"Witcher 4 UE5 Tech Demo Revealed as Mere Showcase"

The Witcher 4 recently made headlines with its impressive Unreal Engine 5 tech demo showcased at the State of Unreal 2025. While the presentation dazzled fans with stunning visuals and smooth performance, it’s important to note that what was shown is still in early development and not representative of the final product.

Aiming for 60fps on Base PS5

During the event, The Witcher 4's tech demo ran at a consistent 60 frames per second on base PlayStation 5 hardware, impressing both critics and fans alike. However, CD Projekt Red (CDPR) clarified in an interview with Eurogamer on June 3 that while hitting 60fps across platforms is a target, nothing has been locked in yet. They emphasized their ongoing collaboration with Epic Games to deliver a visually rich and fluid open-world experience.

"It's still too early to confirm exact specs for every platform, but we're working closely with Epic to create an open-world experience that's both beautiful to look at and smooth to play."

While the demo raised excitement, it also risks setting high expectations. Similar situations occurred during the lead-up to Cyberpunk 2077's release, where early demos looked spectacular, but the final product faced issues at launch. CDPR wants players to understand that this demo serves more as a showcase of Unreal Engine 5 tools than a glimpse into the final game.

Understanding the Purpose of the Demo

The 14-minute live demo utilized Unreal Engine 5.6 and highlighted features such as photorealistic environments, high-definition visuals, advanced ray tracing, and dynamic AI behaviors. It began with a cinematic ambush involving a monster attack on a carriage, followed by a seamless transition into gameplay featuring Ciri exploring the aftermath.

One of the standout moments was the introduction of Kelpie, Ciri’s horse companion. Developers demonstrated how they used root motion movement and the ML Deformer tool to make Kelpie’s animations more lifelike, including realistic muscle deformation during movement.

Key Unreal Engine 5 Features Shown

The demo showcased several powerful Unreal Engine 5 technologies, including:

• Nanite Foliage: Enables dense, high-quality vegetation without compromising performance.
• Fast Geo Streaming: Allows rapid loading of massive environments, ensuring seamless transitions.
• MetaHuman AI Crowds & Mass Framework: Powers large, intelligent crowds with natural interactions and behaviors.

These enhancements are being leveraged to bring the world of The Witcher 4 to life like never before, including the newly introduced region of Kovir and the snowy mountain town of Valdrest.

No Combat Gameplay Yet

Although the demo lacked any combat sequences, its focus remained on graphical fidelity and engine capabilities. Despite this, fans remain enthusiastic about the future of the series powered by Unreal Engine 5 and the potential for a truly next-gen RPG experience.

What We Know About the Release

The Witcher 4 is currently in development for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. No official release date has been announced yet. As more updates become available, fans can expect deeper dives into gameplay mechanics, story elements, and world design.

As anticipation builds, it’s crucial to remember that what was shown was a technical demonstration—a preview of what’s possible, not a promise of what will be delivered. With CDPR learning from past experiences, hopes are high that The Witcher 4 will not only look incredible but also offer a polished, immersive experience when it finally launches.