The recently unveiled Witcher 4 tech demo has given fans a breathtaking glimpse into CD Projekt Red's capabilities - though the studio is adamant this represents technical possibilities rather than actual gameplay. As noted by IGN's coverage, while this Unreal Engine 5 showcase isn't indicative of the final product, it's impossible not to speculate about how these cutting-edge visuals might translate to the eventual game that's still years away from release.
Next-Generation Showcase
Captured on PlayStation 5 running at a smooth 60fps, the demo follows Ciri exploring the previously unseen region of Kovir while undertaking a monster hunting contract (CD Projekt confirmed Kovir will be a playable area in the full game). The level of detail is staggering, featuring animation fluidity that pushes current-gen hardware to its limits. Ciri and her mount Kelpie demonstrate remarkably natural interactions with NPCs and environments as they traverse Kovir's mountainous terrain towards the port town of Valdrest. One particularly impressive sequence features a bustling marketplace populated by 300 uniquely animated characters - a technical achievement that concludes with our first glimpse of Lan Exeter, Kovir's winter capital.
CD Projekt's caution about managing expectations comes from hard-earned experience. The rocky launch of Cyberpunk 2077 serves as a stark reminder about the dangers of overpromising. This naturally raises the question: just how representative is this tech demo of The Witcher 4's final form?
When we put this question to Kajetan Kapuściński, CD Projekt's Cinematic Director, during Epic's State of Unreal 2025 event, his response carefully balanced ambition with realism for a project still in development:
What you've seen today is a tech demo powered by Unreal Engine 5 - a collaborative project with Epic showcasing technology that will power Witcher 4. While it's not actual gameplay, it demonstrates our vision, technological innovations, and artistic direction. Everything remains subject to change as development progresses.
Breaking Performance Barriers
Equally impressive is the demo's technical performance - achieving 60fps with ray tracing on standard PS5 hardware, a combination we rarely see in current-gen open-world games. Wyeth Johnson from Epic Games confirmed this wasn't smoke and mirrors:
Players demand 60fps gameplay across all hardware, and our collaboration with CD Projekt let us push performance to new heights while maintaining stunning visual fidelity. The console hardware still has untapped potential through smart parallel processing and optimization.
This technological leap comes from revolutionary approaches like Unreal's new animation framework and geometry streaming systems that maximize hardware utilization, promising significant performance gains for future titles.
Inside the Tech Demo
Kapuściński hinted that observant viewers could discern certain design directions from the demo:
- Massive forests utilizing Nanite foliage technology
- Next-generation animation systems
- Unprecedented crowds with 300+ animated NPCs
While the studio remains tight-lipped about specifics, these elements clearly demonstrate their ambition for The Witcher 4's scale and fidelity.
The Cross-Gen Question
With a targeted release no earlier than 2027, platform strategy remains uncertain. The PS5 demo suggests current-gen support, but will it extend to Xbox Series S? Considering Rockstar's approach with GTA VI (also targeting Series S), it remains a possibility. One thing's certain - CD Projekt is determined to get this next chapter right.
