Witcher 4 Demo Runs at 60fps on PS5 Using Unreal Engine 5

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Next-Gen Visuals Showcased in Witcher 4 Tech Demo

Epic Games partnered with CD Projekt Red to unveil an impressive technical demonstration of The Witcher saga running on Unreal Engine 5 during their State of Unreal 2025 showcase. While clarifying this wasn't actual gameplay from The Witcher 4, the demo offered exciting glimpses into the graphical capabilities players can anticipate.

Revolutionary Engine Features

The demonstration follows protagonist Ciri exploring the newly revealed region of Kovir while completing monster contracts. Running smoothly at 60fps with ray tracing on base PlayStation 5 hardware, the demo highlights UE5.6's enhanced open-world capabilities including:

• Fast Geometry Streaming Plugin for seamless world loading
• Nanite Foliage technology enabling dense, detailed vegetation
• ML Deformer handling complex character animations
• Crowd scenes featuring up to 300 uniquely animated NPCs

A New Chapter Begins

CD Projekt Red confirmed Kovir will appear as a playable region in The Witcher 4, marking its debut in the game series. The showcase concluded with the first look at Lan Exeter, Kovir's winter capital and major port city.

Development Timeline

While this technical demo builds excitement, CD Projekt Red indicates The Witcher 4 won't release until 2027 at the earliest. Recent statements suggest the game could potentially slip to 2028 depending on development progress.

Platforms and Protagonist

The tech demo suggests the game may target current-generation consoles alongside potential next-gen systems:

• Ciri replaces Geralt as the main protagonist
• The story continues after events of The Witcher 3
• Begins new trilogy in the Witcher universe

"Shifting focus to Ciri felt like the natural progression," explained executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga. "Her complex character arc from the books made her the perfect choice to lead this new chapter."

Original Geralt voice actor Doug Cockle endorsed the decision, stating: "This creative direction opens exciting narrative possibilities while respecting the established lore."