CD Projekt RED has officially pulled back the curtain on The Witcher IV. During Epic’s State of Unreal 2025 showcase, the studio revealed a cinematic trailer alongside a real-time technical demo that wasn’t just for show. This is the first time we’re seeing the game in action, running directly on a base PlayStation 5 at a smooth 60 frames per second with ray tracing enabled.
One of the most exciting reveals is the setting. For the first time in the series, players will journey through Kovir, a well-known but never-before-seen region from the Witcher lore. The demo follows Ciri and her loyal horse Kelpie as they move through snowy cliffs, deep forests, and eventually reach the coastal city of Valdrest. The environments feel dense and lived-in, capturing that gritty Witcher atmosphere in full force. Additonally our new loyast companion, (maybe good and funny as much as Roach) our horse Kelpie gets some screen time, but it’s not yet clear how deep the horse mechanics will go in terms of traversal or gameplay. CDPR kept the demo focused on visuals and engine capabilities rather than systems or mechanics.
But this wasn’t just a look at environments. CD Projekt RED and Epic broke down how Unreal Engine 5 is being pushed here. The new Nanite Foliage system gives forests unbelievable detail without hurting performance. Character animations look smoother thanks to the Unreal Animation Framework. Tools like ML Deformer allow for facial movements and muscle reactions that add a whole new layer of realism to close-up interactions. Cities feel alive with massive AI crowds, and thanks to FastGeo Streaming, all of this loads in seamlessly as you move through the world.
The Witcher IV still doesn’t have a release date, but it’s already looking like one of the most technically advanced games in development. This is the next chapter for the franchise, rebuilt with bold vision for what open world RPGs can be.
