CD Projekt Red has clarified that the Unreal showcase for Witcher 4 was merely a technology demonstration and not actual gameplay footage

CD Projekt Red clarified that the visuals of The Witcher 4 presented during the State of Unreal 2025 event do not represent actual gameplay.

According to VGC, the developer described these visuals as an early demonstration of the advanced technology driving The Witcher 4, rather than the game itself.

A spokesperson from CDPR explained that this presentation offered an "initial glimpse" into the sophisticated systems and features in development in collaboration with Epic Games, particularly through the use of Unreal Engine 5. This collaboration is intended to advance open-world design significantly.

The demonstration highlighted several technological developments, including the Unreal Animated Framework, Nanite Foliage, Smart Objects, ML Deformer, and Fast Geo Streaming, all of which are integral to shaping The Witcher's future.

The tech showcase was displayed on a standard PlayStation 5, and CDPR developers referred to it as a "technological showcase" within the Witcher 4 universe.

Michał Nowakowski, co-CEO of CDPR, remarked on the strategic partnership with Epic Games, expressing pride in showcasing this preliminary view of their project using Unreal Engine 5, which achieved 60 FPS on the PS5.

The collaboration marks a significant milestone for both teams, and Nowakowski looks forward to further technological innovations as Witcher 4's development progresses.

CDPR declared its partnership with Epic in 2022, representing a shift from its proprietary RedEngine, used since The Witcher 2 in 2011. The original Witcher game in 2007 utilized a modified version of BioWare's Aurora Engine.

This strategic partnership is set to enhance Unreal Engine 5 for open-world game development. Epic's Tim Sweeney expressed pride in collaborating with CDPR, with benefits anticipated for the developer community for years.

Unreal Engine 5.6, launched during the State of Unreal event, introduced MetaHuman 5.6, a digital human framework newly incorporated into the engine.

The event also introduced the forthcoming RealityScan 2.0, featuring AI-driven masking and more advanced image alignment and laser scan capabilities. These technologies were part of the Witcher 4 tech demo, aiding developers in "capturing natural objects with high fidelity."