GamerXZenith
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Fans have been ready for a new era of the Witcher for a while now. A teaser trailer was released in 2024, and we learned that Ciri will be taking center stage in the new installment. This has caused some controversy, but also excitement in the community.
We know much more about the new game now, and we've also had a tech demo revealed at the Unreal Fest 2025. In this article, we'll go over updates on Witcher 4 and how fans and the media have received them.
Recently, CD Projekt Red joined Epic Games on stage at The State of Unreal / Unreal Fest 2025 to promote and showcase the tech demo built in Unreal Engine 5. It's not the same as gameplay, but a tech showcase of how the game engine operates. A lot can be learned from this information, and we know the game will feature a vast open world and impressive visuals.
It takes place in the new region of Kovir, and we see Ciri cross rugged terrain and forests, eventually entering the port town of Valdrest. The developers point out that the demo may not be representative of the final product, as much work remains to be done. CDPR stated that this tech demo ran on a base PlayStation 5 at 60 fps with ray tracing enabled.
This also meant that there are more players than ever, and the community is broader and more diverse. In a way, the decision to shift the story's focus to Ciri reflects that fact. Ciri (Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon) has long carried narrative weight in the Witcher saga. She has Elder Blood Heritage and a connection to Geralt, and her lore has been expanding since the start.
The writers felt that it was time to put her center stage from both the narrative and gameplay perspectives. Some fans, however, think that Geralt is the heart of the story and haven't accepted the decision with much enthusiasm.
There's also an essential symbolic moment in the trailer. Ciri appears to use Zireael, the silver sword that Geralt gives her in The Witcher 3. Fans also suspect that this indicates the storyline will follow from one of the specific Wither 3 endings (in which Ciri becomes the new Witcher).
Fast Geometry Streaming enables dynamic loading of terrain and assets. It will help make the open world easier to travel across. Some have also praised the ML Deformer, which allows for detailed character models.
We don't know much about the NPC system, and it's a shame because it could make a big difference in the game with such complex gameplay. It should create a sense of realism if it's done right.
The lessons learned from the disastrous Cyberpank 2077 release have led the industry to extend deadlines as long as it takes and never put out a product that it later needs to pull back and improve. We'll probably get a few more trailers along the way and therefore learn more about gameplay, narrative, and the tech behind the game.
The tech demo showcased some amazing new technology behind the gameplay, but we haven't seen the gameplay trailer yet. Witcher 4 will be available sometime in 2027, but some claim that it may be even later than that.
We know much more about the new game now, and we've also had a tech demo revealed at the Unreal Fest 2025. In this article, we'll go over updates on Witcher 4 and how fans and the media have received them.
What We've Seen: The Tech Demo & Official Reveal
The cinematic trailer is still the most important piece of information we have about the game. It was shown at the Game Awards 2024 and clearly indicates Ciri as the game's main protagonist, taking on the mantle from Geralt.Recently, CD Projekt Red joined Epic Games on stage at The State of Unreal / Unreal Fest 2025 to promote and showcase the tech demo built in Unreal Engine 5. It's not the same as gameplay, but a tech showcase of how the game engine operates. A lot can be learned from this information, and we know the game will feature a vast open world and impressive visuals.
It takes place in the new region of Kovir, and we see Ciri cross rugged terrain and forests, eventually entering the port town of Valdrest. The developers point out that the demo may not be representative of the final product, as much work remains to be done. CDPR stated that this tech demo ran on a base PlayStation 5 at 60 fps with ray tracing enabled.
A Changing Gaming Landscape
The gaming landscape has changed a lot in recent years. Online betting went from crypto dice games with simple gameplay to eSports, with players wagering on the outcomes of mainstream games such as The Witcher. The introduction of crypto, allowed players based anywhere in the world to place wager. Since crypto doesn’t rely on a central bank, it’s available even in countries that don’t allow gambling.This also meant that there are more players than ever, and the community is broader and more diverse. In a way, the decision to shift the story's focus to Ciri reflects that fact. Ciri (Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon) has long carried narrative weight in the Witcher saga. She has Elder Blood Heritage and a connection to Geralt, and her lore has been expanding since the start.
The writers felt that it was time to put her center stage from both the narrative and gameplay perspectives. Some fans, however, think that Geralt is the heart of the story and haven't accepted the decision with much enthusiasm.
There's also an essential symbolic moment in the trailer. Ciri appears to use Zireael, the silver sword that Geralt gives her in The Witcher 3. Fans also suspect that this indicates the storyline will follow from one of the specific Wither 3 endings (in which Ciri becomes the new Witcher).
Tech and Gameplay Implications
One of the features that was the most talked about after the tech demo is the Nanite Foliage system. It creates dense, high-detail vegetation systems without affecting gameplay speed or smoothness.Fast Geometry Streaming enables dynamic loading of terrain and assets. It will help make the open world easier to travel across. Some have also praised the ML Deformer, which allows for detailed character models.
We don't know much about the NPC system, and it's a shame because it could make a big difference in the game with such complex gameplay. It should create a sense of realism if it's done right.
The Timeline
One thing is for sure: we won't be getting Witcher 4 in 2026. There's a lot of speculation about the release date, and most guess it will be out at some point in the second half of 2027. The studio is also working on the remake of The Witcher from 2007 and a few other unnamed, mysterious projects.The lessons learned from the disastrous Cyberpank 2077 release have led the industry to extend deadlines as long as it takes and never put out a product that it later needs to pull back and improve. We'll probably get a few more trailers along the way and therefore learn more about gameplay, narrative, and the tech behind the game.
To Sum Up
Witcher 4 is in production, and we got to learn more about the game. The fans already know there will be a major narrative shift, as Ciri will be the protagonist. Some haven't been happy about this development, but it's a natural fit for how the gaming world is expanding.The tech demo showcased some amazing new technology behind the gameplay, but we haven't seen the gameplay trailer yet. Witcher 4 will be available sometime in 2027, but some claim that it may be even later than that.
