CD Projekt has outlined its "console-first" development strategy for The Witcher 4, marking a significant shift from its traditional PC-focused approach for previous titles.
Recent weeks saw CD Projekt unveil a breathtaking The Witcher 4 tech demo, powered by Unreal Engine 5, offering fans their first concrete glimpse of the upcoming game's direction.
Recorded on PlayStation 5 at 60fps, the demo follows Ciri exploring the newly revealed realm of Kovir while pursuing a monster contract. The footage showcases unprecedented detail for current-gen consoles, featuring fluid animations that set new benchmarks. Particularly impressive are the lifelike movements of Ciri and her horse Kelpie as they traverse Kovir's mountainous terrain toward the bustling port of Valdrest. One standout moment features a market scene populated by 300 individually animated NPCs, culminating in the first reveal of Lan Exeter - Kovir's winter capital and major port city.
CD Projekt Red's VP of Technology Charles Tremblay revealed to Digital Foundry why they showcased the PS5 version first, confirming their "console-first" priority for The Witcher 4's development.
"Previously we'd prioritize PC then attempt to scale down," he explained. "But past challenges led us to rethink this approach - this time we're truly committing to console-first development."
This statement references the tumultuous Cyberpunk 2077 launch, which suffered severe console performance issues leading to its temporary removal from PlayStation Store. CD Projekt later acknowledged they should have better optimized for last-gen consoles.
After extensive post-launch support transformed Cyberpunk 2077 into a commercial success - even launching on Nintendo Switch 2 - CD Projekt aims to avoid repeating past mistakes with The Witcher 4's planned 2027 release.
The Witcher 4 Unreal Engine 5 Tech Demo Screenshots
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Jakub Knapik, CDPR's Global Art Director, elaborated on the strategic advantages of their new approach: "Establishing core foundations first makes logical sense - upscaling proves more efficient than downscaling. Once we solidify technical and visual baselines, expansion becomes achievable."
Tremblay reassured PC gamers that The Witcher 4 would still deliver premium experiences: "Our DNA remains PC-focused. We're committed to maximizing hardware potential - but specifics remain premature to discuss."
The Xbox Series S presents unique challenges, with Tremblay admitting maintaining 60fps will require significant engineering effort: "Achieving consistent 60fps on Series S will prove extremely demanding - this represents our next major technical hurdle."
While emphasizing the tech demo doesn't reflect final gameplay, CD Projekt confirms it demonstrates their ambitious vision for The Witcher 4's next-generation potential.
