Whoa, Witcher 4 Just Blew My Mind (Kinda)
Okay, so you know how CD Projekt Red keeps teasing The Witcher 4? Well, they just dropped a massive tech demo during Epic’s State of Unreal livestream, and honestly, I'm still reeling. It showcased the power of Unreal Engine 5, and it was…intense.
Ciri's Back, and Kovir Looks Amazing
The demo focused on Ciri, who’s taking the lead this time around. We see her tracking a manticore, riding her gorgeous black horse Kelpie (who, I must say, is ridiculously detailed—seriously, check out the muscle animation!), investigating a trashed merchant caravan, and then dealing with a shady contract giver. The whole thing takes place in Kovir, a region we haven't seen before in the Witcher games, and it’s breathtaking. Think Novigrad from Witcher 3, but on steroids. The level of detail is insane; the crowds feel genuinely alive, and the whole scene is incredibly immersive.
Important Note: It’s crucial to mention this wasn't actual gameplay footage from the final game. CD Projekt Red was very clear about this, emphasizing it was a tech demo to showcase Unreal Engine 5's capabilities.
Unreal Engine 5: Next-Level Stuff
Seriously, this is where things get wild. The demo highlighted some seriously impressive tech. They talked about "SmartGeo streaming" and "Nanite Foliage," which are fancy terms for making the world feel incredibly realistic and seamless. No more pop-in textures or choppy landscapes—the transition between areas was stunning. I mean, I'm not a game developer, but it looked mind-blowingly good.
- Nanite Foliage: Seriously dense and realistic vegetation. Think lush forests and snowy mountains without any performance hiccups.
- Chaos Cloth Tool: Makes Ciri's cloak flow and move realistically in the wind. It's the little details that sell it.
- ML Deformer: This technology made Kelpie’s movements incredibly realistic. The way his muscles flexed and moved under his skin was astonishing.
- Fast Geometry Streaming: Seamless transitions between areas. I couldn't believe the way it flowed.
They even ran the demo on a standard PlayStation 5 at 60fps with ray tracing. That's nuts!
A New Voice for Ciri
We also got our first listen to Ciara Berkeley as Ciri. She sounds…different. More weary, more experienced. It fits perfectly with the mature tone they're aiming for in this game. Although it's only a glimpse of her full potential. It was definitely captivating and well delivered.
What Does It All Mean?
While it’s not actual gameplay, the demo gives us a very strong idea of what CD Projekt Red is aiming for with The Witcher 4. The visuals are next-level, but obviously, a lot can change between a tech demo and a finished game. Still, if this is what's possible years out from release, the wait might actually be worth it. They mentioned a 2027 release is a possibility which could be a reasonable timeframe for a game with this ambitious scope. I'm definitely keeping an eye on this one.
What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below!
