hardware-appropriate experiences," he emphasized. "PC players deserve the full potential their systems can achieve."
The Xbox Series S presents particular challenges for maintaining 60fps performance. Tremblay acknowledged this as unfinished technical work requiring solutions.
While years of development remain, the tech demo demonstrates CD Projekt's ambitious vision for The Witcher 4's next-generation potential.
