Exciting Development for The Witcher 4 Revealed at Unreal Fest 2025

Exciting Development for The Witcher 4 Revealed at Unreal Fest 2025

At the recent State of Unreal presentation during Unreal Fest 2025, CD Projekt Red unveiled a captivating first look at The Witcher 4. Fans of the franchise were treated to a demo featuring Ciri, the game's main protagonist, on her new horse named Kelpie. This significant character development comes as a welcome surprise, marking the first time players will truly explore the world of The Witcher from Ciri's perspective.

Kelpie, known from the Witcher books and referenced in The Witcher 3, is portrayed as a magnificent black horse in today’s demonstration. The CD Projekt team emphasized the importance of a seamless and enjoyable riding experience, underscoring that riding mechanics must feel natural and grounded. The integration of advanced Unreal Engine technologies aims to make controlling Kelpie an immersive and lifelike experience.

Particularly noteworthy is the new tech that provides realistic movement and muscle animations. Presenters highlighted the intricate details of Kelpie's anatomy in motion, illustrating the capabilities of Unreal Engine to maintain high performance while rendering detailed visuals without technical compromise. The ambition behind these developments signals a shift from past experiences with horse mechanics — a notable critique of the previous iterations in the series.

The demo also navigates the new region of Kovir, which will debut in The Witcher 4. It showcased Ciri as she journeyed through breathtaking landscapes, from rugged mountains to lively port towns. Along the way, the developers unveiled innovative features such as the Unreal Animation Framework, which enhances character movements significantly, and advancements like Nanite Foliage rendering that enrich the game's environmental aesthetics.

CD Projekt Red has been collaborating closely with Epic Games since 2022 to develop new tools for Unreal Engine 5, aimed at enhancing open-world game design. This partnership emphasizes the commitment to push the boundaries of gaming technology. The demo, displayed at a smooth 60 frames per second on a PlayStation 5, reflects the studio's prowess in crafting dynamically rich and immersive environments.

Michał Nowakowski, Joint-CEO of CD Projekt Red, remarked on this breakthrough: "To show this early look at the work we’ve been doing using Unreal Engine running at 60 FPS on PlayStation 5, is a significant milestone — and a testament to the great cooperation between our teams. But we’re far from finished." Tim Sweeney, Founder and CEO of Epic Games, echoed this sentiment, stating that CD Projekt Red is ideally suited to help advance Unreal Engine’s capabilities further.

Player Expectations and Narrative Concerns

While anticipation builds around The Witcher 4, players also express personal concerns based on previous interactions within the franchise. One reflection noted the emotional impact of prior choices made during playthroughs, particularly concerning Ciri's storyline. Players may find themselves grappling with the potential to redeem past errors in storytelling and character interactions as they guide Ciri's journey with Kelpie.

With new technology and an enriched narrative framework, The Witcher 4 holds promising prospects, not just for exploring its expansive world but for deepening reader and player engagement through impactful storytelling.

For more updates on The Witcher 4 and its development, fans can visit the official website as the anticipation continues to mount.