The Witcher 4 Just Dropped a Mind-Blowing Demo at the State of Unreal Showcase (Video)
The magic of The Witcher is back: during the State of Unreal event, CD Projekt Red unveiled the first tech demo of The Witcher 4. Ready for an extraordinary journey through the wild lands of Kovir?
During the State of Unreal showcase, all eyes turned to a presentation that thrilled fans: CD Projekt Red revealed a technical glimpse of The Witcher 4, powered by the impressive Unreal Engine 5.6. With jaw-dropping realism and promising new features, this initial demonstration sets the tone for an RPG that aims to redefine the genre’s standards.
Image credit: CD Projekt Red
Unreal Engine 5.6: stepping into a world more alive than ever
The demo begins in the vast, untamed region of Kovir, where we meet a familiar protagonist: Ciri. Armed with her sword and portals, she’s joined by her iconic horse, Kelpie. The studio has confirmed that this loyal steed will play a significant role in the upcoming adventure.
Thanks to Unreal Engine, the team implemented a multi-character motion matching system that enables Ciri and Kelpie to perform perfectly synchronized actions, regardless of speed or movement angle. The result? Ultra-smooth animations, especially during horseback sequences.
Kelpie, in particular, has received special attention: dynamic muscle movement, realistic textures, and natural reactions turn every gallop into a visual spectacle.
With Nanite Foliage, a new technology built into Unreal Engine 5.6, the natural environments in The Witcher 4 reach new levels of density and realism. This innovation allows for lush foliage without overloading memory usage.
- Each individual leaf or pine needle can now be rendered separately
- Kovir’s forest landscapes gain depth and authenticity
- Adaptive voxel-based rendering further enhances detail
This visual realism isn’t just for show—it contributes to a fully immersive, organic world. Later in the demo, Ciri explores a bustling port city filled with life. Diverse NPCs, contextual animations, and believable interactions turn the crowd into a living, breathing urban choreography.
The developers emphasize the importance of a responsive world. A standout moment: a man accidentally bumps into Ciri, dropping a crate full of apples in a fluid, natural animation. These details aren’t just visual flair—they reflect the studio’s ambition to create a world that feels immersive and reactive like never before.
A sneak peek that raises expectations
While this demo isn’t traditional gameplay, it clearly showcases CD Projekt Red’s ambition: to deliver a technical, narrative, and sensory experience like no other. With the power of Unreal Engine 5.6, a charismatic lead, and a world more alive than ever, The Witcher 4 could set a new benchmark for open-world RPGs.
To top it all off, the studio also released a brand-new trailer, brimming with atmosphere and narrative hints. A video sure to spark fan theories and reignite excitement around the franchise. (Trailer below)
And finally, a cherry on top for customization enthusiasts: CD Projekt Red recently confirmed that mod support is coming soon to consoles for The Witcher 3. This opens the door to a new era of creative freedom, even on PlayStation and Xbox, and shows the studio’s dedication to keeping its worlds—old and new—alive with passion and generosity.
