New Engine, New Features: Unreal Engine 5 and Gameplay Upgrades
The Witcher 4 isn’t just bringing a new story – it’s also getting a major technology overhaul. CDPR has moved away from their in-house REDengine (used for Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk) and is developing The Witcher 4 on Unreal Engine 5 through a special partnership with Epic Games. This switch is a big deal for both the developers and players.
Unreal Engine 5 offers state-of-the-art graphics and tools, which should translate to a more detailed and stable open world. Early glimpses of the game have already showcased stunning visuals: expect dense forests, realistic weather and lighting, and richly detailed cities that feel alive.
In June 2025, the team gave fans a first taste of these advancements during Epic’s State of Unreal / Unreal Fest showcase. A live tech demo of Witcher 4’s environment was shown running on a PlayStation 5 at 60 frames per second – a promising sign for console performance.
The demo wasn’t a slice of final gameplay but rather a demonstration of the world and engine. It showed Ciri on horseback (riding her mare Kelpie instead of Geralt’s trusty Roach) in the snowy mountains of Kovir, a region we’ve never explored in the games until now.
The landscape was incredibly detailed thanks to UE5’s Nanite technology, which can render vast geometry (like realistic rocks, cliffs, and foliage) with high performance. Observers noted how Ciri’s cloak fluttered and deformed convincingly in the wind, and how the bustling town she rode into felt populated and real.
While full gameplay is still under wraps, CDPR has teased a few new Witcher game features we can look forward to. They’ve promised The Witcher 4 will be “the most immersive and ambitious open-world Witcher game ever.” Given Witcher 3’s huge, award-winning world, that’s saying something. With Unreal Engine 5, features like dynamic foliage (trees and grass that react to character movement), advanced physics, and more interactive environments are likely.
The development team is also focusing on seamlessly integrating Ciri’s magic abilities into combat and exploration, which could set Witcher 4’s gameplay apart from its predecessors. In the trailer, for instance, Ciri wields a chain weapon and potent magic against a monster called a Bauk. Unlike Geralt, who mainly relied on swords and a limited set of signs, Ciri has innate Elder Blood powers – expect her to blink-teleport, unleash powerful spells, and perhaps access abilities no Witcher has had before.
CDPR has hinted that Ciri’s combat style will blend sword and sorcery in a fluid way, giving players more range and options in fights. This also means Ciri might start off less physically strong than a veteran like Geralt, but she can gain the upper hand through clever use of her unique skills.
Other tidbits: A developer on Witcher 4 mentioned they are “pretty confident” about handling this new saga, noting that “we know how to handle it… we made [The Witcher franchise] popular.” That confidence likely stems from the team’s experience and the decade of lessons learned since Witcher 3.
Additionally, CDPR has confirmed that despite the new partnership with Epic, The Witcher 4 will not be exclusive to the Epic Games Store – it should launch on multiple platforms (expect PC, and likely PS5 and Xbox Series X|S at minimum).
The studio has also talked about integrating “online experiences” into the next Witcher game in some capacity. They stress this won’t change their focus on single-player, story-driven RPG content – any online features would be optional and seamlessly integrated.
This could mean anything from minor multiplayer components to community events or just online connectivity similar to features in other open-world games. We’ll have to wait and see what exactly that entails, but rest assured The Witcher 4 remains a narrative-focused adventure at its core.
