"Witcher 4 Tech Demo: Unveiling People, Places, Secrets"

In a major reveal at this week’s Unreal Fest Orlando, Epic Games and CD Projekt Red pulled back the curtain on an exciting new technical demonstration of *The Witcher 4*. Powered by Unreal Engine 5 and utilizing cutting-edge tools and technologies, the demo offers fans a glimpse into the future of The Witcher universe. It not only showcases what Ciri’s journey might look like but also teases the environments we’ll explore, the characters we’ll meet, and the immersive atmosphere that will define the game.

The 14-minute presentation was packed with details, so we’ve broken it down with insights from both CD Projekt Red and Epic Games to highlight the ten most important takeaways from the tech demo and what they could mean for the future of the franchise.

1. The Demo is Not Gameplay

While the demo was played live on stage by CD Projekt Red’s Cinematic Director, Kajetan Kapuściński, the studio clarified that this wasn’t actual gameplay footage. Although the mountainous terrain, forest, and port town are confirmed locations in *The Witcher 4*, the specific quest and characters featured may not appear in the final release.

As Kapuściński explained, “This was a demo crafted to help us test the technology that will power *The Witcher 4*.” He added that while the experience isn’t representative of full gameplay, it reflects the artistic direction and vision for how the world will function—showcasing environmental density, character interactions, and cinematic blending with interactive elements. However, everything seen remains subject to change as development progresses.

2. Will The Witcher 4 Look Like That?

The visual fidelity of the demo was stunning, especially considering it ran live on a standard PlayStation 5 at 60 frames per second. Wyeth Johnson, Senior Director of Product Strategy at Epic Games, confirmed that players can expect similar performance levels on base hardware thanks to optimizations in Unreal Engine 5.6.

New features like enhanced Hardware Ray Tracing (HWRT) and Lumen Global Illumination allow developers to render more complex scenes without sacrificing frame rate. As Kapuściński noted, “Pushing toward these optimizations allowed us to use technology on a larger scale,” proving that high-end visuals aren’t exclusive to next-gen consoles or PCs anymore.

3. We're Headed North. Very North.

The setting for the demo takes place in Kovir, a northern region of The Continent known for its rugged mountains and dense forests. Rich in natural resources—especially salt—the area plays a central role in Ciri’s mission to investigate a missing shipment.

Sebastian Kalemba, Game Director, emphasized how integral nature is to the Witcher experience. The demo’s forest environment pushes the boundaries of detail through Nanite Foliage, a new Unreal Engine feature that allows for seamless rendering of individual leaves and branches without load times or pop-in, creating a truly immersive wilderness.

4. A Horse Named Kelpie

Ciri’s mount, Kelpie, makes her first appearance in the series' games. Named after a mythological Scottish water spirit, Kelpie is described as a powerful, magical horse capable of impressive feats—including potentially traversing water when needed.

Charles Tremblay, VP of Technology at CD Projekt Red, admitted that Roach had some control issues in *The Witcher 3*, which the team aims to fix. With Unreal Engine’s motion matching tools, Kelpie should offer a smoother, more intuitive riding experience that enhances exploration rather than hindering immersion.

5. The Quest and The Manticore

Though not part of the actual game, the demo included a narrative-driven sequence where Ciri investigates a missing cargo ship for a merchant. The trail leads to a deadly encounter with a manticore—a creature previously cut from *The Witcher 3* during development.

Kalemba highlighted the importance of storytelling even in a tech demo: “We wanted to incorporate story and bits and pieces from this world.” This encounter not only shows off monster design but also hints at potential future content featuring classic Witcher creatures.

6. Welcome to Valdrest, Population: Over 300

The bustling port town of Valdrest serves as one of the demo’s key locations, featuring over 300 unique NPCs. Thanks to advanced animation systems and Unreal Engine's MetaHuman framework, the population feels alive and diverse—with distinct body types, clothing, and animations.

From dwarves and guards to entertainers and even a tamed bear, every character contributes to a living, breathing cityscape. Unique behaviors such as a disabled man walking with a crutch or a mother protecting her child add layers of realism rarely seen in open-world games.

7. A Responsive, Living World

The world reacts dynamically to Ciri’s presence. Whether it’s triggering chain reactions from physical interactions—like apples rolling downhill after a crate drops—or NPCs reacting with prejudice and hostility, the environment responds believably to player actions.

Wyeth Johnson noted, “All of these things keep you in the world.” The demo showed scripted moments like a Gwent cheater being thrown out of a tavern, hinting at deeper systems for social behavior, though specifics remain under wraps for now.

8. Seamless Cinematics

One of the standout features demonstrated was the ability to transition between gameplay and cinematic sequences without loading screens. When Ciri approaches a dialogue trigger, the camera smoothly shifts from a third-person perspective into a directed scene.

This builds on techniques used in *Cyberpunk 2077* and marks a significant step forward in maintaining immersion. While UI elements were hidden for the demo, the goal is to maintain continuity between player action and narrative delivery.

9. A Small Gift for All Witcher Fans

To close the demo, Kalemba teased Lan Exeter—a long-awaited location from the books brought to life in-game for the first time. Known as the winter capital of Kovir, the city is built around a vast canal system and resembles a fantasy version of Venice.

With its grand palaces, merchant estates, and intricate architecture, Lan Exeter promises to be a visually rich and narratively significant destination in *The Witcher 4*, offering new stories and exploration opportunities.

10. The Next Generation of Open World RPGs

Kalemba concluded by stating, “What we’re doing together is going to bring in a new generation of open world RPGs.” The collaboration between CD Projekt Red and Epic Games is focused on removing technological barriers so that creative vision can lead the way.

Tremblay added, “We want people to feel like they belong to this world, that they interact with it,