CD Projekt Red just dropped a spicy new tease for The Witcher 4, and it’s the biggest glow-up this franchise has ever seen. Unveiled during the State of Unreal 2025 showcase, the tech demo didn’t just raise eyebrows—it melted faces. We’re talking full-blown Unreal Engine 5.6 wizardry with ray-traced reflections, seamless cinematics, and the queen herself, Ciri, taking the lead.
Goodbye Geralt, Hello Ciri
Yep, it’s official: The Witcher 4 puts players in the monster-stomping boots of Ciri. Geralt’s story might be over, but the saga continues in style. CDPR confirmed this is the start of a new trilogy—so get ready for at least three games of Ciri doing Ciri things (teleporting, slicing, being a total badass).
This pivot isn’t just for shock value. It’s a narrative leap forward. Fans have long debated who should carry the torch, and Ciri—with her Elder Blood powers and wild backstory—isn’t just the obvious choice, she’s the perfect one. Expect deep character arcs, messy choices, and maybe a unicorn joke or two.
A Living, Breathing World
The demo showed off a port town in the region of Kovir (lore nerds, rejoice), alive with NPCs who don’t just stand around like Skyrim guards on NyQuil. They react, move, and actually live. The tech stack is stacked:
- Nanite Foliage: Every blade of grass could probably win a beauty contest.
- Lumen Lighting: Shadows move like they’ve got somewhere to be.
- Dynamic NPC AI: Characters remember your actions and respond dynamically.
- Cinematic Transitions: No loading screens, no jank—just fluid magic.
The combat? Fluid. Ciri blink-dashed through enemies, parried like a ballerina with blades, and teleported into finishers so slick they made The Witcher 3 look like a student film.
Unreal Engine 5.6: The Real MVP
Running at a rock-solid 60 FPS on a PlayStation 5, the demo wasn’t just impressive—it was absurdly polished for a game still years out. This is next-gen gaming flexing its muscles. From ray-traced puddles to realistically grimy medieval fish markets, The Witcher 4 looks like it’s gunning for GOAT status.
CDPR is clearly flexing here, especially after the rocky Cyberpunk 2077 launch. The message? “Yeah, we heard you. And we leveled up.”
The Witcher Universe Is EXPANDING
CDPR isn’t stopping at one new game. We’re getting:
- The Witcher Remake: A full rebuild of the 2007 OG, likely also on Unreal 5.
- Project Sirius: A multiplayer-centric spin-off from The Molasses Flood.
That’s three Witcher projects in development. If you ever wanted to overdose on Gwent, lore dumps, and morally gray dialogue trees—this is your decade.
But Don’t Get Too Hyped… Yet
Here’s the catch: The Witcher 4 is still deep in development. No firm release date, but don’t expect it before 2027. Still, if this is the taste CDPR is serving this early, the main course might be worth the wait.
The fanbase reaction? Cautiously hype. After Cyberpunk, CDPR has to prove it can stick the landing—but so far, all signs point to redemption arc unlocked.
Final Take
The Witcher 4 isn’t just a sequel—it’s a reinvention. With Ciri front and center, Unreal Engine 5 flexing like it’s Mr. Olympia, and a world that finally feels alive, this could be CDPR’s magnum opus.
So, what do you think? Should Geralt enjoy retirement while Ciri takes over? Is this enough to make you reinstall The Witcher 3 for the 10th time? Sound off below. And yes, we’ll totally judge your armor dye choices.
