The Witcher 4’s Tech Demo Looks Next-Gen, But So Did Cyberpunk 2077...

Video Description

With how far off The Witcher 4 seems from launch - CD Projekt RED hasn't even announced platforms - it was somewhat surprising to see a full showcase at the latest State of Unreal. It focused on Ciri venturing through Kovir in pursuit of a Manticore with the aid of her steed, Kelpie. Throughout this journey, we learn more about the Unreal Engine 5 features in the sequel and Valdrest, a new location. It eventually ends with a shot of the region's Winter capital, Lan Exeter, and the tease of Ciri hunting down a Manticore responsible for slaying a carriage full of smugglers. But as enticing as this all looked, it was simply a tech demo, rendered in-engine on a PS5 and running at 60 FPS with ray tracing enabled. The developer even went out of its way to clarify that it doesn't represent "The Witcher 4 itself." Of course, the hype wheel will turn as skepticism churns over whether it could really look that good and whether the gameplay will actually match up. Given CD Projekt RED's past mistakes, being wary, with a side of restraint, helps.