CD Projekt prioritizes consoles for Witcher 4

CD Projekt has revealed why its development strategy for the highly anticipated Witcher 4 prioritizes consoles first, marking a shift from its previous PC-centric approach for earlier titles.

Earlier this month, the studio unveiled an impressive Witcher 4 tech demo built in Unreal Engine 5, giving fans a glimpse of what to expect. Captured on PlayStation 5 running at 60fps, the demo follows Ciri as she explores the new region of Kovir during a monster-hunting contract.

The demo showcases extraordinary detail, featuring fluid animations that push current-gen console capabilities. Ciri and her horse Kelpie exhibit lifelike movements and interactions with NPCs and the environment as they traverse Kovir's mountainous terrain toward the bustling port city of Valdrest. A standout moment demonstrates a market scene with 300 individually animated characters. The demo concludes with a first look at Lan Exeter, Kovir's frost-covered capital.

Following the reveal, CDPR's VP of Technology, Charles Tremblay, explained to Digital Foundry why the studio chose to debut the tech demo on PS5 rather than PC, emphasizing a "console-first" development philosophy for Witcher 4.

"Previously, we prioritized PC development before scaling down to consoles," Tremblay noted. "But past challenges made us rethink—this time, we're focusing on consoles from the start."

This shift reflects lessons from Cyberpunk 2077's troubled 2020 launch, where the console versions performed so poorly that Sony temporarily removed the game from PlayStation Store. CD Projekt later acknowledged they should have optimized more for base last-gen hardware.

After years of updates and fixes, Cyberpunk 2077 eventually became a success—even launching on Nintendo’s Switch 2 as a flagship title. With Witcher 4 targeting a 2027 release at earliest, the studio aims to avoid repeating past mistakes.

Jakub Knapik, CDPR's VP and Global Art Director, elaborated on the benefits of console-first development: "It's easier to scale up than down. By establishing solid technical and visual foundations for consoles, we create flexibility for enhancements on platforms like PC."

Tremblay reassured PC players Witcher 4 will still deliver a high-end experience: "We want players to get the most from their hardware. As a studio rooted in PC gaming, we'll ensure PC remains a premium platform—but specifics are still too early to share."

One major technical hurdle involves optimizing for Xbox Series S while maintaining 60fps—which Tremblay called "extremely challenging." The team has yet to tackle this obstacle but recognizes it as an upcoming priority.

The tech demo, while not indicative of final gameplay, represents CD Projekt's ambition for the next Witcher installment. With development still in early stages, fans can expect more details in the coming years.

The Witcher 4 Unreal Engine 5 Tech Demo Screenshots

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