CD Projekt Red has finally given fans a proper glimpse into the next chapter of The Witcher saga, and yes—it’s real gameplay. During Epic Games’ State of Unreal presentation, the studio dropped a tech demo for what’s currently referred to as “The Witcher 4" (Codenamed Polaris), built entirely in Unreal Engine 5. And even though it’s early, there’s already a lot to unpack. The short demo may have been labeled a technical showcase, but it didn’t shy away from showing actual in-game movement, environments, and a clear direction for the series.
What Is The Witcher?
Set in a war-torn, monster-infested world known as The Continent, The Witcher series follows mutated monster hunters—most notably Geralt of Rivia—as they battle beasts, navigate political turmoil, and get tangled in ancient prophecies. Over time, the story shifts toward Ciri, a princess with world-shaping powers and a destiny tied to the mysterious Elder Blood. Known for its mature storytelling, rich worldbuilding, and unforgettable characters, The Witcher has become one of the most beloved RPG franchises of all time, with a passionate global fanbase built across games, books, and TV.
The Witcher IV Key Art
Key Details From the Gameplay Reveal
Ciri Is the New Lead
The biggest confirmation from the demo video is that Ciri appears to be the main playable character. The demo opens with her riding her horse, Kelpie, through a forested region called Kovir—a location that’s been referenced in the books but never previously explored in the games.
First look at Ciri
Kovir is lush, dense, and full of natural beauty. As Ciri rides through winding paths and rocky hills, the terrain shows off Unreal Engine 5’s visual capabilities in full force. Light filters naturally through trees, water reflections shimmer realistically, and the landscape feels genuinely alive. CDPR hasn’t confirmed if the entire game is focused on Ciri, but the use of her model, name, and lore-accurate horse makes a strong case.
The World Feels Alive
The sequence transitions into a small settlement by the sea, which the developers note is only a “minor location” in the grand scheme of the game. Even so, it was packed with NPCs living out their routines—walking around, interacting with one another, and creating a sense of real community.
The Witcher 4 World
This wasn’t just a few characters looping animations in the background. There were clusters of people going about their day, which suggests CDPR is pushing for a much denser, more believable world than what we saw even in The Witcher 3. If this is what a small village looks like, then the larger cities could rival the crowd density of games like Assassin’s Creed Unity, or Red Dead Redemption 2, only medieval and probably with fewer neon signs and more chickens.
Unreal Engine 5
The gameplay footage shown was captured on a PlayStation 5 and ran at a consistent 60 frames per second, according to CD Projekt Red. The entire showcase wasn’t pre-rendered; it was live gameplay running in real-time, making it one of the most visually impressive early looks at any next-gen RPG so far.
Some of the tech features confirmed or showcased include:
FastGeo Streaming: This system allows for large, open areas to load in seamlessly with no visible pop-in. It’s a massive leap from the texture-loading issues seen in older open-world RPGs.
Nanite Foliage and Geometry: Unreal Engine 5’s Nanite system was used extensively to render trees, plants, rocks, and even terrain with extreme detail—without tanking performance. In the forest sequence, every bush and tree looked handcrafted, yet the framerate remained stable.
MetaHuman Crowds and AI: The population density in the town scene was made possible thanks to the MetaHuman framework and Unreal’s Mass AI system. Each NPC had realistic body proportions and animation rigs, helping avoid the “cloned villager” feel older RPGs sometimes suffered from.
Ciri and Kelpie
New Animation System & ML Deformer: Characters and even animals now move with subtle muscle and bone flexing under the skin. This was especially noticeable on Kelpie, whose shoulder muscles visibly moved as the horse walked. It’s a level of fidelity that goes beyond what we saw even in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Final Thoughts
While the visuals were impressive, this was clearly a tech demo, not a full mission showcase. There was no UI, no dialogue, and no sign of actual combat systems. CDPR aimed to show off development progress and set expectations, and in that, they delivered.
There’s no release date or even a vague launch window. Based on past timelines, it's likely we won't be playing this until 2026 or beyond. But what we did get was actual in-engine gameplay footage running on PS5 hardware, complete with traversal, dynamic lighting, and crowd density that felt believable. That already makes it more promising than most early AAA reveals.
And Unreal Engine 5? Whether it’s a true generational leap or just an excuse for absurdly realistic horse muscles and overachieving foliage remains to be seen. But if this is the level of polish we can expect, then yes—we’re hopeful, slightly emotional, and already eyeing the replay button on that demo. So until CDPR gives us more, toss a coin to your Witcher and try not to fall in love with Kelpie’s animations.
