The gaming world is buzzing with excitement following the recent tech demo of "The Witcher 4," showcased at Unreal Fest 2025. Developed by CD Projekt Red in collaboration with Epic Games, the demo offers a tantalizing glimpse into the visual fidelity and technological advancements powering the next installment in the acclaimed Witcher series. The game is being built using Unreal Engine 5.

The stunning visuals on display have left fans awestruck, and industry experts are touting "The Witcher 4" as a potential benchmark for next-generation RPG graphics. The demo, which ran on a PlayStation 5 at a smooth 60 frames per second with ray tracing enabled, highlighted the capabilities of Unreal Engine 5 in creating vast, detailed, and dynamic open worlds. CD Projekt Red has emphasized that the demo was specifically designed to showcase new and developing technologies and features within Unreal Engine 5, and is not necessarily representative of the final product.

One of the standout features is the implementation of Nanite Foliage, which allows for the rendering of incredibly dense and realistic vegetation without compromising performance. The demo showcased lush forests with individual branches swaying in the wind, creating a truly immersive and believable environment. Fast Geometry Streaming allows for the world to load quickly, allowing for more content and a smoother experience.

Another impressive aspect of the tech demo was the demonstration of MetaHuman technology and Mass AI crowd scaling. The bustling market of Valdrest was populated with hundreds of unique and realistically animated characters, each going about their daily routines. This level of crowd density and AI behavior adds a new layer of immersion to the game world, making it feel more alive and reactive. The developers were able to increase the NPC count in the market scene to 300 individually animated characters.

ML Deformer is another tool that adds to the believability of the world. This allows for elements, such as Kelpie's (Ciri's horse) muscles to move realistically. This allows for realistic movements without impacting game performance.

The demo also introduced players to Kovir, a region that has never been seen before in "The Witcher" game series. The presentation followed Ciri as she navigated the rugged mountains, dense forests, and the port town of Valdrest.

CD Projekt Red's decision to move away from their proprietary REDengine to Unreal Engine 5 has been met with enthusiasm from both developers and fans. The partnership with Epic Games has allowed the studio to leverage the latest advancements in engine technology and collaborate on new tools and features specifically tailored for open-world game development.

While the visual spectacle of the tech demo has undoubtedly raised expectations, CD Projekt Red has cautioned that "The Witcher 4" is still in early development. The game is not expected to be released before 2026, with some analysts suggesting a potential launch window in 2027 or 2028. "The Witcher 4" is the first title in a newly announced trilogy.

Despite the long wait, the "Witcher 4" tech demo serves as a powerful statement of intent, showcasing the studio's commitment to pushing the boundaries of visual fidelity and technological innovation. As one of the most anticipated games of the next few years, "The Witcher 4" has the potential to redefine the RPG genre and set a new standard for open-world game design. The developers are aiming for the game to run at 60fps, as the tech demo was able to achieve on the PlayStation 5.