In the State of Unreal 2025 showcase, fans of The Witcher series were given an idea of what the future of the franchise holds. Of course it wasn’t actual gameplay footage, but a tech demo did give everyone their first glimpse at what The Witcher 4 could looks like and damn was it impressive. Used Unreal Engine 5, the demo showed the game running at 60 frames per second on a standard PlayStation 5 with ray tracing. As a result, players are going to be able to expect a high visual quality and smooth performance despite being on a base console.
A New Protagonist Takes the Lead
A huge surprise is that Ciri will be the main character in the new The Witcher 4. Following three successful games with Geralt of Rivia, this move has generated talk among fans. We know now that the tech demo shown Ciri walking through a detailed medieval-style town in the land of Kovir is one of the new locations coming to the game.
She interacted with the characters and environment in natural ways, which showcases how far the game’s systems will hone in on this. The team has confirmed that Ciri is now the face of the franchise, despite some fans who are unsure, but developers feel it is the right step to take.
Unreal Engine 5 Takes World-Building to New Heights
A shift to the Unreal Engine 5 brings great changes in the way we will make The Witcher 4 look and feel. Epic Games is working very closely with CD Projekt Red to push open-world game tech even further. Some of those technologies demoed were Nanite Foliage, which looks to create lush, realistic environments, and Smart Objects that make it so that characters and items interact more naturally. The new animation system also makes movement smoother, and the team showed it off. For example, when you ride a horse, Ciri looks at where the player is coming from, so it feels more natural and likely.
Developers Address Concerns About Replacing Geralt
Choosing Ciri, CD Projekt Red knows that some longtime fans will be upset that they didn’t get to play as Geralt. Prefab (not to be confused with the ’70s rock band) is not a decision that was made at the 11th hour, as the game’s narrative director, Phillipp Weber, tells us in a recent interview.
Ciri’s story has been talked about by the team for years, and they feel that she can add something new and exciting to the series. Weber also said that he understands that some people are hesitant, but he hopes things will change people’s minds for the better as more of the game is revealed.
Not Actual Gameplay, But Still a Big Step
Notably, too, the footage shown was not the final game. This was a tech demo, this was a one-time UI to show us the powerful systems the CD Projekt Red is making. The scenes themselves weren’t actual gameplay but played in real time in the world of The Witcher 4, on a PlayStation 5. It is a very strong sign of progress and ambition from the studio as they start to look at what the technology can do this early on.
Building Toward the Future
Although it still hasn’t been confirmed, the release date for The Witcher 4 is still unknown; intrigue around the tech demo has been high. The partnership of CD Projekt Red with Epic Games and the use of Unreal Engine 5 demonstrates that they are striving to provide a game that will push the boundaries of possible in open-world design. ‘We are working on every part of the player experience: realistic environments, intelligent character interactions, and more,’ the team states.
