CD Projekt RED utilized the State of Unreal 2025 event in Orlando, Florida, to present a technical presentation unveiling The Witcher 4, or at least what is described as a ‘targeted’ (rendering) demo showcasing their work with Unreal Engine 5. This new installment focuses on Ciri, featuring a narrative shift by sidelining Geralt. We know that Ciri is a fully-fledged witcher, traveling the continent to hunt monsters and creatures for pay. The “tech render” demo, as it’s referred to, takes place in the unexplored Kovir region where she investigates a monster attack. Although this isn’t definitive gameplay but rather a technical vision of what they aim to achieve, it is difficult not to be impressed by its beauty.
NOT ACTUAL GAMEPLAY
Whether it comes to Ciri’s modeling, distinct from the controversies of the last Game Awards trailer, or the ultra-detailed environments and lighting, along with impressively fluid animations, it presents a visually stunning display. Even more noteworthy, CD Projekt Red’s team claims that this demo runs at 60 frames per second on a standard PlayStation 5 with ray tracing enabled. It is challenging to fathom how the final product could be compatible with a 2020 machine, yet some remain hopeful. Additionally, The Witcher 4 demo showcases new technology, specifically the synchronization between Ciri and her Kelpie mount, which will be seamless, natural, and highly accurate thanks to a novel multi-character motion matching system. Every slight movement of the horse is rendered realistically, supported by muscle deformations calculated using machine learning (AI), without affecting performance.
Another technological advancement is the vegetation modeling, which benefits from the latest contributions of Polish studio expertise through the “Nanite Foliage” system. This system allows each pine needle to be modeled as a voxel (a volumetric pixel), comparable to pixels in a 3D space. Every blade of grass, leaf, and bush is procedurally modeled with an unprecedented level of detail. The Nanite Foliage enables the abandonment of traditional Level of Detail (LOD) techniques in favor of volumetric representation, making nature believable at all distances and dynamic according to sunlight or cast shadows. This approach allows artists to create rich, dense, and lively environments without sacrificing the fluidity or responsiveness of the world.
The second part of the demonstration takes place in the bustling port city of Vald, where Ciri returns to continue her investigation. This lively setting serves as a testing ground for new crowd management technologies and NPC animation frameworks. Thanks to an updated Metahuman system, the implementation of smart interactive objects, and a new animation framework, over 300 characters animate simultaneously, interacting naturally with their environment and each other. For instance, the market is filled with dynamic conversations, contextual behaviors, and even cascading reactions based on player actions. The goal is to bring NPC animations as close as possible to those of the main character. This desire to minimize the processing gap between heroes and their surroundings is a priority for CD Projekt Red.
Everything in this Unreal Engine 5 tech demo clearly points towards The Witcher 4, which is being conceived as both a technical and creative milestone for the franchise. With support from Epic Games, CD Projekt RED appears committed to setting new standards for open-world action RPGs. This commitment encompasses not only visual quality but also the consistency, responsiveness, and element of surprise in the world. In this regard, the latest segment of the demo introduces a new region called Lanexa, which seems even larger and more intricate than previously showcased areas.
It is difficult not to be impressed by the recent rendering presented by CD Projekt Red at State of Unreal 2025, although it is important to remember that this is a milestone demonstration. The official screenshots include ‘Not actual gameplay’ annotations, reminding us to maintain perspective. Our past experiences with The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 have shown that CD Projekt Red often falls short of its promises. Nevertheless, the studio aims to create a strong impression by blending technological prowess with narrative depth in this video. The transition to focusing on Ciri, the intricate environment, and the sophistication of interactions suggest that The Witcher 4 is indeed setting new standards.
