Witcher 4 Unreal Engine 5 Tech Demo Drops Bombshell: 60FPS on PS5, Kovir Setting & 2027 Release Window

The State of Unreal 2025: A Watershed Moment for RPGs

CD Projekt Red shattered expectations at Epic Games’ State of Unreal 2025 keynote (June 3) with a breathtaking tech demo for The Witcher 4. Running on a base PlayStation 5 at 60FPS with ray tracing, the demo showcased unprecedented open-world technology developed in collaboration with Epic Games. This marked the first in-engine glimpse of the game since its 2024 cinematic reveal, confirming Kovir—a snow-drenched northern kingdom only referenced in past games—as a central setting .

Joint-CEO Michał Nowakowski hailed the partnership:

“Showing Unreal Engine 5 running at 60 FPS on PS5 is a testament to our work… We’re pushing open-world technology forward.”

Breaking Down the Tech: Why UE5 Changes Everything

⚡ Next-Gen Performance & Open-World Innovation

The demo highlighted UE5.6’s revolutionary tools, optimized for massive RPG worlds:

Nanite Foliage: Dense, photorealistic forests without performance drops (slated for UE 5.7) .
Fast Geometry Streaming: Near-instant loading of Kovir’s rugged mountains and cities like Valdrest .
Mass AI System: A staggering 300 NPCs populating a market, each with unique animations via MetaHuman tech .
ML Deformer: Muscle and cloth physics adding lifelike subtlety to Ciri’s movements .

🐎 Ciri & Kelpie: A Seamless Partnership

The demo featured Ciri’s horse Kelpie with enhanced synergy mechanics. Motion capture showcased how rider and mount navigate terrain fluidly—a leap beyond The Witcher 3’s Roach .

Kovir Unveiled: The Witcher’s Frozen Frontier

For the first time, players explore Kovir and Poviss—a mineral-rich realm north of Redania, previously relegated to lore books and Witcher 3 endings (e.g., Geralt retiring there with Triss). The tech demo revealed:

Snow-capped mountains and pine forests rendered in stunning detail.
Lan Exeter: The winter capital and major port city .
Narrative implications: Kovir’s inclusion may hint at Ciri’s post-Wild Hunt journey and Geralt’s fate .

Why Kovir matters: This setting reinforces CDPR’s commitment to expanding Sapkowski’s universe beyond fan-favorite locales like Novigrad .

Release Timeline: Why 2027 Is Just the Beginning

During a March 2025 investor call, CFO Piotr Nielubowicz confirmed:

“The game will not launch by December 31, 2026.”

Key takeaways:

Full-scale production began in late 2024 .
A 2027 release is the earliest target, aligning with Cyberpunk 2077’s 4-year dev cycle .
Cross-gen launch likely: The PS5/XSX demo hints compatibility with current hardware, despite next-gen rumors .

Ciri’s Ascension & Geralt’s Return

Ciri is confirmed as the sole protagonist, wielding her sword Zireael and Witcher potions post-Trial of the Grasses . Yet CDPR teased Geralt’s supporting role:

“Geralt will appear, but we don’t want to spoil how.”

Voice actor Doug Cockle (Geralt) initially hinted at involvement but later backtracked after CDPR’s reprimand—fueling speculation about a mentor dynamic .

Beyond Witcher 4: CDPR’s Expansive Saga

The “and beyond” in CDPR’s State of Unreal teaser references:

Project Sirius: A multiplayer-focused Witcher title by The Molasses Flood .
Witcher 1 Remake: Built in UE5, releasing after Witcher 4 .
Cyberpunk 2: Confirmed as UE5-powered .

What’s Next? State of Play & Beyond

With Sony’s State of Play airing later today (June 4) , hopes linger for a Witcher 4 teaser—though CDPR’s focus remains on polishing the tech. As Epic CEO Tim Sweeney declared:

“CDPR is the perfect partner to push Unreal Engine forward.”

The Verdict: A New Bar for RPGs

The State of Unreal 2025 demo didn’t just preview a game—it showcased UE5’s RPG revolution. With Kovir’s scale, Ciri’s depth, and a 2027 release, The Witcher 4 aims to redeem CDPR’s Cyberpunk stumbles by prioritizing tech stability over hype .

Stay tuned for our State of Play analysis!

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