The Witcher 4 tech demo provided a breathtaking glimpse into what CD Projekt has described as precisely that: a technical demonstration. As reported by IGN, this demo does not represent the actual gameplay of The Witcher 4. However, witnessing this Unreal Engine 5 showcase set in The Witcher universe makes it difficult not to speculate whether it hints at what the final game will offer, even though its release is still years away.
Running on a PlayStation 5 at 60 frames per second, the demo tracks Ciri as she ventures into the previously unexplored region of Kovir while undertaking a monster hunting contract. CD Projekt has confirmed that Kovir will be a playable area in The Witcher 4.
The demo showcases an extraordinary level of detail, featuring fluid animations that surpass what we've experienced on current-generation consoles. Ciri and her horse, Kelpie, display remarkably lifelike movements and interactions with each other, NPCs, and the environment as they traverse Kovir's mountains toward the bustling port town of Valdrest. At one point, the demo features a market scene populated by 300 uniquely animated characters. The presentation concluded with the first look at Lan Exeter, the winter capital and a major port city in Kovir.
CD Projekt understands the consequences of setting high expectations for a game and failing to meet them, as demonstrated by Cyberpunk 2077's troubled 2020 launch and the subsequent recovery period. This naturally leads to the crucial question: does The Witcher 4 tech demo accurately reflect the final game's visual quality?
We posed this question to Kajetan Kapuściński, Cinematic Director at CD Projekt, during Epic's State of Unreal 2025 event. His response was characteristically cautious for a developer working on a game not scheduled for release until 2027 at the earliest, but he did clarify that the tech demo "showcases our ambition."
Here is Kapuściński's complete statement:
“What you saw today is a tech demo powered by Unreal Engine 5, a collaborative project with the Epic team. We created this demo to develop foundational technology for The Witcher 4.
“This is not direct gameplay from The Witcher 4. Instead, it represents our ambition and the cutting-edge technology we're co-developing to bring the game to life. It also reflects our artistic vision and our intended approach to various aspects.
“However, everything shown is subject to change. This is just a snapshot of our current progress. We wanted to share what we've been developing and demonstrate our partnership's potential. Now, equipped with these tools and capabilities, we're applying them to the actual game development.”
In the same interview, we asked Wyeth Johnson, Senior Director of Product Strategy at Epic Games, if the demo's performance—60fps with ray tracing on a base PS5—indicates what players can realistically expect on a PS5 for the released product.
“Absolutely. We have to be honest here," he responded. “The technology we're creating must align with player expectations. Gamers across all hardware demand exceptional 60 frames per second gameplay.”
Delivering 60fps with ray tracing in a vast open-world game like The Witcher 4 on a base PS5 exceeds typical current-gen console performance. However, Johnson noted that collaborating with CD Projekt on this demo “enabled us to aggressively pursue and achieve significantly higher performance without sacrificing visual fidelity.”
This achievement clearly surpasses what we anticipated from the five-year-old PS5. Players have grown accustomed to thinking that ray tracing on PlayStation or Xbox invariably means being locked to 30 frames per second. But Johnson emphasized that the console hardware “is incredibly capable” and that there is still untapped performance potential.
“The key is to intelligently leverage that hardware,” he explained. “Many of our improvements involved converting traditionally sequential processes to run in parallel. This approach utilizes far more of the hardware's capabilities.
“Our new Unreal animation framework and fast geometry streaming, which allows seamless high-speed environmental traversal, are designed to expand processing width, making it easier to unlock the hardware's full potential. These features are now integral to Unreal Engine's future development.
“You need time to discover how to activate all the impressive capabilities engineered by the hardware manufacturers. You identify bottlenecks and optimize relentlessly.
“The progress is remarkable; some of our initial demos have seen performance improvements of two, three, even ten times while maintaining near-identical visuals. This comes from identifying edge cases, enhancing methods, and then deeply integrating those solutions into Unreal Engine's core. This provides a powerful foundation for top-tier developers like CD Projekt Red to build upon.”
The Witcher 4 Unreal Engine 5 Tech Demo Screenshots
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Expectations for The Witcher 4 are immense, and fans are eager for concrete details. Kapuściński remained guarded on specifics but did offer some insight:
“By examining the demo's sequence, you can discern elements that indicate our creative direction and the potential unlocked through our collaboration. For example, the forest vista utilizes Nanite foliage technology, enabling the rendering of vast, highly detailed forests. This capability unlocks new creative possibilities.
"Additionally, the Unreal animation framework and optimizations for handling numerous NPCs are crucial. The scene with over 300 animated characters in a bustling crowd demonstrates a scale we intend to achieve. Connecting these elements illustrates the path we're pursuing.”
So, it's confirmed: The Witcher 4 will feature expansive, intricately detailed forests and massive, lively crowds!
A significant question surrounding The Witcher 4 concerns its target platforms. This PS5 tech demo suggests it could be a cross-generation title, also launching on next-gen consoles like the PS6 and next Xbox. If it targets current-generation hardware, does that include the less powerful Xbox Series S? Considering Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto VI is also planned for current-gen consoles, including the Series S, it's plausible The Witcher 4 could also run on Microsoft's more affordable system.
CD Projekt has stated that The Witcher 4 will not release before 2027, so definitive answers may still be some time away.
