The Witcher 4 Teased With Stunning Tech Demo at State of Unreal 2025

CD Projekt RED has officially pulled back the curtain—at least slightly—on The Witcher 4, offering fans their first glimpse into the future of the franchise. Unveiled during the State of Unreal 2025 event, the presentation showcased a tech demo built using Unreal Engine 5, promising big things for the next entry in the iconic RPG series. While not actual gameplay footage, the demo highlights the tools and ambitions behind the project.

Ciri Returns as Protagonist

The teaser confirmed a major fan theory: Ciri will be the main character in The Witcher 4. The demo opened with a cinematic where a carriage is ambushed by a winged monster. The perspective then transitions smoothly to Ciri as she arrives at the aftermath, establishing both her role and the game’s visual and narrative flow. CD Projekt RED emphasized that this seamless cinematic-to-gameplay transition will be a core element, enhancing immersion.

Kovir Becomes a Playable Region

For the first time in the series, players will be able to explore Kovir, a previously unseen part of the Witcher world. Known from the novels as one of the richest kingdoms in the Northern Realms, Kovir is now fully realized in-game and is said to be one of the central locations of the new journey.

Next-Level Visuals and Realism

Captured on a PlayStation 5 at 60 FPS with ray tracing enabled, the tech demo demonstrated The Witcher 4’s leap in realism. One standout scene showed Ciri riding her horse Kelpie, where the subtle flexing of the animal’s muscles brought unprecedented detail to life. CDPR is utilizing Nanite Foliage, a UE5 feature that enables hyper-detailed trees, grass, and terrain, helping populate the world with visual richness.

Dynamic NPC Interactions

Another highlight was the interaction system. In a bustling market scene, Ciri accidentally knocks over a vendor’s crate of apples. The moment turns dynamic as a nearby NPC reacts, rushing over to help. CD Projekt RED explained that these kinds of organic world interactions will be more common, adding a layer of realism and spontaneity to the open-world experience.

Release Window Still a Way Off

Despite the impressive showing, The Witcher 4 isn’t coming anytime soon. The game is still deep in development and won’t be released before the end of 2026. In fact, CDPR CFO Piotr Nielubowicz has suggested that a 2027 release is more realistic, as the game is not expected to meet the studio’s original incentive program deadline of December 2026.

While fans might have to wait a little longer, one thing is clear: The Witcher 4 is shaping up to be a major evolution in the series, with Unreal Engine 5 paving the way for a more immersive, reactive, and visually breathtaking adventure.