The Witcher 4’s Unreal Engine 5 tech demo showcased at State of Unreal 2025 may undergo further enhancements before launch. Here’s what CD Projekt Red aims to achieve regarding performance targets and key revelations from the demonstration.
Unpacking The Witcher 4’s State of Unreal Tech Demo
PS5 Performance Targets: 60FPS Confirmed
The visually stunning tech demo ran at 60fps on base PS5 hardware, though CD Projekt Red clarifies this shouldn’t be taken as final representation of gameplay. Speaking to Eurogamer on June 3, a studio representative noted: "While 60fps on PS5 remains our target, platform specifications are still being optimized. We’re collaborating closely with Epic to deliver an open world that balances visual spectacle with smooth performance."
While showcasing impressive UE5 capabilities, CDPR cautions fans against interpreting the demo as indicative of final product quality—a lesson learned from Cyberpunk 2077’s troubled launch. The representative emphasized: "This tech demo primarily demonstrates our collaborative tools with Epic. Expect character models, environments, and other visual elements to evolve during development."
Breaking Down the UE5 Tech Showcase
The 14-minute presentation highlighted UE5.6’s cutting-edge features including photorealistic rendering, advanced ray tracing, and Nanite foliage technology. Opening with cinematic ambush footage, the demo transitioned to live gameplay featuring Ciri investigating the aftermath—showcasing seamless environment streaming and dynamic weather systems.
Key technical achievements included realistic horseback physics using root motion technology, with ML Deformer simulating authentic muscle movement on Ciri’s horse Kelpie. The demo also introduced Kovir—a snowy northern realm previously unexplored in the series—and the mountain port town of Valdrest.
Notable UE5 innovations featured were: Nanite Foliage for dense vegetation without performance loss, Fast Geo Streaming enabling massive environments with minimal loading, and MetaHuman AI for lifelike crowd behavior. While combat mechanics weren’t demonstrated, the technical preview offers exciting glimpses into next-generation Witcher gameplay.
The Witcher 4 is confirmed for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC platforms, though CDPR hasn’t announced a concrete release window. For ongoing updates about this highly anticipated RPG, stay tuned to our coverage.
